A new scholarship will honor the lives and contributions of Alphonso Hamilton and Anthony Hamilton.
The Tony and Alphonso Hamilton Scholarship was created by the Robert E. Lee Class of 1975 during its 50th reunion this year. The scholarship will honor the leadership of Anthony and his father Alphonso.
It is also a way for the close-knit class to honor the memory of classmates that have passed away.
“As we were getting close to the time for the reunion celebration, 10 friends who consider themselves a little band of brothers were searching for the best way to do something that would be lasting,” said John Woodrum, a 1975 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. “We had lost about 30 members from our class. And (the conversation) went from there to Tony, who was the face of our senior class, and Mr. (Alphonso) Hamilton was an influence on a lot of us. The 10 friends took the scholarship idea to the Class of 1975, and the scholarship was born.”
The Tony and Alphonso Hamilton Scholarship will be administered by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. It will be awarded annually to a graduating senior from Staunton High, who plans to continue education at a trade school, community college or a four-year college or university.
“Although Alphonso (Al) and Catherine (Kitty) were not Staunton natives, they and their children were undeniably part of the fabric that held our community together,” said Dan Layman, CEO of the Community Foundation. “It gives me great personal joy that the Community Foundation now has a role to play in celebrating the lives and legacies of Al and his son, Tony.”
The namesake of the gymnasium at Booker T. Washington Community Center — where he coached Booker T. Washington High School to two consecutive state basketball championships — Alphonso dedicated himself to being an educator for 34 years. He started as a teacher, then culminated in his educational career in an administrative role.
Also, a military veteran and a pastor, Alphonso was a pillar in the community and a beloved Stauntonian before passing away in 2020.
Much like his father, Anthony was universally admired. He was the class president and played football and ran track at Robert E. Lee High School, as well as the first Black class president at Virginia Military Institute, where he played football and ran track. Anthony passed away in 2022.
Both father and son are in the sports hall of fame shared by Booker T. Washington, Robert E. Lee and Staunton High School.
By all accounts, the integrity of both men dwarfs anything that they accomplished athletically.
Jose Gomez, also a member of the class of 1975, was a football teammate of Anthony’s at Robert E. Lee and VMI, where they were once roommates. His hope is that the scholarship helps to continue the Hamilton legacy. “Long after we’re gone, people will not forget Alphonso Hamilton and Anthony Hamilton,” Gomez said. “Those students who get this scholarship, we hope that they will get a sense of those names, and lead by the example we had with them, do good for the community, and be a gatherer of people and a uniter. That’s really our goal.”
Donations to the Tony and Alphonso Hamilton Scholarship can be made to the Community Foundation by check (P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24402) or online donation: The TONY AND ALPHONSO HAMILTON SCHOLARSHIP
