[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GEORGE M. HAMPTON
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Ms. Spanberger) for 5 minutes.
Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and
legacy of Dr. George M. Hampton.
Dr. Hampton passed away late last month at the age of 95, and I was
honored to have met this stalwart Virginia leader.
In the days since his passing, I have heard directly from many in the
Prince William County community about his outsized role in standing up
for fair political representation. I have heard about his service as a
mentor to the next generation of leaders, and the community has
celebrated what a dedicated man he was in his professional and personal
life to the service of others in his community.
Dr. Hampton truly lived his values, one of which was education. He
received his bachelor of science degree from North Carolina A&T
University, a master of science degree from Virginia State University,
and a doctorate of arts in education from the University of Central
Arizona.
Dr. Hampton then dedicated himself to educating the next generation
as an adjunct professor of psychology at the Far East Division of the
University of Maryland, as well as an adjunct professor of human
relations at Pepperdine University.
Dr. Hampton also valued service to country. He served for more than
two decades in the United States Army, fulfilling various command and
staff assignments and spending 4 years as an assistant professor of
military science at Virginia State University. He was awarded the
Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal
during his military service. He retired from the Army in 1971 as a
lieutenant colonel.
Following his retirement from the military, Dr. Hampton held many
positions that allowed him to have a hand in shaping future leaders,
both within and outside of military service. One such role was as
codirector of the Marine Corps Leadership and Human Relations Institute
in San Diego, California, where he helped train leadership instructors
for the formal schools at Quantico, in Virginia's Seventh District, and
other major installations.
Throughout decades of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dr.
Hampton was appointed by both Democrats and Republicans to hold various
notable positions. In 1982, Governor Charles Robb appointed him to the
Virginia Parole Board. Reappointed by Governor Gerald Baliles, he
served on this board until 1990. In 1995, Governor George Allen
appointed him to a 4-year term on the State Board of Elections, where
he served as vice chairman until January 1999.
In July 2003, then-Governor Mark Warner appointed him as a member of
the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University, where he served
until July 2007. He was also a member of the Virginia State University
Foundation.
Dr. Hampton was appointed to serve on the Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court Citizens Advisory Council, as well as the Prince
William County representative to the Board of Directors of Northern
Virginia Community College.
As a 47-year resident of Prince William County, Dr. Hampton played an
active role in his community. He was a proud founding member of the Pi
Lambda Lambda Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. For 7
years, from 1975 to 1982, Dr. Hampton served as the political adviser
to the Prince William County branch of the NAACP.
Dr. Hampton was a member of the Disabled American Veterans
organization, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Military
Officers Association of America, and the Fellowship Club of Prince
William County.
The impact Dr. Hampton had on his community is clear, leading him to
become the namesake of the George M. Hampton Foundation. Sponsored by
the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter, Inc., and founded on the idea of helping
those in need throughout Prince William County and surrounding
communities, the foundation provides thousands of dollars in
scholarships to local high school students each year.
On top of decades of committed service of his own, one of his
greatest attributes was his desire to recognize the service of others.
He was one of the originators of the Prince William County Walk of
Fame, the permanent granite plaques recognizing the accomplishments of
high-profile community servants across the county.
I have been proud to join in celebrating his legacy as a pioneer of
remembering Black history and culture in Prince William County and
across the Commonwealth.
For years, long before we recognized Juneteenth as a Federal holiday,
Dr. Hampton celebrated the holiday in his own backyard, and I was
overjoyed to have the opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth with him last
year.
Perhaps one of his proudest accomplishments was that he served as a
living inspiration and role model to Virginia students attending the
school in Dale City named in his honor.
Dr. Hampton met with students of George M. Hampton Middle School
regularly. He shared his stories, his memories, and historic moments of
his life in Virginia. He offered them encouragement, in addition to
raising funds for the school.
Madam Speaker, please join me in remembering Dr. Hampton.
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