Harry Hamilton

Harry Hamilton
No. 39
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	November 29, 1962 (age 59); Jamaica, New York
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:	Nanticoke (PA) Fine
College:	Penn State
NFL Draft:	1984 / Round: 7 / Pick: 176
Career history
	New York Jets (1984–1987); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988–1991);
Career highlights and awards
	Academic All-American (1982-1983); National Champion (1982);
Career NFL statistics
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Harry Edwin Hamilton (born November 29, 1962) is a former American football safety. Hamilton was the first Black African-American to graduate from John S. Fine High School, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.^[1]

Early life[]

His father was a civil rights activist in New York in the 1960s and a writer of Sesame Street. In 1972, the family moved to a horse farm owned by Stan Hamilton and his father-in-law, after a flood damaged their house in Wilkes-Barre. They were the only black people in the area and Hamilton suffered abuse at school, being called racial slurs and seeing a burning cross on a bonfire during a football pep rally. He set several track records at school and proved to be an adept Western-style horse rider and football player. After graduating, the family moved back to Wilkes-Barre.^[1]

Football career[]

Having graduated with honors, he was recruited by a number of colleges for his excellence in academics and athletics before selecting Penn State. During his collegiate career, he was an Academic All-American safety at Penn State University following the 1982 National Championship season and 1983 seasons.^[1] After which, he played eight seasons as a safety in the National Football League with the New York Jets^[2] and Tampa Bay Buccaneers^[3] before retiring in 1993.

Post-football career[]

During his professional football career, Hamilton attended law school and immediately put his Juris Doctor degree to work for legal services in Tampa, Florida before embarking on a career in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2018, Hamilton was charged with a number of offenses including burglary, criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor count of simple assault and two summary offenses of harassment after he confronted his son about drug abuse. He was also accused of forcing his way into his ex-wife's home and assaulting his son.^[4] Hamilton was arraigned and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.^[2]

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c Donovan, Dan (21 September 1983). "Hamilton fits mold of hero". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b Pallotto, Bret. "Local football legend Harry Hamilton accused of attacking his son". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
^ Beauge, John (26 June 2018). "Ex-Nittany Lion's charges to remain in Centre County". pennlive. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
^ Sokolski, Paul (31 March 2018). "Ex-Penn State star Hamilton accused of assaulting son, blasts authorities". Times Leader. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

[Donovan-1] Donovan, Dan (21 September 1983). "Hamilton fits mold of hero". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

[Pallotto-2] Pallotto, Bret. "Local football legend Harry Hamilton accused of attacking his son". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

[3] Beauge, John (26 June 2018). "Ex-Nittany Lion's charges to remain in Centre County". pennlive. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

[4] Sokolski, Paul (31 March 2018). "Ex-Penn State star Hamilton accused of assaulting son, blasts authorities". Times Leader. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

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