Wolmerian Basil Wynter to be honored at the Seventh Annual Barbara M. Simpson Scholarship Dinner.
Basil Wynter.
Basil Wynter was born in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, where he resided with his grandparents until moving to Kingston in 1944. He attended Wolmer’s Boys’ School from 1945 until 1948. Basil was known as “Pluto” - a nickname he was given by a schoolmate. The nickname stuck so much so that the captain of his school’s cricket team placed him on the roster as Basil Pluto. Basil won the bowling average for the Wolmer’s Cricket Team and made the All Schools Sunlight Team. After leaving Wolmer’s, Basil worked for the Jamaican Customs Department until he migrated to the United States in 1962.
Basil became a US citizen in 1965, took the Civil Service examination and passed with flying colors. He then began his employment with two agencies under the Treasury Department umbrella: the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Customs at John F. Kennedy Airport. Basil also worked for the Chase Manhattan Bank and the Atlanta Trading Company. Basil moonlighted as a yellow cab taxi driver for a time.
Basil attended Columbia University where he completed a course in Public Speaking. Over the past three decades he has served as Master of Ceremonies for numerous events, most recently at an event on May 8th, 2016.
Basil was introduced to the Wolmer’s Alumni Association, New York Chapter, by Joyce Abrahams and served as Secretary and President of the organization. Basil is the proud father of Denise, Robert, Christopher, Shelley and Jennifer, grandfather of Michael, Melissa, Chad, Austin, André, George, Yohanes and Naomi. Basil’s also has a great granddaughter named Jade. Basil’s interests: the grandchildren’s pet walker, spending time with his grandchildren, reading, watching sports events and playing dominoes at his club: Wembley’s Cricket Club - which was founded in 1951.
Basil admires George Headley, a prominent cricketer of yesteryear, and Herbert McKenley, Jamaica’s premier track star of that era. He is a social media czar: enjoying over 272 Facebook friends! Basil feels blessed beyond measure due to his wife Monica and life’s present circumstances. Whenever he sees a cripple, a beggar or a homeless person, he always lifts his eyes to the heavens and states, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
Basil’s favorite quote:
“The tumult and the shouting dies, the captains and the King depart. Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, A humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget.” Rudyard Kipling
