Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Kermit "Shine" Forbes: Sparring Partner for Papa

Kermit "Shine" Forbes: Sparring Partner for Pap Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 19, 2024

1. Kermit "Shine" Forbes: Sparring Partner for Pap Marker

Inscription. Hemingway often refereed boxing matches in Key West's Bahama Village. One match, fought in 1936, was particularly brutal. The manager of one of the fighters, Kermit "Shine" Forbes, conceded the fight by literally "throwing in the towel." Hemingway picked the towel up and threw it back. Shine tried twice more. On the third try, Hemingway threw the towel in Shine's face. Shine swung a punch. The match ended.

When Shine learned the referee he punched was Ernest Hemingway, he went to Hemingway's home to apologize. Shine agreed to become Hemingway's sparring partner. They also became lifelong friends.

Kermit "Shine" Forbes
Nickname: Battlin Geech
Hometown: Key West
Born: 1916
Died: February16, 2000
Stance: Southpaw
Weight: 135-165 lbs
height: 5 foot 6 inches
Record: 18-2-0

(caption) Hemingway sparred with the local men in Bimini offering $250 to anyone who could knock him out in these rounds (1935)

Erected by The Hemingway Home and Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports.

Location. 24° 33.086′ N, 81° 48.025′ W.

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Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from Whitehead Street near Olivia Street, on the left when traveling south. Located on the grounds of the Hemingway Home and Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 907 Whitehead St, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain Dexter and Snowball: The First Six-Toed Cat (here, next to this marker); Hemingway Boxing in Life and Writing (a few steps from this marker); The Hemingway Pool an Unprecedented Architectural Feat (a few steps from this marker); The Brick Wall: Hemingway's "Privacy Fence"

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 19, 2024

2. Kermit "Shine" Forbes: Sparring Partner for Pap Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Construction of the Historic House 1850-1851 (a few steps from this marker); Hemingway's Model A Ford: "The Ride" in Key West (within shouting distance of this marker); Miriam Williams: Hemingways' Personal Chef (within shouting distance of this marker); Bernice Dixon: Visionary for Hemingway Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.