Custom Search South Carolina State University honored its longtime sports information director William "Bill" Hamilton with a "Roast & Toast" Friday night in Orangeburg. A capacity crowd of almost 300 people watched friends, colleagues and longtime admirers pay tribute to the only SID that the school has ever known. Hamilton is retiring after 40 years of service.
Hamilton
Football coach emeritas Willie Jeffries served as master of ceremonies for an event filled with jokes, funny stories and accolades for Hamilton.
Organized by the SCSU Athletics Department, the event also served as a fundraiser to help purchase naming rights for Hamilton for the pressbox at Oliver C. Dawson stadium and to fund a scholarship for a student-athlete majoring in journalism or a field related to sports information.
"We have a goal of $20,000 and so far we have grossed $31,000," reported SCSU Athletics Director Charlene Johnson. "Once we pay the bills, we'll see where we stand."
In his closing remarks, Hamilton thanked the audience for their support and admitted he was enjoying his time in the spotlight. "Normally we are focusing the spolight on others but being out front feels pretty good," he said.