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| Robert Edward Stone |
Nat'l honour for Sandals''Daddy Stone'
The work and worth of Robert Edward Stone, popularly called 'Daddy
Stone', the Sandals Montego Bay's veteran hotelier and director
of services, will be recognised nationally on October 20 when he
will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service from Governor
General Sir Kenneth Hall. The presentation will take place at King's
House in Kingston.
Stone, who holds the distinction of being the first employee of
Sandals, is being honoured for his more than 55 years of service
and dedication to the hospitality industry, having started his career
in the sector in 1942.
An elated 'Daddy Stone', in reflecting on the award, said, "I
am a pleased man as after giving the best years of my life to the
tourism industry, it is very heartening to know that there is some
form of national recognition. I thank all those who saw it fit to
nominate me for this award but, more important, those who have helped
me to become a veteran of sports in this field."
apprentice at Casa Blanca
Stone, who was born in Negril, Westmoreland, in 1928, is one of
a handful of people who celebrate their birthday every four years
on February 29 (leap year). He first entered the working world at
age 14 when he moved to Montego Bay and gained employment as an
apprentice at Casa Blanca for two seasons. The decision to work
as a busboy apprentice was not by choice as, in those days, youngsters
were paid a stipend while working as an apprentice. However, Robert
had no money to pay, and was allowed to join the programme on the
basis of receiving no payment.
He gained employment at Gloucester House (now Gloucestershire Hotel)
where he was paid a mere 30 shillings per week. He moved on to Montego
Beach Resort where he worked as a waiter before being promoted to
the position of dining room captain and then to assistant maître
d'. Stone then made a decisive move to go back to where he started
his tourism career at Gloucester House before joining the team at
Seawind Hotel as maître d'.
He made yet another return to the Gloucester House before making
the most decisive move of his tourism career in 1981.
That year proved to be a watershed year for Stone, as hotel mogul,
Gordon 'Butch' Stewart had just purchased Bay Roc Hotel. Based on
reports which Stewart, received, he immediately summoned Stone to
take up the maître d' position at the hotel which was renamed
Sandals Montego Bay, and the rest is history.
This man, who has consciously devoted over 55 years of his life
to the hospitality industry in Jamaica, has won several awards.
However, he said the award which brings him most satisfaction is
his induction into the Sandals/Beaches Hall of Fame. This took place
in 2004 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Robert Stone is the only
Sandals employee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which also
includes a few Caribbean prime ministers.
Currently, Robert Stone is Sandals Montego Bay's director of services
and he pays tribute to Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and the several hundred
team members with whom he has worked and assisted in their training
in the last almost 27 years. "These people have ensured that
I am what I am today. I have, through my working in the hospitality
industry and especially at Sandals Montego Bay, been able to assist
hundreds of my fellow citizens financially and otherwise",
he said.
commitment
In one sentence, Robert Stone states his commitment and dedication
to Sandals or Sandals Montego Bay, saying, "I will not be leaving
Sandals or Sandals Montego Bay; this is where I will retire."
Robert Stone was married for 44 years before his wife Ouida died
in 2005. He still celebrates life with his four children ... one
a medical doctor, another a business administrator and two are engineers.
Apart from his four biological children, Robert Stone is also father
to several hundred children whom he has helped and continues to
help financially to attend school each year.
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