Board Names Leesville Road High School Stadium in Honor of Marshall L. Hamilton

June 17, 2008 – Today the Board listened to family members and school staff share stories about the accomplishments and contributions of Marshall L. Hamilton, the former Leesville Road High School Athletic Director. 

During the meeting, Hamilton’s wife Ann, a teacher at Leesville, was joined by her children, Principal Stephen Gainey, Athletic Director Jack Rogers, and other parents and staff from the Leesville Road High School community.

“Marshall had a passion for athletics and more importantly he had a passion for kids,” Ann Hamilton said at the meeting.

Marshall L. Hamilton played a significant role in building the athletics program at Leesville Road High School. In the Fall of 1993, Mr. Hamilton helped open Leesville Road High school as a teacher and became the school’s first athletic director.

“There was a tremendous level of commitment by Mr. Hamilton toward the school and athletic program. He was the original athletic director of our school and served in that position in an admirable manner until his retirement,” said Gainey.

Hamilton led the athletics program at Leesville Road High School for 14 years. Under his leadership, the athletics program thrived and became a competitive force in high school sports. Just three years after the school’s opening, Leesville Road High school won the first of its three 4-A Wachovia Cups. During Hamilton’s tenure, every sport contended for state titles. Before joining Leesville Road High school, Mr. Hamilton began his career at WCPSS as a teacher, athletic director, and the head boys varsity basketball coach at Broughton High School from the Fall of 1982 through the Spring of 1993. He served as an educator in the public schools of North Carolina for 40 years.

“His ability to relate to all students and all staff members was amazing and whether it was a veteran staff member or young coach, he had an incredible ability to mentor people,” said Gainey.

Marshall Hamilton retired from WCPSS in June 2007 after 25 years of service to the school system. Hamilton passed away last December after battling cancer. To pay tribute to his legacy, the Leesville Road High School Administration and the Pride Athletic Club requested to name the stadium on the campus of Leesville Road High as “Marshall L. Hamilton Stadium” in his honor.

The board unanimously approved the new name at its June 17 meeting.

“We appreciate every thing he has done for WCPSS and we hope that naming the stadium in his honor will show our appreciation for all that he did,” said Board Chair Rosa Gill.

Naming part of school facilities after individuals is a rare honor in Wake County. However, board policy does permit individual buildings or structures and rooms or other areas within buildings on school campuses to be named in memory or in honor of people who have rendered extraordinary service to the school system.

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