Principal & Coach Leon Hamilton, Sr.

Leon Hamilton was born October 4, 1943 in Silsbee, Texas to the parentage of the late Mr. Arvie Hamilton and the late Mrs. Essie Mae Hamilton; he was the youngest of six children. At an early age, he joined Johnson Chapel AME Church in Silsbee, Texas and continued to be a devoted Christian throughout his life. He departed this life Sunday, June 7, 2020.

Leon graduated from Waldo Mathews High School in 1962. While in high school he participated in all four sports, football, basketball, baseball, and track and field (shot put and discus) . He was a four-year letterman and also participated in the East and West All State game, sponsored by the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association. Adding to his achievements in sports, Leon was also a talented musician. He played tuba and trombone in the band, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Waldo Mathews Octet. He was the soloist at his high school commencement singing the well-known song “Invictus”. Dedicated to both sports and music, during football season at half time, Leon would march with the band and then resume playing football for the remaining quarters of the game. Busy in the community, he was a Boy Scouts of America’s Explorer Scout earning the Order of the Arrow Award and the Brotherhood Award in the Order of the Arrow.

Leon received a four-year scholarship in football to Wiley College, Marshall, Texas where he was known as “Big Hamp”. He played football under the legendary coach, Fred “Pop” Long and

earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and biology in 1967. Continuing to pursue his education, he received a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance and a second Master’s degree in Administration from East Texas State University, now Texas A&M Commerce.

Leon began his coaching career at his Alma Mater, Wiley College, Marshall, Texas, continued at Marshall Independent School District, and later moved on to McKinney Independent School District. As a track coach in McKinney, he coached a State AAA Champion in the 880 run.

Leon spent the remainder of his distinguished career working in the Dallas Independent School District, serving for 35 years. He served as Principal of several schools in Dallas including Madison High School, Hulcy Middle School and Pearl C. Anderson Middle School. He served as

Interim Principal and Assistant Principal in many of the Dallas Independent School District schools.

Leon loved serving as school principal and often expressed how he looked forward to seeing the school come alive at the beginning of the school year as the students and faculty arrived on campus. In his schools, his motto was “Everybody is Somebody”.

Leon was totally dedicated to the students at Madison High School. Demonstrating his dedication to Madison and the community, at the beginning of the school year, he would walk through the neighborhood greeting the parents, asking them to send their children to Madison, assuring them that Madison was a safe environment. To provide motivation for his students to perform better academically, he provided tutoring sessions on Saturdays. After the tutoring sessions, Leon treated the students to lunch and an exciting field trip such as a movie or to the Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park. Leon’s students loved him even during the times when he had to discipline them, using his own unique style of discipline. During his tenure as Principal at Madison High School, in 1997 his Girls Track Team won the State Championship and the Boys Basketball Team also captured the coveted State Championship. In 1996 Leon was honored by the Board of Education of Dallas Public Schools as an “African American Hero”. He was honored for dedication of service to the community and recognized as an outstanding Dallas Public School Principal.

He was equally devoted to the students at Pearl C. Anderson Middle School and Hulcy Middle School. Leon initiated many innovative programs to assist the students in developing academically. At Anderson Middle School, at the beginning of the school year, he and his teachers would line up on the sidewalk and greet the students enthusiastically waving pom-poms welcoming them to the new school year! Leon encouraged his faculty to become involved with and dedicated to the academic growth of the students.

Leon faithfully served for 30 years as a member of the St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church. He diligently served as a member of the Greeters Ministry and a member of the United Methodist Men. As a greeter, he was known for his infectious personality in greeting the congregation and guests.

Leon is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and a member of the Regular Fellows Club of Dallas, Texas. One of his favorite community programs sponsored by the Fraternity was the National Summer Youth Enrichment Program, Kappa Kamp Kampers. He looked forward to and loved assisting with the Kappa Kamp. He served on the Board of Directors of the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association, and was a life-time member of this organization. Leon was an active member of the Anthropos of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated and served as the Southwest Regional President. He was honored by receiving the first National Anthropos of the Year Award.

Leon’s visions will live in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his parents, Leon was preceded in death by two siblings, sister, Nettie Mae Garrett, Silsbee, Texas, and Raymond Hamilton, Jr., Beaumont, Texas.

He leaves to cherish his legacy, his college sweetheart and beloved wife of 53 years, Evelyn Rebecca Foster Hamilton and one son, Leon Edric Hamilton, Jr. ; sisters, Gloria Hopson, Sumter, South Carolina, Jewel Howard, Call, Texas, Seawilla Armstrong, Jasper, Texas; God Children, Byron Smith (Thelma), Stephanie Davis (Timothy), Janice Minter (Donnie); sister-in-law, Sandra Foster Brown (Leroy), brother-in-law, Wharton Juan Foster (Pamela), and a host of other beloved family, friends, and young people whose lives he touched.