Friends and relatives are advised of the passing of Basil C. Ottley Sr. on Thursday, May 12, on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Ottley was born on St. Thomas on Sept. 26, 1918, and he was most renowned for the services he offered the community as a professional photographer. Ottley and his older brother, the late Randolph Ottley, opened Ottley’s Photo Studio in 1940 where they offered a full range of photographic services from portrait photography to photo processing. In 1952, Ottley became the sole owner of the studio when he bought Randolph out of the business. He continued to be the community photographer that the masses would seek out to take passport, first communion, wedding, Carnival and graduation pictures until his retirement in 1995, after 55 years of continuous operation.
In May of 1945, Ottley’s Photo Studio was involved in launching the career of a younger Ottley brother in the fields of journalism and politics when it began publishing the Photo News newspaper with the late Senator Earle B. Ottley as editor. Because of his training as a photo engraver, Basil saw an opportunity to create a niche in the local newspaper offering, by using his skill to enable the Photo News to be the first Virgin Islands newspaper to be able to use local pictures on a daily basis. Basil convinced Randolph of the opportunity, and Basil tasked Earle, who was in New York at Columbia School of Journalism, to purchase the equipment they would need. Earle purchased a small printing press and other equipment Basil had itemized, and he unexpectedly returned from school with the equipment. The die was cast and the brothers launched full speed ahead into the publishing and social conscious raising business with wild abandon. Randolph was the publisher and manager and Basil was the photographer, photo engraver and photo editor. Earle used the editorial pages of the Photo News, with Basil’s support and encouragement, to challenge the order of the day and to establish himself as a young maverick to watch.
The Photo News bore the moniker of being “An Independent Truth Paper For All the People” that challenged the pro “establishment” perspective and reporting that The Daily News was commonly thought to represent. The Photo News’ cutting edge reporting and populist leanings did not win it any favor with most of the businesses community it depended on for advertising, but the Ottley brothers innovated to beat the competition in circulation numbers. Many prominent Virgin Islanders still remark with pride today that they or a family member were among the chosen to serve as runners for the paper.
In May of 1945, Ottley’s Photo Studio was involved in launching the career of a younger Ottley brother in the fields of journalism and politics when it began publishing the Photo News newspaper with the late Senator Earle B. Ottley as editor. Because of his training as a photo engraver, Basil saw an opportunity to create a niche in the local newspaper offering, by using his skill to enable the Photo News to be the first Virgin Islands newspaper to be able to use local pictures on a daily basis. Basil convinced Randolph of the opportunity, and Basil tasked Earle, who was in New York at Columbia School of Journalism, to purchase the equipment they would need. Earle purchased a small printing press and other equipment Basil had itemized, and he unexpectedly returned from school with the equipment. The die was cast and the brothers launched full speed ahead into the publishing and social conscious raising business with wild abandon. Randolph was the publisher and manager and Basil was the photographer, photo engraver and photo editor. Earle used the editorial pages of the Photo News, with Basil’s support and encouragement, to challenge the order of the day and to establish himself as a young maverick to watch.
The Photo News bore the moniker of being “An Independent Truth Paper For All the People” that challenged the pro “establishment” perspective and reporting that The Daily News was commonly thought to represent. The Photo News’ cutting edge reporting and populist leanings did not win it any favor with most of the businesses community it depended on for advertising, but the Ottley brothers innovated to beat the competition in circulation numbers. Many prominent Virgin Islanders still remark with pride today that they or a family member were among the chosen to serve as runners for the paper.
As the photography business began to require more of Basil’s attention and as Earle’s political career began to mature, Basil and Randolph decided to get out of the publishing business and to turn the newspaper assets over to Earle. Basil, however, remained closely aligned and engaged with Earle’s political career, and he became an important and behind the scenes leader and operator in the political machine that would bring the Unity Party and the post 1966 Democratic Party into prominence. Although he could have had virtually any government position he wanted, Basil was adamant about maintaining his independence. He was proud to proclaim that he never sought or received a government position or contract because of his brother or because of his political affiliation. He was proud of all of the effort and sacrifices he made in that era of political movement that resulted in the creation of a middle class and an economic infrastructure and foundation that still sustains the Virgin Islands today. He gave his all to support his brother Earle and to do what he felt was his duty to make the Virgin Islands a better place for all who loved and valued the Virgin Islands as much as he did.
