September 2019 Volume 15

Memories of Douglas Carnegie

Michael O. Walters
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Douglas Carnegie who attended KC from 1961 to 1968 passed on Sunday 7 th of June 2019 at the age of 70. I was in 6th Form with Douglas Carnegie who was referred to at KC as Carnegie or simply Naygie. We were students preparing for A’Levels in Mr. McKie’s zoology, and Mrs. Barber’s Botany classes. Carl Gray recalls us being a part of the Botany/zoology subgroup and that Naygie had plans to become a doctor. Being a doctor did not materialize for Naygie. He migrated to the US and completed a degree in Biology at Long Island University but he eventually settled into accounting. However, he was able to pass on the “doctor” mantle to one of his sons who became a doctor. Another son became an engineer, while his third child and only girl became an attorney.

Myself, Naygie, and Gangadeen (Ganga), also students of Mr. McKie and Mrs. Barber frequently met at a restaurant in Cross Roads and promised that regardless of where we lived we would meet there on a specific day some 10 years after we left school in 1968. At the time, in our youth, 10 years seemed so far away but 10 years came and went, and no one showed up. It was some 40 years later that I visited with Naygie in his home in Georgia. Incidentally, Glen Laman and Patrick Hector who also left school after A’Levels in 1968 (hereafter referred to as the 68ers), were in touch with Naygie because they all lived in the Atlanta area.

Laman and Patrick Smikle, two 68ers, had the privilege to be in the cadets with Naygie. Smikle recalls that Naygie was promoted from Sergeant to Sergeant Major, the “top dog” for a student in the cadets. Smikle remembers camping out with Naygie on cadet trips in Portland and hiking to the Blue Mountain peak. Lloyd Lovindeer (Lova) of Wild Gilbert fame was also a part of the trip with Naygie.

Recollections from Other 68ers : Victor Harris recalls the fun times we had when a bunch of us attended Manning’s Cup football matches then walked from the stadium to Cross Roads to have refreshments and snacks at various restaurants. Herbie Edwards, and others, who were not particularly close to Naygie because we were grouped together based on our chosen subjects, remember him as being pleasant and jovial. Victor Carless started as a “short pants” first former with Naygie, then transitioned into “long pants” before 5th Form, and finally into 6Th Form. Carless described their association as the KC Journey in “locked step” and remembers Naygie as a kind, decent, disciplined, hard working student all the way.

Recollections from a lower Classman : Joseph Pennant remembers Carnegie as one of the outstanding senior students of his time. Although Carnegie rose to the position of Sergeant Major, he was always respectful of the students of lower ranks and sought to have meaningful conversation with them. My interaction with him was always pleasant and he was an inspiration as to how one should treat student of the lower school when one attained sixth form level.

We all miss you Naygie and thank you for the example you provided to us all.

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