The Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1975 has teamed up with the Community Foundation to honor a father and son who were pillars of the community throughout their lives.
The Tony and Alphonso Hamilton scholarship is the brainchild of several class members who wanted to create a lasting way to recognize the more than 30 members of their class who have passed away in their 50th reunion year.
“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 it went from there to Tony was the face of our senior class, and Mr. [Alphonso] Hamilton was an influence on a lot of us.”
Their classmate, Anthony “Tony” Hamilton was the class president and multi-sport athlete playing football and running track. He went on to become the first Black class president at Virginia Military Institute where he continued both sports. He died in 2022.
Tony’s father, Alphonso “Al” Hamilton was a career educator for 34 years and coached the Booker T. Washington High School to two consecutive state basketball championships. He was also a military veteran and pastor, who passed away in 2020.
“Long after we’re gone, people will not forget Alphonso Hamilton and Anthony Hamilton,” said Jose Gomez, a football teammate of Tony’s at Robert E. Lee and VMI.
“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.”
Both of the Hamilton men are in the sports hall of fame shared by Booker T. Washinton, Robert E. Lee and Staunton high schools.
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The scholarship will be awarded each year to a graduate of Staunton High School who plans to continue their education at a trade school, community college or four-year university.
“Although Alphonso and Catherine 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 of the Central Blue Ridge. “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.”
Donations to the Tony and Alphonso Hamilton Scholarship may be made to the Community Foundation by check to P.O. Box 815, Staunton, Va., 24402 (put scholarship name in memo line) or online.
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Crystal Graham
