Dear Editor,
On behalf of the DC Jammers organization, we express our deepest condolences to the family of Colonel Godwin McPherson and the basketball family in Guyana.
The relationship between the DC Jammers and Colonel McPherson had its humble beginnings in 1988, when a Washington DC team travelled to Guyana to play several club teams, and were surprised when they were matched against the Guyana National Team. This surprise by Colonel McPherson was the beginning of many more pleasant surprises and the birth of a very long and fruitful relationship with the DC Jammers.
Over the next 20 plus years, the DC Jammers have consistently returned to Guyana at the request of Colonel McPherson, as head of the GABF to help and promote the development of basketball at the national level. This competition and relationship fostered the rapid development of many of the national team players, which eventually led to many of these players obtaining scholarships and opportunities overseas. Additionally, this relationship resulted in the Colonel selecting over 30 different DC Jammer basketball players to join the Guyana National Team, as Guyana battled its Caricom neighbours in the Caribbean Basketball Championships.
When contacted, many of the DC Jammers players expressed shock and sorrow at the news of the Colonel’s passing. But more importantly, they remembered with great fondness his kindness and generosity towards them. By selecting the overseas based players, the Colonel allowed these young men to realize their dreams of representing Guyana. This was significant, because most of these young basketball players who were of Guyanese parentage, had never visited Guyana.
Whenever the Colonel called, the DC Jammers responded immediately and positively.
Whether it was providing a team, primarily of DC Jammers to represent Guyana in Puerto Rico in 2007, or sending a head coach (Stephen Nurse) the Colonel was always very gracious and persuasive in his requests. This long, enduring and memorable relationship with the Colonel is now over, and the people of Guyana can now reflect on some of the great battles they witnessed between the DC Jammers and the Presidents 12.
Rest in peace Colonel McPherson. You will be truly missed.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Creppy
(Coach) DC Jammers
Clarence Wallerson (Asst Coach)
Dennis Baird (Team Manager)
