The 100th anniversary of Kingston College was always bound to stir pride, memories and, yes, more than the occasional pang of disappointment. Among the many celebratory highlights of Founders' Week 2025, few moments carried as much weight and emotion as the formal recognition of some of those who helped build and sustain the Fortis institution we revere today.

That the Gala Awards Banquet could not accommodate a full roll call of honourees came as no surprise to those of us who have toiled behind the scenes. With a century of KC lives to consider, the task was at once exhilarating and excruciating. It required a disciplined, informed, and principled process — one undertaken with grace and good judgment by the Honours & Awards Sub-committee (H&A), whose members worked in extensive consultation with historians, the school administration, and KC support organisations in Jamaica and abroad.

The two main overarching criteria for selection were, firstly, excellence in their endeavours, nationally, regionally, and internationally, bringing prestige to themselves and to Kinston College and, secondly, service to Kingston College, preferably sustained and beyond the call of duty. Neither was considered as preeminent and many there were who excelled in both categories. Among the resources that guided this process were the meticulous historical works of Ambassador Anthony Johnson, as well as the institutional memory of the Kingston College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) and its chapters worldwide. A clear framework was developed: automatic recognition was accorded to all past Presidents (the Anglican Bishops of Jamaica), all appointed Principals, and recipients of the island’s most prestigious national and international scholarships. These are the bedrock figures in the KC story.

But this was never going to be enough. It was simply impossible to properly honour everyone deserving of recognition in one sitting, however grand the occasion. And so, the Gala — held at the Jamaica Pegasus on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 — was not the culmination of the process, but rather its beginning. It is regretted that this message was not included in the extract from the report of the hounours and awards subcommittee and read by the masters of ceremonies at the banquet.

To those who were disappointed by an omission: your disappointment is understood. Indeed, it is anticipated. But it should not be mistaken for neglect or disregard. Rather, it underscores the case for something we should have had long ago: a Kingston College Hall of Fame (KCHoF).

This centenary moment, with all its reflection and reckoning, must also be the genesis of that long-overdue institution.

Why a Hall of Fame?
Bishop Gibson, in his foresight, established the KCOBA as early as 1933 — just eight years after founding the school. That early recognition of legacy and continuity should have long since translated into a formal Hall of Fame. As Secretary of the Centenary Secretariat, I make this declaration unambiguously: Kingston College must now establish a Hall of Fame — a permanent, dynamic, and dignified mechanism through which the school community may honour, understand, and celebrate its builders.

The KCHoF should not only celebrate prominence, but also faithful service, quiet excellence, and those who laboured in obscurity but helped carry the Fortis torch across time and space.

Towards a Fortis Hall of Fame
The creation of the Kingston College Hall of Fame must proceed with the same diligence as the awards process. Here are a few guiding ideas for how the KCHoF could operate:

Bylaws and Constitution: A formal charter, to govern criteria, nominating procedures, categories of recognition, and ethics of operation.
Induction Frequency: Inductions should take place annually or biennially, with a manageable number of honourees selected each time to preserve dignity and avoid dilution.
Sustainability: Funding can come from alumni, grants, corporate partnerships, and school-based initiatives. A portion of proceeds from major KC events may be allocated to sustaining the Hall.
Public Engagement: Each induction should be a community affair, engaging students and alumni alike in learning about the school’s heritage.

Physical and Digital Archive: The KCHoF should exist both physically — perhaps within a rebuilt Hardie House — and digitally, using innovative technologies to store biographies, photos, oral histories, videos, and other media.

Looking Forward with Gratitude and Grace
We extend heartfelt congratulations to each honouree. Your recognition is richly deserved. You are the bricks and mortar of our foundation. Yet we also salute — and ask the patience of — the many more who did not receive this particular spotlight. You have not been forgotten.

Your day will come, and soon.

We owe enormous thanks to the members of the Honours & Awards Sub-committee. They took on an unenviable task and carried it out with balance and integrity. It is my hope — and indeed my request — that this same group will form the backbone of the team that births the Kingston College Hall of Fame.

Centenary Honourees
(A full list of honourees will be published below this article.)
Let this be the beginning of a tradition of recognition worthy of the school whose motto declares: Fortis Cadere Cedere Non Potest — The Brave May Fall But Never Yield.

Long live Kingston College.

Editor's Note: The full list of Centenary Honourees appears on page XX of this issue. Nominations for the Kingston College Hall of Fame will open in January 2026.

The Honourees by Category

Excellence in Arts and Culture
Patrick Brown
Paul Campbell
Franklyn “Frankie” Campbell
Augustus “Gussie” Clarke
Kingsley Cooper
Vernon Davidson
Donovan Germain
Barrington “Barry” Gordon
Lloyd Lovindeer
Allan Magnus
Donat Mittoo
Barry Reckord
Barrington Watson
Basil Watson

National Excellence
Basil Anderson
Howard Aris
Clinton V. Black
Warren Blake
Sing Slung Chin
Delroy Chuck
Dennis Cohen
Kingsley Cooper
Carlyle Dunkley
Keith Cecil Glegg
Marshall Hall
Oswald Harding
Wayne Hewett
Anthony Johnson
Keith Johnson
Dennis Lalor
Gerald Lalor
Howard Lau
Eli Matalon
Neville “Teddy” McCook
Kent Pantry
H. Orlando Patterson
Nicholas Perry
Ainsworth Scott
Adrian Strachan
George Thompson
Stephen Vasciannie
Arnaldo Ventura
Edward Zacca

