By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL and international Hall of Famer Peter Gilcud was remembered as a giant of a man who played basketball, shared his expertise as a mentor and coach, served as a community builder and philanthropist and was a member of the Saxons Superstars junkanoo group.

Gilcud, better known as ‘Macaroni’ or ‘the Cud,’ died last week at the age of 67.

Bahamas Basketball Federation president Mario Bowleg was one of the first persons or organisations to pay homage to the life of Gilcud.

“There is no other like ‘The Macaroni’,” Bowleg said. “To not mention his engaging personality would certainly do injustice to the man basketball came to know. “To point out that he held lofty, incredible ideals would adequately portray a dominant part of his personality. Yes, he will always be a basketball icon but memories of his total contribution to nation building must not be overlooked. His was a pioneering spirit that never diminished.”

Bowleg said the basketball aspect of Gilcud is unquestionable and indisputable, having been inducted into the Hall of Famer:in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, at St. Gregory Jr. College in Shawnee, Oklahoma and at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/ St. Paul) in the State of Minnesota.

At UM where he earned a Most Valuable Player award in his junior year, Gilcud starred for the Golden Gophers where he teamed up with Bahamians Osborn ‘Goose’ Lockhart and NBA great Mychael ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson.

“The ‘Cud’ was an excellent international basketball player who led the Bahamas National Basketball Men’s Team on numerous occasions,” Bowleg said. “As faith would have it, Peter came home following matriculation and resumed his stint with the Beck’s Cougars.

“He literally became a legend with epic matchups against Sterling Quant who many believe is the finest homegrown talent the country has ever produced. Those Cougars/Kentucky Colonels, Gilcud/Quant battles are historic.”

As a basketball philanthropist and administrator, Bowleg said many Bahamian athletes have benefited from his assistance in procuring scholarships in the USA; especially, to his beloved St. Greg’s.

“Likewise, was his will to support high school student-athletes to attend athletic camps and sports seminars abroad,” Bowleg said. “The Bahamas Basketball Federation is proud of his involvement as an executive of the Federation for many years; he unselfishly laid the cornerstone for many of the programs within our organization.

“The BBF has lost one of its favorite sons but we will continue to celebrate the life and contributions of Peter ‘Macaroni’ ‘Cud’ Gilcud with the exuberance that only he could portray. He was a sterling example to basketball players for he worked and labored himself into becoming a fine basketball product and a leader.”

One of those persons who benefited greatly from Gilcud’s generosity was his niece Glenda Gilcud, who emerged as one of the top female basketball players and is one a coach in the high school system.

“Uncle was a straightforward young man, who was there for everyone,” G;enda Gilcud recalled. “GHe was one of those who helped to encourage me to go off to school along with Phil Smith. After my father died, he took on that father role.”

After graduating from AF Adderley High School in 1986, Gilcud went on to St Gregory’s College for a basketball camp before she attended Stillman College in Alabama where she graduated in 1998.

“He was always doing something,” said Gilcud, who is following in her uncle’s footsteps, having started coaching in 2000 is now a Physical Education teacher and coach at CV Bethel Secondary High School after having a stellar career as a former star point guard in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association and on the women’s national basketball team.

“I know he was working with one of the good groups, going into the neighbourhood giving out bags or groceries and food to the needy. He was always lending a helping hand.”

Gilcud was best remembered for his playing days with the Beck’ Cougars when he went head-to-head in the paint in their magical showdown with the Kentucky Colonels and their legendary center, Sterling ‘Robert Lloyd’ Quant back in the heyday of basketball.

Minister of Education, Jeffery Lloyd remembered Gilcud as being one of the first black Certified Financial Analysts in the country.

Lloyd said Gilcud was ‘a centerpiece of the renowned Beck’s Cougars, a true Bahamian patriot, junkanoo leader, one of the first (maybe only) Bahamians to have a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Amazing talent all around.”

And for his contribution to the country, Olympic triple jump bronze medalist Frank Rutherford is calling on the Bahamas Government to honor the legacy of Gilcud by naming a park in Nassau or a street in his hometown of Andros after him.

Gilcud, born on September 13, 1953, leaves behind several children and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of family members and friends.