ROCK OF THE YEAR
ROCK OF THE YEAR
Brigadier General WEST A. HAMILTON
FOR 1975
Brigadier General Hamilton was born in 1886. He graduated from Dunbar High School and Miner Normal College (now the University of the District of Columbia) Washington, D.C. After his enlistment in the Washington, D.C. National Guard in February, 1905, he was rapidly promoted through the enlisted ranks. In July, 1913 Hamilton was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
General Hamilton’s combat service included duty with General “Black Jack” Pershing during the Mexican Border incident in 1916, World War I assignments in the United States and Europe and command of the 428th Infantry Regiment and the Citizens Military Training Corps at Ft. Howard, MD, during the inter-war years. During World War II, Hamilton commanded the 366th Infantry Regiment of the famed 92d Division. He also served in a variety of staff positions to include Professor of Military Science at both Prairie View A&M College in TX and Morgan States College in Baltimore, MD.
He served in the Reserves/National Guard for 44 years and achieved the rank of Colonel in August 1933. In July 1983, during the dedication of the West A. Hamilton Museum at the Washington, D.C. National Guard Armory, he was promoted to the honorary rank of Brigadier General.
In his civilian career, he and his brother owned the Hamilton Printing Company. Hamilton served on the Washington, D.C. School Board for 21 years, and he was a member of the Washington Board of Trade, the Greater Washington Educational TV Association, as well as the Washington, D.C. Board of Elections.
In 1955, fifty years after receiving his Bachelors degree, he was awarded a master’s degree from American University at the age of 69. General Hamilton once said, “the lag in educational achievement in Washington is due mainly to sociological conditions that are beyond the control of the schools. Parents have got to do more, for one thing. The schools can’t do it all.”
ROCKS, Incorporated annually honors the General’s distinguished, pioneering service at its fall West A. Hamilton Memorial Membership Dinner.
ROCK OF THE YEAR
FOR 1976
Honorable JAMES C. EVANS
Mr. James C. Evans was born July 1, 1900, in Gallatin, TN, and was raised in Miami, FL following brief military service; he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Evans began his career in education by teaching in the Miami public school system. Moving to West Virginia State College, he taught and assumed positions of increasing importance, becoming administrative assistant to the college President in 1957. In 1942, his distinguished government service began with his assignment as the Assistant Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War. The programs instituted under his direction are now an integral part of military culture: an integrated military establishment, sequential military education, recognition that one must be properly trained and educated for positions of responsibility and a strong cadre of black officers.
Working quietly behind the scenes to initiate educational opportunities for all those who serve in the Department of Defense, Evans served under 5 Secretaries of War, 10 secretaries of Defense and 6 Presidents of the United States. Mr. Evans retired from federal service in 1970.
After retirement, he resumed his work in education, working part-time as a Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at Howard University., positively influencing future generations. In addition, he was active in professional and social fraternities, held several Directorships and Trustee positions and received numerous honorary degrees and awards.
The hallmark of Evans’ life was his commitment to his wife, the former Rosaline McGodwin and their children, James Carmichael Evans, Jr., Rose Evangeline Evans and their extended family.
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