Dennis 'Bully Cat' Gordon gives decades of unselfish service to Pineapple
Published:Saturday | October 1, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St Ann:
FOR 22 years, entertainer and businessman, Dennis 'Bully Cat' Gordon, has been serving his community of Pineapple in Ocho Rios, St Ann, without seeking any form of recognition for his efforts.
Gordon has been the man behind the annual Pineapple Christmas treat for children, held on Christmas Day for the past 22 years, and the back-to-school treat held each summer for 12 years now.
"When I was young, I kept a little birthday party for my son in our community, and I saw how it turned out, so I said, 'Let me continue with it'," Gordon told The Gleaner on Wednesday.
"Then, one day, I was walking in Pineapple and I saw this nice (plot of) land. It was in bush and I cut it out and set it up real nice for my community. We set up a football field and a basketball court and the children all came together and everybody start to play. that's really where it all started from."
Today, the Christmas treat has spread beyond the community of Pineapple and has been attracting children from several other St Ann communities - even persons from outside the parish.
Hundreds turn out
"For the Christmas treat, we get almost 2,000 children from the Ocho Rios area - Great Pond, Falkland, Exchange, Parry Town. People even come from Montego Bay to take part because it's Christmas," Gordon explained.
After years of doing the Christmas treat, Gordon started the back-to-school treat to help children with their school needs. Each summer holiday, children are given bags, books, pencils, and other school items as they prepare for a new school year.
Gordon has had an influential impact on Pineapple. Community members have rallied around him and have supported his efforts throughout the years. Three years ago, he was elected president of the Pineapple Citizens' Association and this seemed to have emboldened the man.
"I just ready to work, just ready to work!" was his response when asked how much longer he would continue to serve his community.
A product of his efforts has been the teenage DJ Dada (real name Amir Fyffe), who first rose to prominence because of his performance at the annual Christmas treat.
"Dada is the first person that come out of Pineapple as a star. How he started out was, at one of our treats, when he was just four years old, we put him on stage and him win him clash straight up 'til him turn big man," Gordon said of Dada, now a student at Ocho Rios High School.
No public recognition
Despite his contributions, Gordon has never been recognised publicly for his community activities.
"No, I never get anything," Gordon said nonchalantly. "I'm not doing it for fame. I'm just doing it for the children because I believe in St Ann. Just like how I see Bob Marley come from St Ann, Marcus Garvey, Shabba Ranks, all these people come from St Ann. I see the soil in St Ann as being rich and vibrant soil able to produce good people."
Assistance from the St Ann business community has been minimal over the years, and this year, Gordon is trying to change that and will be making a spirited effort to get more sponsorship for the December treat. But whatever the outcome of his efforts to attract sponsors, the treat will go on because of his commitment.
"Well, I'm just serving my country. I love my country, and really, I love children, and since most of my children get big now, I have a lot more time to serve my country."
He continued: "Generally, I love St Ann and I want to see it grow. I want to see the town in a better state, so I'll contribute freely to see my town grow. I really achieve a lot from this community and from the parish of St Ann, in general, so I want to give back. And I want to see the parish improve."