Significant national honours are now in the offing in Jamaica for the man who became known as ‘The Bermuda King’ primarily in the local parish where he was born and surrounding areas. James (Dick) Richards, revered for his benevolence and philanthropy to his homeland, is slated for a posthumous by the Jamaica 50 Celebrations Committee.That’s the latest word from Vincent Samuels whom we dubbed the ‘BOSA Man’, during his high profile, week-long visit to Bermuda in September in his capacity as secretary-treasurer of the Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA), connected with the Beersheba Primary School. That is the alma mater of ‘Dick’ Richards. which BOSA plan to turn into a museum in his honour.The Jamaica 50 Celebrations is the body that has been highlighting the massive on-going celebrations of Jamaica’s declaration of Independence from Britain a half century ago.Richards was born in a village in one of the poorest regions of Jamaica. Both his parents died when he was at an early age, leaving him to fare for himself. An ambitious and industrious youth, he set out, walking for three days the 115-mile distance to Beersheba Primary School, and to work day and night in a bakery.He came to Bermuda in 1902 with a contingent of the all black British West India Regimen famously called ‘The Bully Roosters’, that had served with distinction with the British Army during the BOER war in southern Africa in the late 1800ago.Settling in Bermuda upon completion of his tour of duty, Dick Richards became an Innkeeper. He made a fortune, becoming one of the Island’s richest persons, and certainly one of the largest black landowners.He never forgot from whence he came. His Beersheba old school was more like a leaky shack; when it rained students had to shift from place to place to avoid getting soaked.As the fortunes of Mr. Richards grew in Bermuda, he liberally spread his philantrophic interests to his newly adopted homeland; and, he was midful to similarly take care of his old community friends in the New Market, St Elizabeth, Parish of Jamaica.It was BOSA that dispatched Mr Samuels to Bermuda to follow up on the life and times of James (Dick) Richards. While here, meeting with the Mayor and Corporation of Hamilton, he was advised that the City Fathers plan a suitable memorial in Hamilon to Mr. Richards.Now the BOSA Man states the Mayor and Chairman of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council plan an awards ceremony at Everglades Hotel, Parottee, St Elizabeth on November 30 for the posthumous award. Two direct descendants of Mr Richards, who will be named in due course, are being especially invited to the ceremony.