StM News

December 2023 Alumni Spotlight

The Rev. Dr. Fred D. Devall IV ’87

Attended 1980 - 1987

Rector, St. Martin’s Church

Doctor of Ministry in Preaching, The School of Theology, Sewanee, TN, 2023

M. Div. Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA, 1996

B.S. Natural Resources, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, 1991

At St. Martin’s our Episcopal identity permeates every aspect of the school community, shaping our approach to education, spirituality, and service. The Rev. Dr Fred Devall IV, class of 1987, exemplifies our school mission as the rector of St. Martin’s Church, a St. Martin’s legacy family and a member of the Board of Trustees. This month, during this season of reflection, we spoke with Father Devall about his time as a student and his continued  connection to his alma mater. 

At St. Martin’s, we focus on our three founding pillars of Faith, Scholarship, and Service. Faith has obviously been a huge part of your life and your career journey. Talk about when that started for you and how StM helped to guide you along that path. 

I was what you would call an ‘early adopter.’ My great grandfather was an Episcopal priest, and my Grandfather actually had worked for O. E. Haring, so he was excited to see that there would be an Episcopal school. My grandparents truly believed in this school and its mission, and they sent my father here, who graduated in 1956. I had always wanted to come here because my dad went here, so I started in Middle School after attending Holy Name. After St. Martin’s, I attended Sewanee and then went on to the Virginia Theological Seminary, so I have gone to religious schools my whole life!

What memories of your time here at St. Martin’s stand out most strongly for you?

The service project that I completed for Dr. Rosenbaum’s class my senior year had a huge impact on me. I chose to volunteer at the New Orleans Home for Adults and met some really wonderful people there. I even wrote my college application essay about how those relationships affected me. 

Were you involved in Chapel services as a student? 

I distinctly remember being an acolyte for the Baccalaureate my junior year, and looking ahead with great anticipation to being a senior. When I think back on the Chapel while I was a student, I have to think of those yellow chairs we had before the pews! I remember the booklets we were given with morning prayer each day and recall that the “General Thanksgivings” prayer always had the most profound impact on me.

Who are some faculty members who stand out in your memory? 

Dr. Rex Mooney was influential in my decision to attend Sewanee. My father and grandfather had gone there, so I had built up a different view of the school in my mind, but he strongly encouraged me to visit. When I did, I knew within hours that I was going to go to college there. I remember standing in the breezeway during carpool and telling him, and he was just so thrilled for me. 

I, of course, thank Dr. Bill Rosenbaum for the profound effect his life skills course had on me and the perspective I was able to gain while completing those service hours.   We remained friends, and he was so happy when my kids came back.  One of the great privileges of knowing him and being a priest was the opportunity to participate in his memorial service in the Chapel.  

Also, Fr. Ralph M. Byrd, Jr., built a lot of the traditions that we use here, such as Senior Chapel and the passing of the light from the senior to junior class on awards day. He was a huge proponent of honoring rites of passage and finding ways to use Episcopal language to inform and acknowledge those experiences.  He was also a good friend who helped me as I was a new priest.  I have many of his stoles and think of him whenever I wear them.  

After graduating from St. Martin’s, you studied natural resources at Sewanee. How does that part of your education tie into your role now as the leader of a congregation?

Aside from my regular trips to hunt and fish, I often wondered about that myself.  Then I returned to Sewanee to enter the Doctor of Ministry Program there, and what emerged was a dissertation entitled, “Preaching Through Prolonged Climate Crisis.”  It was a true merger of past and present studies.  That was immediately followed by an invitation by Bishop Duckworth to lead the Environmental Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. 

We are focused on four main areas: worship, policy, education, and field experiences.  Additionally, we are hoping this environmental work can be intergenerational.  We intend to populate some of the field trips sponsored by Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, as well as offer some of our own, including an urban wildlife adventure in February to view bald eagles and other birds that are regularly seen along the river batture in River Ridge. On February 24, 2024,  we will be gathering for an urban wildlife adventure to view bald eagles and other birds that are regularly seen along the river batture in River Ridge.  We will gather at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, located at 100 Rex Drive in River Ridge, at 6:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts; then we will walk up the levee to enjoy the show.  Bring binoculars if you have them! 

Both of your sons graduated from St. Martin’s and were 14-year club members (Class of 2018 and Class of 2021). What experiences did you share as students?

Certainly the school’s continued dedication to its pillars of Faith, Scholarship, and Service stand out. Faith has been an integral component of the school since it was founded, so I am thankful that my sons and I shared that faith aspect throughout our time as students. 

My friend group is still populated by classmates thanks to those relationships that were established here on campus.  I know the school still offers that tight-knit community and sense of family that we all love. My sons had similar experiences.  Lisa and I love when the boys are home for the holidays and their St. Martin’s friends come to the house.  

I also feel strongly that the school continues to offer preparedness and academic readiness for college. Our students are able to build strong academic skills that set them apart from the rest. When our students are formed and shaped by faith and scholarship, that gives them a certain responsibility, so it’s a natural extension that they are going to go into the world and serve in a variety of ways.

What do you feel has changed the most?

One of the biggest differences is the campus itself. I’m thankful my boys had the benefit of so many improvements. The completion of the Solomon Theater and Saints Hall allowed the Chapel to become a dedicated space in 2010. I was part of that renovation process, in which the reredos, altar, pews, and baptismal font were added and new flooring was installed. We purposely made the space look very traditional because school Chapel services are the normative experience for many students who may not go to church with their families. 

What does Faith mean to you?

Trust that the promises of scripture and our traditions are true and will be proven so in the resurrection.