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The Good & True

The Good & True ...issue# 29...September, 2000

Hall of Fame Inductees 
for 2000

In the years since it first opened its doors on September 2, 1850,St. George's College has produced many outstanding alumni who have brought honour to their alma mater by distinguishing themselves in a number of fields. The school honoured several of these high achievers on September 2, 2000, at its 150th Anniversary Hall of Fame Banquet at King's House. After careful consideration of the nominations received, the Hall of Fame Review Committee selected 11 persons for induction into the St. George's College Hall of Fame for the year 2000.

PIONEERS IN EDUCATION AND RELIGION

The late Monsignor Gladstone Wilson, C.B.E. (Class of 1921), an Internationally-recognized scholar with doctorates in Canon Law, Theology and Philosophy, and the first native Roman Catholic diocesan Priest in Jamaica, was honoured in the dual categories of Education and Religion, and named the St. George's College Student of the 20th Century.

Also honoured was the late Bishop Percival Gibson (Class of 1910), who was the first native Anglican Bishop of Jamaica and went on to found St. George's great North Street rival, Kingston College, serving as headmaster of that institution for 30 years.

SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND EDUCATION

Dr. Terrence Forrester (Class of 1968), Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of the West Indies and Director of the Tropical Metabolism Research Institute, is recognized internationally as a leading research expert in hypertension.

 Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong (Class of 1956), Chief of Medicine at Toronto Western Hospital in Canada, has received several awards as a teacher in internal medicine, earning the designation of "Most Recognized Teacher in Canada".

 A no less illustrious coach was the late Adrian Chaplain (Class of 1924). One of the first laymen to teach at St. George's, "Mr. Chaps" achieved notable success as an outstanding teacher of Mathematics, and coached the school's swim team to 13 consecutive Championship wins.

THE ARTS

The name of Byron Lee, O.D. (Class of 1952) is virtually synonymous with entertainment in the Caribbean and many parts of North America. At the heart of the evolution of Jamaican popular music from its infancy to the present day, Byron Lee has also made soca an acceptable genre for the Jamaican masses, albeit not without protest.

SPORTS

St. George's boasts among its alumni the Caribbean's first - and to date only - Olympic medal winner outside of Track & Field, David Weller, O.D. (Class of 1973). He won a bronze medal in Cycling at the Moscow Olympics of 1980, and has been named by The Gleaner among the " 10 Greatest Jamaican Athletes of the Century". Presently active as a coach, among his charges is Olympic Triathlon hopeful, Iona Wynter.

RELIGION AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Fr. Richard Ho Lung, M.O.P., O.D. (Class of 1958), Superior General of the religious congregation Missionaries of the Poor which he founded in 1984, actively ministers to the poor through the homes run by this order, and is a former English teacher at St. George's College and the University of the West Indies. The excellent musical productions of "Fr. Ho Lung and Friends" attract large audiences to each performance.

Justice Ronald Small, O.J. (1923) a pioneer among Jamaican-born justices who have sat on the High Court bench, was honoured for his contributions to the practice of Law in Jamaica.

The modem Jamaican tourist industry owes a great deal to the late Abraham Elias Issa, O.J., C.B.E. (Class of 1920), affectionately called "Mr. Jamaica", whose legacy in the hospitality industry is being carried on by the second and third generations of the House of Issa. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions in the business arena.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

A member of the Class of 1852 and one of the earliest alumni, Fr. Mario Valenzuela, S.J. (1836-1922), is credited with restoring the Jesuit order in Colombia after 33 years of persecution that drove his early teachers and many priests like himself into exile. An outstanding writer, journalist, educator and theologian, he founded several colleges in Colombia. He was also responsible for the introduction of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to Colombia, and for guiding its spread throughout all the major cities of Colombia for over 60 years. The Colombian Ambassador to Jamaica received the award in the name of Fr. Valenzuela, who was also named The St. George's College Student of the 19th Century.

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