Kim Swan Pays Tribute To Dr. George Thomas

May 25, 2016

[Written by Kim Swan]

The passing of Dr. George Thomas caused me to reflect on our time together, the good he did during his time in politics and the fruit from one of his initiatives that pleasantly stares me in the face daily.

From my vantage point, I am able to fondly recall his passion for golf – he and I played many rounds together at the Castle Harbour Hotel & Golf ‎ Club – Doc Thomas was a member of the Castle Harbour Golf Club and we connected when I returned there to start my career at a Golf Professional in 1980.

‎Dr. Thomas was a thoughtful and caring person – a golf club member who enjoyed a good relationship with several of the staff members at Castle Harbour.

Coincidentally, we‎ both were encouraged to run for political office in the February 3,1983 General Election when Dr. Thomas became the Minister of Education.

Through our association via golf in the early 1980′s – Dr. Thomas shared a vision that it would help young people if they could be encourage to play the game of golf – which led to outreach with Mrs. Cooper, Headmistress at Francis Patton in Hamilton Parish. Dr. Thomas then asked me teach golf to a group of children at Francis Patton.

Among the children exposed to this pilot program at Francis Patton were Dennis Pilgrim, Marvin Trott Jr and others. Prophetically, ‎from the seeds planted by Dr. George Thomas via Francis Patton School – Dennis Pilgrim ‎ found himself gravitating towards golf and was soon thereafter working afterschool at the same Castle Harbour through supervisor Robert Lindo.

Today as we celebrate the life of Dr. George Thomas, Less we Forget the many contributions through his influence, knowledge and wisdom. Above all, Dr. George Thomas was a man of God who understood and shared the good works of the Lord through faith – today I salute the life of Dr. George Thomas.

As I look proudly at the career path in golf of Dennis Pilgrim, now the Port Royal Golf Course’s Golf Course Superintendent, who has prepared the golf course for lofty international standards of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf – it humbling to be able to retrace the genisis of those origins – and there connection to Dr. George Thomas‎.

‎To the family and friends of Dr. George Thomas, Cindy and I offer our sincere condolences. For much like his brother the late Austin Thomas [also a distinguished Parliamentarian] they were solid gentleman grounded in their faith and love of God.

It was an‎ honour for our paths to have crossed and a blessing to still have a living reminder of his good works.

- Kim Swan

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