Hon Teddy McCook - our shining star
by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Jamaica Observer | 18 February 2013
Teddy McCook was easily the single most significant contributor to the
development of Jamaican athletics. This passionate patriot ran a tight
ship when he was JAAA president but was beloved because he inspired
everyone with his golden vision for Jamaican achievement.
He became a sought-after expert regionally and internationally, and at
the time of his death was a council member of the world governing body
for athletics, the IAAF, as well as president of the powerful North
American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC).
Norman Peart, Usain Bolt's manager, said of his move to Kingston with a
young Usain Bolt: "Under the guidance of Hon Teddy McCook, we decided to
make the transition to the High Performance Centre at UTech that would
take him to a professional level."
Teddy would regale us with his regime to develop four self-reliant
daughters: from an early age they had to set up bank accounts and be
responsible for their individual budgets. He and his dear Sonia
succeeded well, and I extend to them my heartfelt condolences. There
will never be another Teddy McCook, but we can keep his spirit alive by
living by his values of integrity, discipline and excellence. Rest in
peace, Brother Teddy!
Tributes/mentions of Hon Teddy McCook by JL-C in various Observer
columns
 |
| Teddy McCook receives the CCRP Jamaica 50 Living Legacy Awards last February from Chair Prof Denise Eldemire Shearer |
Written in 2006
Discipline is the watchword and at
Teddy McCook’s Gibson Relays, every single event starts on time. There are many stories about this strict,
generous, die-hard KC man. One of my
favourites is about the friend who spots Teddy inside the crowded entrance to
the Stadium. He waves to Teddy, Teddy
waves back, so the man elbows himself to the front of the line and looks
expectantly at his friend. “Hi,” says
Teddy, “Let me have your ticket, man.”
“Ticket?” asks the incredulous friend.
“Yes,” says Teddy, pointing to the ticket office, “Go get it over there
and then you can come back.”
I can’t leave Teddy without telling
you another story. We worked together on
the Guinness Road Race committee for many years, and pondered on the delays
caused by last-minute entries. Teddy
suggested that we scrap late entries but we resisted, since this was a large
percentage of the field. “Scrap it -
trust me,” said Teddy. After we
announced that no raceday entries would be accepted, early registrations poured
in and we had the biggest event ever, that year. Teddy McCook demands the best of his
athletes, so he gets it.
There is a lesson here for our
leaders. As North America, Central America and Caribbean
representative of the IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation), Teddy
has international clout, but remains approachable and incorruptible.
 |
| Hon Teddy McCook is congratulated by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller after being awarded the Order of Jamaica in October 2006 |
Mon 23 Oct 2006
Neville
‘Teddy’ McCook, Jamaica’s
gold standard of discipline, world renowned volunteer in athletics, and IAAF
regional representative, also received the O.J. For the function to honour Teddy, IAAF
officials flew in from as far away as the Far East
to show their respect for a man whose honesty and dedication has taken track
and field to new heights locally and globally.
27 Aug 07 Congrats Hon. Teddy!
The matchless Hon.
Teddy McCook, who headed the JAAA in its most formative years, has reached yet
another milestone. Last week in Japan,
he was elected president of the powerful North American, Central American and
Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), succeeding the popular longstanding
president Amadeo Francis. This is in addition to his remaining as the Caribbean
Head of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF)
For those who may not know, Teddy McCook’s name is synonymous with character
and discipline. In the many years that he has organised the Gibson relays, you
can set your watch from the scheduled start of each race – not a minute out.
There are many good stories about Teddy’s refusal to play favourites and his
insistence on due diligence and due process. It is no coincidence then, that he
has gained the respect of his peers and inspired generations of awesome
athletes. Long may he reign.
 |
| Teddy McCook presents the Gold Medal and bouquet to Usain Bolt, whom he mentored - occasion was the 2012 London Olympics |
June 2009 interview with Usain Bolt’s Manager Norman Peart
“We looked down the road and made a decision,” said
Peart. “At the time, sprinting was at a
low and we thought, ‘he is the next generation, this is the time’.”
“Under
the guidance of Hon Teddy McCook, we decided to make the transition to the High
Performance Centre at Utech that would take him to a professional level. I got a job transfer to Kingston, set up house for both of us and he
lived with me for three years. The adjustment was a challenge at the start, as
I had no experience as a father.”
16 July 2012
That generous Jamaican couple Sonia and Teddy McCook used to
invite aspiring young athletes from humble homes to have Christmas dinner with
them. When they were presented with gifts, one teenager broke down in tears.
When asked why, he explained that it was the first time in his life that anyone
had ever given him a gift. The things we take for granted are precious
for some of our children.
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