Princess To Honour Horton Siblings & Dr. Greene
The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club announced that the honourees for its 2023 Black History Month Celebration will be Dr. Duranda Greene, Randy Horton, Ellen-Kate Horton and Robert Horton.
A spokesperson said, “The Black History Month celebration has become a beloved annual tradition at the Hamilton Princess, which strives to honour the importance of Black Bermudian culture, community and history to the rich tapestry that makes up Bermuda. This year’s celebration follows a theme of education in recognition of the famed educators.
“The Hortons and Dr. Greene will be honoured during a celebratory dinner held on Saturday, February 25th, in the hotel’s Princess Ballroom. A special four-course menu was created in collaboration among the honourees and Chef De Cuisine, Antwan Ellis, Intrepid: Steak, Seafood & Raw Bar at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.
“During the evening, the Hortons and Dr. Greene will speak about their accomplishments and career journeys among an audience of their loved ones, friends and the community.
“The Hon. K.H. Randolph ‘Randy’ Horton, OBE, JP, is a former politician, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Bermuda, former Assistant Director of Tourism, a sportsman and an educator. As a sportsman, he excelled representing Bermuda internationally in both cricket and football, playing for the Somerset Trojans football club prior to his international career playing professional football with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League [NASL] from 1971 to 1975. While there, he was awarded Rookie of the Year [1971] and Most Valuable Player [1972]. Away from the field of play, Mr. Horton is a retired educator having taught both elementary and high school in Bermuda and at College level in the U.S., and served ten years as Principal of Warwick Secondary School.
“He received a Teacher’s Certificate in Math and Physical Education from Culham College in Oxfordshire, England, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Rutgers University. In 1974, Mr. Horton earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Rutgers, where he was inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, an Honours Society of distinguished work in Economics. He also pursued Doctoral studies at George Washington University in Leadership and Policy Management, and he completed a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. Mr. Horton has served in various government portfolios, and his community involvement has included serving as a member of the Board of trustees of the Hotel’s Pension Fund, the Executive of the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Association of School Principals, the Police Advisory Council, and has served as the President of Francis Patton School PTA. In 2004, Randy Horton was inducted into Bermuda’s Sports Hall of Fame, and in June 2022, he was named to the former Queen’s annual Birthday Honours for his services to sport and public service in Bermuda. During his retirement, Mr. Horton serves on the Board of Governors at Bermuda College, Chairman of the Honorary Fellow of Bermuda College, and is the Chair of the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast Committee.
Mr. Randy Horton said: “This is a great honour to be recognized by the hotel, where I spent 13 years from 1999 to 2012 as Director of Learning at Hamilton Princess. I am very pleased.”
“Ellen-Kate Horton is a prolific educator and sportswoman, Ellen-Kate Horton is well known throughout the Island and the Caribbean region for excelling in both the classroom and on the field of play. Ms. Horton pursued dual Bachelor’s Degrees in mathematics and chemistry at the prestigious Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio; the first Black owned and operated Historically Black College & University [HBCU]. While teaching mathematics at Warwick Secondary School, later renamed T.N. Tatem Middle School, she left teaching to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After completing her programme, she returned to Warwick Secondary to become both Head of Mathematics and acting Deputy Principal.
“During this period, she also served as the President of the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers [ABUT, now the BUT] and led its negotiations team. Additionally, she served as Vice President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers. She was later appointed the Union’s first Organizer. Ms. Horton also found time to become a world-class softball player, captaining the Somerset Bluebirds, and was the shortstop and batter number four for the Big Blue Machine, which was inducted into the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
“She was vice-captain of the Big Blue Machine stormed to victory winning the gold medal at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games in Medellin, Colombia, becoming the first Bermudian team to medal at a major international multi-sporting festival. Ms. Horton is also a certified diving coach and international diving judge, and she coaches diving every summer at her daughter’s award-winning STAR Diving summer camp.
Ellen Kate Horton said: “I am thrilled to be one of the honourees of the Black History Month Celebrations at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. It is a special treat to be honoured with my brothers.”
“Robert K. Horton is a former teacher of English, Deputy Principal, Acting Principal, Senior Education Officer, Assistant Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary, Robert K. Horton, fondly called ‘RKH’ by his former students, retired from the public service upon his 65th birthday, 28th February, 2013 after some fortythree years’ service to the community. His service to the community has continued, however, as during the past decade he has served a variety of organizations with unwavering commitment.
“He commenced his professional career in 1970 as a teacher of English language and literature at The Berkeley Institute where he was to remain for eighteen years. He was appointed to the post of Deputy Principal at Berkeley when he was only 28 years of age, and remained in that post for twelve years before moving to the Ministry of Education as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, later serving in several other Permanent Secretary roles. Mr. Horton attended The Berkeley Institute and gained his Teacher’s Certificate in Secondary Education from the College of S. Mark and S. John, University of London, United Kingdom, the B.A. Hons. degree in English Studies from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the M.Ed. degree in Educational Administration from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Horton is a member of the Berkeley Educational Society, served as a member of the Organizing Committee and Master of Ceremonies of the Miss Bermuda Pageant Committee, an assessor at the Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival held at The Berkeley Institute.
“Following his retirement, on behalf of the Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA], he organized the April 2014 visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to Bermuda and in 2016 served as Chairman of the BOA’s 80th Anniversary Committee. In 2013 and 2014 he provided technical support for the National Security and Defence Review Committee, the Commission of Inquiry Into Historic Land Losses in Bermuda. Also in his retirement, Mr. Horton returned to The Reading Clinic as a tutor.
“His extensive community service includes: President of the Lifelong Learning Centre, Bermuda College, Deputy Chairman of the Packwood Home Board of Trustees, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bermuda College Foundation and as a member of the Employment Tribunal, the Family Panel, Magistrates’ Court, and the Diocesan Advisory Committee of the Anglican Church of Bermuda.
Robert Horton said: ‘I have attended the Black History Month celebrations at Hamilton Princess every year, and I never would have thought that it would be me, to be recognized. I am truly honoured and look forward to the celebration.”
“Dr. Duranda Greene was appointed the first female President of Bermuda College in 2007, and has served in various roles during her journey to the Presidency. She is an alumna of Bermuda College, and under her leadership led the College through international accreditation, and re-accreditation with the New England Commission of Higher Education.
“She has also led the introduction of various new programmes including: nursing, diagnostic imaging technology, marine science and compliance; along with the establishment of the Bermuda College Foundation to raise money on behalf of the College. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts resulted in the recently built Career Development Centre on the campus. Dr. Greene has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education from Argosy University, Sarasota. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Boston University, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Mount St. Vincent University.
Dr. Greene said: “I am truly humbled that the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club has decided to recognize me in this manner. To be sharing this accolade with such outstanding educators as Mr. Robert Horton, my former teacher, Mr. Randolph Horton, my current board member and former Board chair, and Ms. EllenKate Horton is truly an honour.”
Tim Morrison, General Manager, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, said: “Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is pleased to recognize a phenomenal group of educators and passionate community advocates. The community are encouraged to join this celebration of an amazing group of individuals.”
“The Celebration Dinner will take place on Saturday, February 25th, at 6pm, with tickets available via PTIX. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the honourees’ charities of choice, the Bermuda College Foundation, and The Packwood Home in Sandy’s, respectively.
