When the Progressive Labour Party won power in 1998 after 30 years in the political wilderness, they put C. Eugene Cox in the pivotal position of controlling the Island's purse strings.

It was a just reward for a man of principle who made the brave decision to stand up for the PLP and be counted in the 1960s, a time when many black Bermudians feared they could lose their jobs or mortgages if they challenged the white establishment.

In his five years as Minister of Finance, Mr. Cox performed the adroit balancing act of remaining true to his labour roots while keeping the economy, particularly international business, more or less content.

His greatest legacy may prove to be keeping Bermuda's economy buoyant, defying the predictions of the prophets of doom who forecast that exempted companies would flee the Island in their droves under the PLP.

A mild-mannered gentleman, Mr. Cox, 75, was admired even by those political foes with whom he did battle during his 28-year career in the House of Assembly.

He served a nine-year apprenticeship as Shadow Finance Minister from 1989 and had been deputy leader of the PLP since October 1996.

His long and illustrious career in politics and business - where he was latterly on the board of Bermuda Electric Light Company - was recognised by the Queen last month in her New Year's honours when she made him a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

The press release accompanying his award stated he had “brought a brilliant mind, proven executive ability and commitment to service to his varied professional, political and communal affairs”.

Mr. Cox knew he was taking a risk by campaigning for the PLP in the 1960s and he was convinced he, and other colleagues suffered by getting involved in politics.

“I think most of us who have been in politics have suffered before we even got halfway through where we have been because of the opportunities you have to give up,” he said just before the last election.

“The positions in your job that would probably otherwise have gotten had you not been in politics.

“It is not just the time you put into it. If the establishment is running the companies and you are one of the employees and you say you are going to run for Parliament to run and fight against them, they are not going to have you, are they? Or make it easy for you.”

Mr. Cox had to tread a fine line between political activism and working for Belco, but despite his politics, he ended his career as senior vice president and assistant to the president with responsibility for engineering.

He held the position until his retirement in 1993 when he was put onto the Belco board. He stepped down from the board in 1998 when the PLP won the November election and he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Born and raised in Sandys Parish, he attended West End Primary School and qualified as an engine fitter in the Royal Naval Dockyard while attending the Royal Naval Technical School in Ireland Island.

The young Eugene Cox was a star football player, turning out for West End Rovers, which later became Somerset Trojans.

He was married to the former Alinda Parris, and they have three children, Attorney General and Education Minister Paula Cox, Jeremy, an accountant, and Robert, an electrical engineer.

He attended Ryerson Institute of Technology in Toronto in 1952 and went on to gain his Iron Ring and graduate with a degree in Engineering from McGill University in Montreal.

He also obtained a Certificate in Management from the American Management Association.

During a lengthy career in public life, Mr. Cox devoted his energies not just to politics, but to education, race relations and the Anglican Church.

He was a long-serving trustee and chairman of the Board of Governors of Sandys Secondary Middle School, and he initiated the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Berkeley Institute.

A veteran member of St. James Church in Sandys, he was one of the church's representatives at the Anglican Synod, and he served in the Synod executive committee.

Mr. Cox was first elected to the House of Assembly for Sandys South in 1968 - the first General Election fought by political parties in Bermuda.

Mr. Cox and his running mate Walter Roberts again won Sandys South in 1972, turning the constituency into a PLP bastion.

But in 1976, Mr. Cox again put party before personal ambition and ran in Sandys North against UBP incumbent Flip Galloway, who narrowly held onto the seat while campaigning from his hospital bed.

Mr. Cox was moved to Senate, but when Mr. Galloway died several months later, Mr. Cox won the seat in a by-election, turning Sandys North into a split seat. In 1980 the PLP captured both seats.

In 1985, following a split in the PLP, he left politics but returned to run under party leader the late Frederick Wade in 1989 when he and newcomer Dennis Lister recaptured Sandys North from the UBP.

As a Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, he initiated the JOBB project and was a member of the Higher Horizons group designed to promote racial harmony by organising trips for mixed race groups of youths.

During his long parliamentary career, he served on many committees, including the House and Grounds Committee, parliamentary Remuneration Committee, the Committee on Banking, the Private Members' Bill Committee, and the Public Accounts Committee.

But his health deteriorated last year after he was diagnosed as having stomach cancer, and he was too ill to attend the Budget debate last February.

The first reports of his ill-health came in February when he was admitted to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, although details of his condition were not disclosed.

This forced him to miss the Budget debate in the House of Assembly. He was readmitted again for the second time in the space of a month in March.

During the rebellion against former Premier Jennifer Smith by half of her newly-elected MP's after the July 24 election victory, Mr. Cox remained loyal to Ms Smith.

After Ms Smith resigned as PLP leader at a tense meeting at Devonshire Recreation Club days later, Mr. Cox dramatically stepped down as deputy leader, enabling Alex Scott and rebel leader Dr. Ewart Brown to take over the helm of the party and to begin to heal the party's divisions.

As well as the legacy of goodwill Mr. Cox leaves Bermuda, his record in office will also be a source of satisfaction.

The ratings Agency Standard and Poor's assigned Bermuda a AA long term credit rating this week, saying the Island had benefited from “many years of good economic management”.