Softball Field to be named Roger Allen Hodge Park today
The ceremony comes two months after the ruling Virgin Islands Party Government named the Auditorium at the Territory’s H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in honour of a former Legislator, Eileen L. Parsons.
Cabinet set up a committee some three years ago to organize the naming of the Albion Racetrack, now Ellis Thomas Downs and the Sea Cows Bay Softball field chaired by Julian Willock. As of press time, Willock could not be reached for comments, however, according to a government press release addresses are expected at the ceremony today October 31, 2011 from Premier Ralph T. O’Neal, Minister of Sports Honourable Andrew A. Fahie and Communications and Works Minister and 3rd district representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA.
Roger Allen Hodge
According to Virgin Islands News Online research, Roger Allen Hodge was born on March 8, 1972 to parents Alphonso and Cecilia Hodge of Sea Cows Bay. The late Mr. Hodge attended the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School and then BVI High School. Roger furthered his education at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic College in Barbados where he studied electrical inspection and graduated from that institution with high honors.
On returning home to the Virgin Islands, Roger was employed at the British Virgin Islands Electricity Cooperation which remained his place of work until his untimely death in 2004.
According to research, Roger was born an extraordinary person and sports were in his genes. At the tender age of 9, Roger started playing little league baseball. With the down turn of little league baseball, Roger moved on to play in the junior Softball League before moving on to the Men’s Fast Pitch Softball League. He also played for the Byrds Softball team, where he became a valuable and outstanding player. Roger took the game of softball very seriously.
Roger’s passion and commitment to the sports earned him much respect from his team-mates and he was always credited for his good sportsmanship.
The facility that is to be named in his honour was used as his sports clinic where he taught young children in the Village of Sea Cows Bay, the fundamentals of softball. Roger also played other sports such as basketball, volleyball and was a cycling and horse race fan.
Virgin Islands News can confirm that at today’s ceremony, a momentum will be unveiled as part of the tribute to Roger Hodge along with an address by the President of the BVI Softball Association Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith. Also a documentary is currently airing on local television stations on the life of Mr. Hodge and his contributions to softball.
Today’s ceremony is expected to start at 3:30 p.m. at the Sea Cows Bay Softball field located next to the Sea Cows Bay public burial grounds.
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