Harry Hamilton
{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}}
{{for|the American politician|Harry Hamilton (politician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Harry Hamilton
| number = 39
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|11|29}}
| birth_place = Jamaica, New York, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 190
| high_school = Nanticoke (PA) Fine
| college = Penn State
| draftyear = 1984
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 176
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1984|1987}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1988|1991}})
| highlights =
- National champion (1982)
- Third-team All-American (1983)
- First-team All-East (1983)
- Second-team All-East (1982)
| statlabel1 = Interceptions
| statvalue1 = 23
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 10
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 = 1.0
| pfr = H/HamiHa20
}}
Harry Edwin Hamilton (born November 29, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Hamilton was the first Black African-American to graduate from John S. Fine High School, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.{{cite news |last1=Donovan |first1=Dan |title=Hamilton fits mold of hero |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k2YcAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Harry+Hamilton%22&pg=PA25&article_id=2963,2797736 |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=21 September 1983 |language=en}} He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Early life
His father Stan Hamilton 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.
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. After which, he played eight seasons as a safety in the National Football League with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers{{cite news |last1=Beauge |first1=John |title=Ex-Nittany Lion's charges to remain in Centre County |url=https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2018/06/ex-nittany_lion_loses_bid_to_h.html |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=pennlive |date=26 June 2018 |language=en}} 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|date=October 2021}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Sokolski |first1=Paul |title=Ex-Penn State star Hamilton accused of assaulting son, blasts authorities |url=https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/698389/ex-penn-state-star-hamilton-accused-of-assaulting-son-blasts-authorities |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=Times Leader |date=31 March 2018}} Hamilton was arraigned and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.{{cite news |last1=Pallotto |first1=Bret |title=Local football legend Harry Hamilton accused of attacking his son |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/local-football-legend-harry-hamilton-accused-of-attacking-his-son/article_c87e9657-b218-53d5-8e22-311040e61f01.html |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football navbox}}
{{Jets1984DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Harry}}
Category:Players of American football from the Bronx
Category:American football safeties
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players
Category:People from Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania