Howard Campbell, Star Writer

Collie Smith ... gone but never forgotten - File

OF THE many sporting heroes Boys' Town has produced, cricketer Oneil 'Collie' Smith probably stands the tallest. On Monday, the community he represented with distinction remembered him on what would have been his 75th birthday.

There was a full house at the Hugh Sherlock Auditorium in Wilton Gardens. Boys' Town 'old boys' and students from the Boys' Town All Age school gathered to view a documentary about the Jamaica and West Indies all-rounder who died in an automobile accident in September 1959.

Locksley Comrie, former president of the Boys' Town Old Boys' Association, told The STAR that Monday's event is part of a series to honour the man fans knew as Mighty Mouse.

"We want to build a statue of Collie and get a book written about him and distribute it in schools so young people can know about him," Comrie said.

A committee that includes Gleaner columnist Tony Becca, former FIFA referee Ken Chaplin and former Jamaica cricket captain Easton McMorris will oversee the list of events, Comrie said.

On Monday, several persons who knew Smith spoke of his prowess as a player and what his triumphs for Kingston College, Boys' Town, Jamaica and the West Indies meant for his community.

Speakers included his younger brother Linden 'Muddy' Wright, Boys' Town 'old boy' Junior Lincoln and historian Louis Moyston. Dr Winston Davidson, chairman of the Boys' Town board and Dr Omar Davies, member of parliament for South East St Andrew, also attended.

Collie Smith was a rising star of West Indies cricket when he died in England at the age of 26. He scored four centuries for the regional team in 26 Test matches, including 168 on debut against Australia at Sabina Park.

He was also a reliable off-spinner, capturing 48 Test wickets.