Episcopal celebrated four alumni whose professional achievements and lifelong commitments to leadership, service, and excellence embody the school’s mission during its Alumni Hall of Honor Ceremony on January 30. The ceremony began with an invocation led by The Rev. Teresa Seagle, Dean of Spiritual Life, followed by a welcome from Peter Blumeyer ‘08, Alumni Board President, and remarks by The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School. Short videos provided an overview of each of the 2026 Hall of Honor recipients: Curtis Davis ’71, Deborah Mitchell Jackson ’75, Bill Forrester ’76, and Chris Farrell. Alumni Hall of Honor Page
The first inductee, Curtis Davis ’71, is a nationally respected architect, urban planner, and educator with more than four decades of leadership in urban redevelopment, housing, and civic infrastructure. Curtis is the Founding Principal of ReBuildit Collaborative, where his work has included high-profile public and private sector projects such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel Project, commonly known as the “Big Dig.”
An accomplished educator, he currently teaches at Rice University and the University of Houston and has held prior academic appointments at Prairie View A&M University and the Boston Architectural College. He earned a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and a bachelor of arts degree in architecture from Rice University.
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Mitchell Jackson ’75, is a seasoned Episcopal priest, theological educator, and former corporate executive whose ministry has focused on formation, social justice, and leadership development across the Episcopal Church. A native of Jacksonville, Deborah was recently appointed Dean of Formation and Recruitment at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, where she oversees student formation and partners with dioceses nationwide to recruit future church leaders.
Ordained in 2007, Deborah has served parishes throughout Jacksonville – including St. John’s Cathedral, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church – and spent more than a decade as Associate Dean for Community Life at Sewanee’s School of Theology. Her doctoral work examined millennial engagement with the Church, and she completed a Doctor of Ministry in Transformative Leadership with a thesis focused on welcoming young adults into faith communities. Prior to ordained ministry, Deborah spent 23 years in marketing at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and is widely known for her pastoral presence, deep listening, and commitment to forming compassionate leaders.
Bill Forrester ’76 is a world champion swimmer, Olympic medalist, and elite coach. Bill represented the United States at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, earning a bronze medal in the 200-meter butterfly. His international career also includes multiple medals at the FINA World Championships, including gold medals and a world-record-setting performance in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin.
A graduate of Auburn University, Bill trained under legendary coaches Eddie Reese and Richard Quick and set an American record early in his collegiate career. In 1994, he founded the Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team in Savannah, Georgia, which has since become one of the region’s most respected youth swimming programs. He has been inducted into the Pennsylvania and Georgia Aquatics Halls of Fame in recognition of his lasting impact on the sport.
The final inductee, Chris Farrell ’84, attended Episcopal from 1978-1984. He played varsity soccer for four years. During his time as an Episcopal player honors included Captain, Offensive MVP, All City and All State. He graduated from Stetson University with a BA in Economics and played NCAA Division I soccer. He earned his MBA in Finance from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, where he was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society and recognized in Who’s Who in American MBA programs. Chris currently serves as Executive Vice President, Head of International Strategy and Development for Walmart Inc, the world’s largest company by revenue and ranked #1 on the FORTUNE 500.
His pursuits outside of work include helping fellow Episcopal alum Kevin Chinoy (’86) launch “The 24 Hour Plays” on Broadway in the aftermath of 9/11, and serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Joyful Heart Foundation which he helped Emmy Award-winning actress Mariska Hargitay launch. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Surfrider Foundation.
He developed and produced the feature-length documentary Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President, which was slated as the opening night of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and aired on CNN and HBO Max, and produced Left Behind, winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 SOHO Film Festival. Left Behind was recently nominated for an NAACP IMAGE AWARD for Outstanding Documentary Film. A published essayist, Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the Bentonville Film Festival and is a member of the Producers Guild of America.
Chris is a minority investor and former Board member of Shelbourne Football Club (Dublin, Ireland based professional soccer team). He is a season ticket holder at Fulham Football Club, the London based soccer team he has supported for almost thirty years. He is a generous, lifelong supporter of Episcopal, including its soccer program. In 2024, the school named the student section at Jangro Stadium the Farrell-Hayes Stand in honor of Chris and his late teammate James Hayes (’86).
The Alumni Hall of Honor is an Episcopal tradition, recognizing alumni for their post-graduate accomplishments and impact on their field, their community, and/or society as a whole. Curtis, Deborah, Bill and Chris join the following esteemed alumni in the Hall of Honor: Nancy Hogshead ’80, William H. Walton III ’70, The Rt. Rev. George D. Young III ’73, and Todd Eberle ’81, who were inducted in 2016, and Timo Weiland ’01 and Sally Hogshead ’87 who were inducted in 2020.