- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
From left: Douglas Orane, Darcy Crooks, Wayne Wray and Ian Wong catch up on old times at St. George's College.

Five distinguished men have been inducted into the St. George's Hall of Fame. They are: Father Leo F. Quinlan, Father Francis Ryan, Ralph C. Thompson, Claude McMorris and Dr. G. Raymond Chang. Former Alum Dr. Aggrey Irons hosted the event, which took place on Saturday, October 7, at the annual awards banquet at the Hilton Kingston hotel. The five recipients all represent a lifelong commitment to serving their communities.

Father Leo F. Quinlan, an outstanding religious leader, has been a mentor and source of inspiration for not only his parishioners but also his students at St. George's College. He was raised in Sommerville, Massachusetts, earned his B.A. in philosophy at Western College and was later ordained in 1945. In the late 1940s, he adopted Jamaica as his home and joined the staff of St. George's in 1951. From 1962-1970 he held the post of principal. He has been a constant source for inspiration for his students who continue to seek his counsel.

Making significant contribution

Father Francis Joseph Ryan, S.J. has spent 50 years dedicating his time and making significant contribution to the quality of education and religious instruction in Jamaica. His passion lies with helping others and he works diligently to improve society. Father Ryan grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where he earned both his B.A. and master's degrees from Boston College. In 1950, he began his teaching career in Jamaica at St. George's College, where he taught a wide array of subjects which included religion, history and Latin.

Ralph C. Thompson has rendered a lifetime of service to Jamaica and its citizens as a distinguished public servant and business leader. After graduating from Fordham University in New York, he obtained a teaching fellowship, which he served while competing his Doctorate in Law.

While serving as a judge advocate general for the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Thompson received a United Nations medal and Korean Service medal for his work while stationed in Japan during the Korean conflict. He later returned to Jamaica to a launch an extensive business career.

Shaping and educating young minds

Claude McMorris has dedicated his life to shaping and educating young minds. In 1950, Mr. McMorris left Jamaica to pursue higher education at Boston College, where he received a B.Sc. in Biology. He worked for four years as a cancer researcher at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He left the scientific research field to fulfil his passion for education and later obtained a master's degree in education.

G. Raymong Chang is a dedicated advocate for adult learning and a widely respected business leader. His generosity and contribution to education spans the Jamaican Canadian diaspora.

Mr. Chang attended the University of Toronto where he received an engineering degree in 1970, going on to become a chartered accountant. He launched his business career in Canada, where he is part owner of CI Fund Management. He is chairman of the CI Financial. Recently he became Ryerson University's third chancellor.