Former Ravens basketball stalwart player and coach, Eldon `Rocking Chair’ Vaughn died recently in the United States of America.
Vaughn, who grew up in Anira Street, Queenstown, joined the Ravens Basketball Club in 1957.
Playing alongside the likes of Hewley Henry, Godfrey `Chin’ St Hill, Ken Barrow, Randolph `’Speedy’’ Franklyn Ronnie Savory and Ovid Jackson, Vaughn won his first championship with Ravens in November of 1958.
In October, he played his first international series against the touring young China Basketball Team of Suriname.
Ravens won that encounter 32 to 29 at the Chinese Asphalt Court at Thomas Lands.
The following year, he played against the touring Independent Club of Suriname and Trinidad’s first-division Team City Midgets.
In August of 1960, Vaughn made his first overseas tour to Trinidad with Ravens. He was appointed national captain in 1961 for the home series against Trinidad’s Club Champions the Cagers.
In 1962, Vaughn toured Boa Vista, Brazil, Trinidad and Barbados, with the Brian Dummett-led national team.
His next outing in national colours was in July 1965 against the America Athletic Union Team at the Queen’s College Auditorium.
In January of 1968, Vaughn toured Boa Vista for the second time but on that occasion he was playing under the captaincy of the late Compton Nicholson.
That was his last series in national colours as a player.
He was the national coach when Guyana participated in the 1975 Central American Championship in the Dominican Republic and also on International tours in 1960 to Trinidad with Ravens.
