Neville Myton remembered as a selfless, dedicated humanitarian

Neville Myton, who on Wednesday passed away at his Miami home in Florida after a gruelling race battling cancer at age 74, was that boy, alongside George Kerr, eliciting hope, pride, and joy in the hearts of Jamaicans.

A specialist middle-distance runner, Myton, who was 18 years old then, and Kerr, were the standard-bearers for the country at the 1964 Summer Olympics in the 800 metres. He was at it again four years later at the 1968 edition in Mexico City, this time in tandem with countryman Byron Dyce.

Myton failed to get past the first round in either Olympics, but in between those two Games he was a double gold medal winner at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC), capturing the 800 metres and helping Jamaica to gold in the men’s 4x400 metres relay.

After Mexico City in ’68, Myton stepped away from the track, but only as a competitor. He would spend the rest of his adult life coaching, administrating and mentoring hundreds of individuals with even the slightest interest in athletics and football.

Born in Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, Myton had a wonderful childhood, he would tell me whenever we met, usually at track and field meets.

Boys like Keste Miller, now a noted attorney, diplomat and politician, and distinguished African American Professor Dr Dexter B Gordon, were among Myton’s friends who roved the salt plains of St Dorothy. They always kept in touch, rekindling memories of yesteryear.

Those were the qualities which distinguished Myton from the average sport aficionado. He was an unapologetic humanitarian who lived a life dedicated to helping others to become stewards of their own lives and to serve humanity with purpose and compassion.

Myton, a past student of Old Harbour Bay Primary and Excelsior High, epitomized all those qualities and more, said Ewan Scott, director of records at the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) in an interview with Old Harbour News.

“I know I have lost a true friend, a gentleman. He has been my mentor and big brother from we got associated from the JAAA/JAMALCO Track Meet,” Scott added.

For more than a decade Scott benefitted from Myton’s wisdom, intricate people-person skills and his penchant for “always giving of himself, whether in cash or by volunteering his time and services”.

He noted that Myton was a “man of his word” who you could confide in; one who led by example and was eager to pass on his knowledge.

“He would go out of his way to ensure that we have adequate sponsorship and whatever objective is set is realized,” said Scott, who has been intimately involved with the planning and execution of the annual Old Harbour Bay 5k, a popular road race started by Myton and others back in 1995.

“He wanted to share, and he was a father figure,” added Scott.

A father indeed. In fact, while Myton and his wife Joy produced children of their own, he was a father to many others, most notably sprint great Veronica Campbell Brown, whom he took under his wings during her high school years at Vere Technical.

Yesterday, a heartbroken Campbell Brown wrote the following: “Your mentorship and support made an indelible impact on my life. I will forever cherish your memories.”

Meanwhile, former Vere athlete Annaykay Dennis said: “Neville Myton, you along with Dennis May change the trajectory of my life academically and athletically. This news hit hard this evening. You’ve impacted so many lives positively! I’ll be forever indebted to you... A father to many, coach, mentor, a husband! Thank you for investing in all of us!”

“Neville Myton is a great Jamaican,” said renowned sport administrator Allan Beckford, who built up a strong bond with the Old Harbour Bay native through the Old Harbour Bay 5K.

“Neville was an inspiration to all Jamaicans,” Beckford told Old Harbour News. “So many things you learn about somebody even after they have passed… that he actually coached the Tivoli cricket team when they played Jamaica College in the final some years ago in the 70s.

“But I watched Neville Myton and the work that he did with the Old Harbour Bay 5K, one of the longest-running road races in the history of Jamaica.

“Neville would come down (from the US), find sponsors; he would take care of the youth and just the way he would take care of the athletes who came. There is no other race in Jamaica where we got fry fish, we got soup, we got liquid beverage, it was just fantastic. He would call me, even when he was sick. Tears came to my eyes when I heard he died. He was just a marvellous Jamaican, somebody who I have the ultimate respect for, and he just served so humbly,” Beckford gushed.

On social media, Peter Harrison, one of Myton’s childhood friends, wrote: “Rest well my friend. I remember those days running against each other at OHB (Old Harbour Bay) primary school; you were in March House and I in Lord's; condolences to the family.”

Georgia Lewis scribed: “Oh, this is so sad and shocking! Condolences to Paulette and family… RIP my friend OHB will miss you, our Icon!”

Clive Ryan penned: “This is a shocker. Our condolences to his family. He was a great son of the soil,” while Norma Martin saw Myton as the ambassador for Old Harbour Bay, saying, “He had represented us well on the international stage and for that we are eternally grateful.”

Without question, Myton was an exemplary leader, father, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend that everybody would have loved to have, or wished they had. His true legacy was being able to help others believe in themselves and be better individuals.

Dr Miller, who knew Myton more than most, encapsulated the intrinsic qualities of his great friend: “Neville Fitzgerald Myton was an outstanding Jamaican, gentleman and sports icon. A true son of the soil of the community of Old Harbour Bay in the parish of St. Catherine whose natural athletic abilities, work ethics and dedication to achieve brought him into international stardom… Through it all he had never forgotten his roots and humble origins.

“From the playing field of the Old Harbour Bay Primary School, the salt marsh close to his residence and the sand of the seaside of his community to world beater, Neville kept smiling, remained confident, but humble and being true to his pedigree.

“He had an unending passion for the track and was the founder of the annual Old Harbour Bay 5K Road Race which he spear-headed for well over twenty-five years up to the time of his passing.

“I have lost a friend, mentor, motivator and teacher. The community of Old Harbour Bay and indeed, all Jamaica, have lost a genuine soul, patriot and gentle giant. Sincere condolences to his wife and the entire Myton’s family. You ran an excellent race and finished the course. RIP my friend.”

On the track, Myton is still the National and World Junior record-holder for the 880 yards as well as the 800 metres. He was the first Jamaican teenager to run the 800 metres under one minute, 50 seconds. But his true class was demonstrated off the track as he was truly peerless throughout his many endeavours.