Dear Editor,
Your Editorial “Going the distance” (SN 8-11-21) on the passing of veteran trade unionist George De Pena mentioned his accomplishments in the athletic field, which he capped with his representation of Guyana (then “BG”) in the 5000 meters race at the Rome 1960 Olympics Games – the “ultimate goal of any athlete”. I was reminded of another Guyanese stalwart who was a contemporary of De Peana who also did our country proud and represented us at those Olympics – Dr. Ralph Gomes and who passed away in March 16 last year. Ralph was a hero in my village of Uitvlugt who inspired all of us on and off the field. In the 1959 Central American and Caribbean Games, he won the 800 metres and took bronze in the 1,500 meters. In the 1960 Olympics he made it to the quarterfinals of the 800 meters. In 1962 he took Silver in the 1500 meters at the CACG.
But Ralph was even more famous as an academic who eventually completed his Bachelors, Masters and his PhD (Sociology, U of Pa) and started teaching at Howard University in 1971. He remained there for 49 years – until his death – and single-mindedly transformed Howard University’s sociology department as eventual head of the Department through curriculum development. He established the only PhD Sociology program in HBCU. He never forgot his Guyanese roots and supported the activities of Walter Rodney and the WPA in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He came from that generation of Guyanese where your village identity trumped all and always emphasized he was an “Uitvlugt man”. A belated goodbye to a childhood hero.
Sincerely,
Ravi Dev