President
Percival William Gibson – Principal, President
Basil M. Dale – President
Neville W. DeSouza – President
George F.C. deCarteret – President
Herbert D. Edmondson – President
Howard K.A. Gregory – President
William G. Hardie – President
Alfred C. Reid – President
John C.E. Swaby – President

Principal
Percival William Gibson
Vivian Cohen
Douglas Forrest
Ivan “Wally” Johnson
John McNab
Woodburn Miller
Dave Myrie
Egbert Don Taylor

Professional Excellence
Errol Alberga
David Batts
George Beckford
Carl Blackwood
Warren Blake
Charles “Chester” Burgess
Patrick Dallas
Winston Davidson
Vernon Davidson
L. Lawson Douglas
Carlyle Dunkley
Carlos Escoffery
Michael Fitz-Henley
Alfred A.J. Francis
Ray Fraser
John A.S. Hall
Marshall Hall
Barrie Hanchard
Oswald Harding
Anthony Johnson
Dennis Lalor
Gerald Laylor
Cedric Lazarus
Geoffrey Madden
Eleyahu “Eli” Matalon
Patrick McIntosh
K. Churchill Neita
Dean Nevers
Ivor Nugent
Kent Pantry
H. Orlando Patterson
Paul Reese
Douglas Stiebel
Adrian Strachan
Michael Vaccianna
Hugh Vaughan
Kenneth Vaughan
Robert Wan
Ian Wilkinson
Rainford Wilks
Basil Wilson
Edward Zacca

Scholarships
Keith Amiel
Gladstone Anderson
Dayne Ashman
Aston Brown
Andre Bruff
Hector Campbell
Arthur Chang
Delroy Chuck
Edward H.M. Clark
Edward Clarke
Robert Collie
Michael Condell
Patrick Dallas
Lloyd Demetrius
Carlos Escoffery
Jeffrey Foreman
Gerald Groves
Oshane Hamilton
Delano Harrison
Andre Hewitt
Patrick Johnson
Donald Jones
Derek Kirkpatrick
John Manley
Probyn Marsh
Evan Morris
LeRoy L. Murad
Ross Murray
Glenroy Murray
Adrian Nembhard
Clive Nicholson
Norman Rae
Paul Robinson
Dwayne Rowe
Winston L. Stewart
Stephen Vasciannie
Herbert Walker
Adrian Watson
Mark Young

Service to KC
Errol Alberga
Basil Anderson
Byron Bachelor
Clive Bariffe
David Batts
Alvin Binns
Rainford Bloomfield
Charles “Chester” Burgess
Sydney “Foggy” Burrowes
Bernard Channer
Ronnie Chin
Sing Slung Chin
Delroy Chuck
Dennis Cohen
Kingsley Cooper
Patrick Dallas
Winston Davidson
Barry Davies
Steve Dunn
Eldon Forrest
Christopher Francis
Ray Fraser
Wayne Fraser
William Goldsmith
Selbourne Goode
Peter-John Gordon
Winford “Freddie” Green
Marshall Hall
Barrie Hanchard
Edward Hanna
Christopher Hare
Audley Hewett
Wayne Hewett
Jeff Hoyes
George Jograj
Ivan “Wally” Johnson
Anthony Johnson
Gresford Jones
Glen Laman
Howard Lau
Cedric Lazarus
Errol G. Lecky
Eleyahu “Eli” Matalon
Patrick McIntosh
Woodburn Miller
K. Churchill Neita
John Nethersole
Ivor Nugent
Stratton Palmer
Paul Reese
James Richard
Bruce Rickards
Reynold Scott
Norman Smith
Edeline Soutar
Noel Spencer
Valmore Stewart
Douglas Stiebel
Michael Vaccianna
Hugh Vaughan
Rudolph Wallace
Robert Wan
Maurice Weir
Ian Wilkinson
Rainford Wilks
Basil Wilson

Excellence in Sports
Howard Aris
Clive Bariffe
D. Howard Bell
Rajindra Campbell
Trevor Campbell
Davian Clarke
Allan Cole
William Goldsmith
Winford “Freddie” Green
Robert Haynes
Michael Holding
John K. Holt Jnr
Zharnel Hughes
Maurice Lewis
Lancelot Lumsden
Neville “Teddy” McCook
Roy McLean
Carey McLeod
Omar McLeod
Easton McMorris
Lennox Miller
Neville Oxford
Stratton Palmer
Hansle Parchment
Wayne Pinnock
Clive Pullen
James Richards
Richard Russell
Marlon Samuels
Robert Samuels
O’Neil “Collie” Smith
George Thompson
Teaching Excellence
Frederick L. Anderson
Sylvia Barber
Joyce A.A. Baxter
Opal Branche
Carlton I. Bruce
Everton Burrell
John Burrow
Sydney “Foggy” Burrowes
George Clough
Frances Coke
James Crick
Motilal Desai
Helen Douglas
William Goldsmith
Marguerita Hall
Sheila Hoo Sang
Stafford Isaac-Henry
Ivan “Wally” Johnson
Eugene Jones
Peter Maxwell
Edward B. MacDonald
Woodburn Miller
Trevor Parchment
James A.H. Ramsay
Beulah Reid
Cecil Satchell
Sonia Serrant
Beryl Urquhart
Juliet Wilson
Maurice Wilson