In 2000 Time magazine went about identifying the 100 people in major areas of life and then, using the names as a short list, researched and polled the opinions of people around the world.

Their choice of Albert Einstein as the man of the century will probably win widespread approval.  For runners-up they identified Franklin D. Rossevelt, the American president whose policies enabled the US people to rid themselves of the shackles of the great depression.  He was elected to office three times [which is no longer possible] and so was also their president during the Second World War.  As the other runner-up they selected Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian born South African lawyer, who became renowned as the leader of non-violent protest to effect political change.

In South Africa there has been a plethora of lists and categories seeking to identify top people of the century.  One which I did agree was the selection of Graeme Pollock as best cricketer.

I was surprised there was no mention of the top school of the century – especially with all the attention given to the generally poor matric results and the lists of so-called top schools that the Sunday Times has been promoting.

At this the first awards function of the new millennium, I decided to try and identify the Jeppe greats who excelled at various activities during the twentieth century.

Top Headmaster – AJ Grant [1943 – 1962] – the longest tenure as Head, and spoken of with much awe by old boys from his era.

Teacher of the Century without peer is Mr. Taffy Jones who died in 1999 after an association of 70 years with the school.

Jeppe Family of the Century has got to be the Katzens who boast grandfather, son and grandson as headboys [1928 Viv, 1955 Hugh, and 1986 Rob].

Jeppe Old Boy of the Century is really impossible to identify without breaking things down into categories:

Politician of the Century goes to Harry Schwartz, who as an attorney was on the defence team of the Rivonia trial.  He became an MP, Opposition spokesman on Finance and then South African ambassador to Washington in the Government of National Unity.

Political Activist of the Century would be Marius Schoon.

Judge of the Century goes to Justice HC Nicholas [there have been 9 Jeppe judges].

Soldier of the Century goes to Lieutenant General Alan Fraser who was Chief of the Army.

There are a whole host of Jeppe mayors.  Top mayor would probably be shared with Sam Moss and Patrick Lewis for their incredible contribution to the Jeppe schools over the years.  Serious contenders would also be the Neppes who lived in McDonald Street adjacent to the school and whose campaign slogan was Neppe for Jeppe [the constituency].  Both father Max and son David were mayors of Johannesburg.

There is an illustrious list of Jeppe academics but my choice is Cornelius de Kiewiet, who was president of Cornell and then Rochester University in the United States.  He was also one of four Jeppe Rhodes scholars.

Academics who achieved while still at school:  there must be several six distinction candidates but top for me is Alisdair Stuart who in 1970 won both the national Maths and Science Olympiads.

Headmasters who were old boys:  again there is a long list but I am going for Frank Braun, founding headmaster of Leicester Road Primary, who was head there for 40 years.  He was also the president of the South African Olympic Committee.

Religious Leaders:  numbers of Jeppe Old Boys have taken the cloth, the most prominent being Reginald Osmond, Catholic Bishop of Johannesburg.  He was the founding headmaster of Boys’ Town.

Most Decorated Soldier goes to Air Marshall Sir Phillip Lagesen, who was knighted by the Queen for setting a world record for a non-stop light around the world in 1957.

Medical Men:  Professor Maurice Shapiro’s obituary appeared in the 1999 school magazine, but I am going to make it Professor Harry Seftel the doctor who brought complicated medical diagnoses to the masses through his popular radio programmes.

Authors and Literature:  again there are some very strong candidates but my preference is for the incomparable Herman Charles Bosman.

Top Businessmen:  there have been several including a very powerful current crop.  My vote would go to Derek Cooper, current chairman of CG Smith, Liberty Life and Reunert [“in line for SA’s most prolific chairman” – Hilary Joffe].  He is also the chairman of the Jeppe Schools’ Trust.

Which was the Jeppe Sports Club of the Century?

It may come as a surprise but you could not exclude Soccer from this equation as in the thirty years between 1903 and 1933 Jeppe won the Inter-School Soccer shield 21 times, 13 of which were in succession.  Jeppe has produced 6 Soccer Springboks.

Athletics and Rowing hold the record with 14 Springboks each produced so far.

Cricket had 5 Springboks in the same international team that toured England in 1929.  There are a total of 13 Springboks including a captain in Jock Cameron.

Hockey emulated this feat in the African Games side in 1995 when not only five Jeppe players were in the team but one of the umpires and the tournament referee were Jeppe Old Boys.  Hockey has produced 11 Springboks, including current national captain Craig Jackson and current assistant national coach Robbie Pullen.  In addition to the list of achievements already cited Hockey has also dominated the Aitken Schools Knockout Trophy winning it 12 times in its 25-year history.  On 4 other occasions Jeppe were beaten finalists.

Rugby’s heyday at Jeppe was in the fifties when Wilf Rosenburg and Des Sinclair were selected as the centre pairing for the national side.  The success of the fifties’ sides were emulated by teams in the early nineties coached by Jake White which saw James Dalton and Brent Moyle gaining the green and gold.

Who was the Jeppe Sportsman of the Century?

Perhaps it should be LBB Betts, who held a world record while he was still at school, and whose school record for the adjusted 100 yards still stands.

Or the award should go collectively to the Coulsen brothers, Brian, Gordon and Alan who were all Baseball Springboks.  Colin Coulsen would in all likelihood have made it a fourth in one family had he not been killed in an accident.

It would be hard to ignore the claims of Brian Mitchell who successfully defended his world boxing title something like fourteen times.

And it would be difficult to leave out the cricketing Rowan brothers and Neil Adcock.

But I think it would have to be shared by our two double Springboks Jimmy Pickerill [Soccer and Hockey] and Alan Kourie [Baseball and Cricket].

No doubt the list will attract its share of controversy!  Correspondence on these issues is invited.  It is wonderful though to look back on a century of achievement as a challenge to those who receive awards today.  I trust that recipients of today’s awards will strive to achieve even greater heights. 

[Prize Giving Address by Mr. K. Tait, 2000]