Basil served as a member of the Virgin Islands Port Authority Board, and he was a dedicated Catholic and supporter of the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral congregation. Basil was born in the Savan community of St. Thomas, and he died of natural causes at home with his family in Savan, as he wished, at the glorious age of 92.
Basil C. Ottley Sr., is survived by his son, former Senator Basil C. Ottley Jr.; daughter-in-law, Kirsten Abrahams-Ottley; former wife, Josephine Schulterbrandt Ottley; step-daughters: Laura Chesterfield, Loretta Brathwaite and Linda Huyghue; grandchildren: Serafina and Zindzhi Ottley, Charisma and Ivah Chesterfield Jr., Edric and Tanyka Brathwaite, Dormois Bazile, Leroy, Yolanda, Delroy and Ebonie Huyghue; sister-in-law, Alma Ottley; nephews: Earle Lawrence Ottley, Athniel “Addie” Ottley, Clarence Ottley, Andre Ottley, Peter Ottley, Paul Ottley, Roy Ottley, Randolph Ottley Jr., Aubrey Ottley, Keith Ottley, Eric Bolin and Leonard Blake; an nieces: Patrice Ottley-Scabriel, Judith Ottley, Dianne Ottley-Maharaj, Linda Ottley, Greta Ottley, Beryl Blyden, Joyce Blyden, Clarice Horsford, Orthelia Davis, Eunice Ottley Petersen, Gertrude Jones, Judith Steele, Edris Martin, Gale Williams, Eulalia George, Velma Ottley, Alda Ottley, Margaret Ottley, Barbara Ottley, Magalie Ottley, Janine Ottley, Sonia Walters and Lenore Ottley. There are many more family members and associations to include the Queeman family and the family of Ernest Schulterbrandt.
A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 27, at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas. The family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral restoration fund in honor of Basil C. Ottley Sr. at P.O. Box 301767, St. Thomas, VI 00803. Funeral arrangements are being managed by Turnbull’s Funeral Home.
Basil C. Ottley Sr., is survived by his son, former Senator Basil C. Ottley Jr.; daughter-in-law, Kirsten Abrahams-Ottley; former wife, Josephine Schulterbrandt Ottley; step-daughters: Laura Chesterfield, Loretta Brathwaite and Linda Huyghue; grandchildren: Serafina and Zindzhi Ottley, Charisma and Ivah Chesterfield Jr., Edric and Tanyka Brathwaite, Dormois Bazile, Leroy, Yolanda, Delroy and Ebonie Huyghue; sister-in-law, Alma Ottley; nephews: Earle Lawrence Ottley, Athniel “Addie” Ottley, Clarence Ottley, Andre Ottley, Peter Ottley, Paul Ottley, Roy Ottley, Randolph Ottley Jr., Aubrey Ottley, Keith Ottley, Eric Bolin and Leonard Blake; an nieces: Patrice Ottley-Scabriel, Judith Ottley, Dianne Ottley-Maharaj, Linda Ottley, Greta Ottley, Beryl Blyden, Joyce Blyden, Clarice Horsford, Orthelia Davis, Eunice Ottley Petersen, Gertrude Jones, Judith Steele, Edris Martin, Gale Williams, Eulalia George, Velma Ottley, Alda Ottley, Margaret Ottley, Barbara Ottley, Magalie Ottley, Janine Ottley, Sonia Walters and Lenore Ottley. There are many more family members and associations to include the Queeman family and the family of Ernest Schulterbrandt.
A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 27, at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas. The family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral restoration fund in honor of Basil C. Ottley Sr. at P.O. Box 301767, St. Thomas, VI 00803. Funeral arrangements are being managed by Turnbull’s Funeral Home.
