The Greenwood Education Foundation is pleased to announce that the induction of the 2020 Hall of Honor will be held on Friday, October 16 on the field at Smith-Robinson Stadium beginning 6:45 p.m., pregame of the Greenwood-Russellville football game.
A reception honoring the inductees will be held in the GHS Student Union from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The members of the 2020 Hall of Honor Class for the Greenwood Education Foundation are:
Dr. Ken Hamilton
Dr. Lee Johnson
Mr. Curtis Weaver
Dr. Ken Hamilton is a 1967 honor graduate from Greenwood High School and a member of the 1967 GHS Hall of Fame. Coming from a family with a widowed mother, he was the first in his family to attend college. He carried his academic successes and desire to achieve from high school to college and graduated with a B.A. Biology and B.S. Medical Technology from Arkansas Tech University and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri/Kansas City. While many GHS graduates were looking elsewhere to start their careers, Dr. Hamilton was drawn back to Greenwood. He practiced dentistry in Greenwood and at St. Edwards Mercy Hospital from 1978-1989 until he was forced to quit due to a congenital neck condition. But this did not slow him down in his desire to use his education and skills in the medical community.
At the age of 40, he was hired at Westark Community College to start and direct a Medical Laboratory Technician program. He started a legacy of success with a 100% pass rate as he raised the program to national recognition. He became a site visitor for the accrediting association (NAACLS) and was instrumental in the review for accreditation for other nationwide programs. Dr. Hamilton was a tenured faculty member who was nominated for an excellence in teaching award before leaving Westark in 1997. After leaving the Westark faculty, he was elected to the Board of Trustees for Westark Community College and served four years. He was on the board as vice president during the transition from Westark Community College to University of Arkansas/Fort Smith.
He joined the staff of the Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in 1997 and served until 2012 when he retired as the State Director. During this time he visited coaches and student-athletes across Arkansas to encourage them to “make a difference” in their local schools and communities. As state director, he also organized summer sport camps, One Way to Play-Drug Free programs in secondary schools, and the First Serve Tennis Program in Sebastian and Crawford Counties. Although he has retired from FCA, his legacy as a leader is still felt throughout the state, and the programs he organized still continue to thrive.
While being very involved with Westark Community College, he championed other causes within the community. He has served on the Sebastian County Library Board for over 30 years, endeavoring to maintain and increase library services in South Sebastian County. He has been the recipient of an American Cancer Association award as well as the recipient of a Community Leadership Award in the area of religion from Leadership Fort Smith in 2009.
For the last 20 years, Hamilton has served as a volunteer coach for the GHS Boys and Girls Tennis Teams. Under his tenure, GHS Tennis has achieved statewide recognition and respect, winning 15 conference championships, three state titles, and three overall championships. He has been named Conference Coach of the Year 15 times. A member of the 1966 state championship GHS baseball team, he is the only GHS graduate to play for a state championship team as well as be the head coach for GHS state championship teams.
Ken and his wife Ann have three children, Audrey, Kasey, and Jessica. Although he is considered “retired”, his grandchildren, his family and his biblical studies continue to fill his days. Complete retirement from coaching the GHS tennis teams is still a future focus.
Through his mentorship and dedication to programs for young men and women, Dr. Kenneth Hamilton’s legacy will continue to grow through future generations who will continue to be affected by his impact. The Greenwood Education Foundation is honored to have Dr. Ken Hamilton as part of the 2020 Hall of Honor.
