Dr. GEORGE M. HAMPTON 

June 7, 1928 - June 29, 2023 

Dr. Hampton received a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A&T University, a Master of Science degree from Virginia State University, and a Doctor of Arts in Education from the University of Central Arizona.

Career Accomplishments 

He served in various command and staff assignments during more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. This service included four 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 retirement, he was a Research Scientist, Project Director, and Human Relations Specialist with American Institutes for Research. While there, he directed research and development projects in Asia and Africa that dealt with conflict resolution among Americans and host country nationals and between majority and minority Americans. Dr. Hampton later joined the Institute for International Research as project director for the Marine Corps Leadership and Human Relations Program development. Once the program was developed, he was co-director of the Marine Corps Leadership and Human Relations Institute in San Diego, California. This institute trained leadership instructors for the formal schools at Quantico and other major installations. 

From 1967 to 1969, Dr. Hampton was an adjunct professor of psychology at the Far East Division of the University of Maryland, and from 1975 to 1979; he was an adjunct professor of human relations at Pepperdine University.  In 1978, he established and served as President of G&A Associates. This organization was designed to conduct research and training in human relations to specifically address racism, sexism, and cross-cultural problems in government and civilian industry.  From 1975 until 1982, Dr. Hampton was the Political Advisor to the Prince William Branch of the NAACP.

Noted Appointments 

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 1990, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board by Governor L. Douglas Wilder, where he served until he retired from State service in 1994.  In August 1994, Dr. Hampton was appointed by Chief Judge Molinari to serve on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Citizens Advisory Council, where he served until June 2002.

In 1995, Governor George Allen appointed him to a four-year term on the State Board of Elections, where he served as Vice Chairman until January 1999.  In January 1997, Dr. Hampton was appointed as the Prince William County representative to the Board of Directors of Northern Virginia Community College. He served in that position until June 2005. 

In July 2003, Governor Mark Warner appointed him as a member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University. He served in that position until July 2007. He was also a member of the Virginia State University Foundation.

Memberships in Local and National Organizations

Dr. Hampton had the privilege of serving on many other short-term advisory boards and commissions during his 47 years as a resident of Prince William County. He is a member of many organizations, including the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. where he was a founding member. Dr. Hampton joined the fraternity Mu Psi in 1949 North Carolina A&T. The George M. Hampton Foundation was named in honor of him. The Gorge M Hampton Foundation was founded on the idea of helping those in need.

Dr. Hampton was a member of Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Korean Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, The ROCKS, and The Fellowship Club of Prince William County. He is a founding member of the National Negro Golf Association.

Historic Contribution 

In August 2016, Godwin Middle School was renamed George M. Hampton Middle School. This renaming was a historic event. Mills Godwin was one of Virginia's masterminds behind the "Massive Resistance." He and other high-ranking white government officials closed schools for five years during the late fifties rather than desegregate them as the law allowed in Brown vs. the Board of Education. Many Black and poor white children did not attend school for those five years. Selected White students were provided vouchers allowing them to attend private schools. Dr. Hampton was a strong advocate for correcting Black History. It is only fitting that his name replaced Mills Godwin on a school that corrects a historical error and oversight.

He considered this renaming by the Prince William School Board one of his most significant and enjoyable achievements. 

Community Servant 

Perhaps one of his greatest gifts was his willingness to recognize and serve others. He was one of the originators of the Prince William County Walk of Fame, permanent granite plaques recognizing the accomplishments of high-profile community servants in our county. His wife, Delores Hampton, is one of the recipients. He has nominated others for this very prestigious recognition.

He is the author of the annual Delores Hampton Award given by the Virginia Democratic Committee. Both he and his wife were politically active.

Most notably, The George Hampton Foundation, sponsored by the Pi Lambda, Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, provides thousands of dollars in scholarships annually.

George recognized Juneteenth at his home for 45 years in Dale City, VA. In 2016 the PWC government with the advocacy of Dr. Hampton and community citizens Juneteenth became a Holiday in Prince William County, VA. Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021.  The Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia awarded George the Irene Morgan Courage Award.  This award goes to power and stands against forces that could cause harm to others and to themselves.  Dr. Hampton’s willingness to remove the name of a segregationist from a school and replace it with his name is a prime example of the above. 

On June 29, 2023, a day before his death, Dr. George Hampton received the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, that of the Kentucky Colonel. The Colonels are Kentucky's ambassadors of goodwill and fellowship around the world. Commissions as Kentucky Colonels are presented for contributions to the community, state, or nation and notable achievements of all kinds.

Dr. Hampton’s favorite quote “Don’t let where you came from determine where you are going or what you can achieve,” We have a duty to ourselves and a duty to others to serve and you can’t shirk your responsibility by Theodore Roosevelt”

He was a First Mount Zion Baptist Church member in Dumfries, VA. He was a widower of Deloris Hampton and had two children, George Jr. and Sydni Theresa, and a granddaughter, Desiree Hampton. Dr. Hampton resided in Woodbridge, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested tax deductible donations be made to the Scholarship Fund of the George M. Hampton Scholarship and Community Action Foundation, Inc. at:     https://www.gmhfoundation.org/donate/.