MELVIN R. HAMILTON, CLASS OF 1965, arrived at Boys Town on August 16, 1961 from Wilmington, North Carolina.  Hamilton eagerly embraced sports at Boys Town as he excelled on the field of play in football, track and wrestling.  He was a leader off the field serving as Mayor of Boys Town, Councilman, Commissioner, and Class Secretary in his senior year.  He pursued a course of General Studies, sang in the choir, was the Pep Club President and a cheerleader as a senior.
 

Hamilton established himself as a force to be reckoned with especially on the football field.  He earned three varsity letters in football, three in track and two in wrestling.  He was a member of the nationally ranked undefeated 1963 gridiron squad.  He competed at the state tournament in wrestling and track and earned state Honorable Mention for wrestling.  Hamilton’s greatest impact was on the football field where he earned All-State honors and was Captain of the football team in his senior year when the team went 8-1-1.  For his gridiron exploits Hamilton earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming to play football.
 

At Wyoming, Hamilton was a lineman on the football team and majored in Physical Education.  He interrupted his education to serve in the U.S. Army where he was a Radio Teletype Operator with a NATO Crypto Top Secret clearance.  He served in Germany and Turkey during his tour of duty.  Upon his honorable discharge he returned to Wyoming to complete his education and worked his way back into the starting lineup on the football team once again. He was inducted into the Wyoming Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 10-1 football team of 1966.
 

It was during his football years at Wyoming that Hamilton became nationally known for being one of the leaders of the “Wyoming Black 14”  football players who were dismissed from the team for protesting racial discrimination.  His principled stand, with those of his fellow football players, was the impetus for change that improved the racial climate in Wyoming and beyond during a turbulent time in our nation’s history.

After graduating from Wyoming, Hamilton returned to Wilmington, North Carolina where he worked for Corning Glass in middle-management as a Resistor Engineer.  He returned to Casper, Wyoming as an educator and coach for football, wrestling and track.  He then took a position working in the oil fields of Wyoming as a Drilling Fluid Engineer for ten years becoming a Regional Manager for the firm, NL Baroid.  When the bottom fell out of the oil market in the mid-1980s Hamilton returned to teaching and over the next 29 years he rose from classroom teacher to become a counselor, Vice Principal, Principal and Central Service Administrator for the School District in Casper.  During this time he earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University.
 

The Governor of Wyoming appointed Hamilton to the Wyoming State Parole board where he served as Vice Chairman and became the first African-American to be appointed to the board.  The Governor also appointed him to the Wyoming Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in 2007.  He was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to the Human Rights Commission for Wyoming.  Hamilton served on numerous boards of directors including the Casper Community Health Center, LULAC, Restorative Justice Group and Youth Empowerment Committee.
 

Hamilton was inducted into the Boys Town Alumni Sports Hall of Fame at the annual Boys Town Athletic Booster Banquet on May 5, 2015.  He joins an elite group of 60 former Boys Town athletes who have been enshrined in the Sports Hall of Fame.
 

Hamilton and his wife of 34 years, Carey, are the proud parents of five children and eight grandchildren.  They are retired and living on a small farm in Lake City, South Carolina.  He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and teaching them how to fish.  He is a Lifetime Member of the Boys Town National Alumni Association.

Melvin Rayfield Hamilton, Wilmington, North Carolina.  Arrived at Boys Town August 16, 1961.  General Course.  Mayor 4; Councilman 4; Class Secretary 4; Major letters: football 2-3-4, track 2-3-4, wrestling 3-4; Minor letters: football 1, wrestling 1; Choir 4; B Club 2-3-4; Pep Club President 4; Cheerleader 4.