Ron Hamilton ’84 Community Service
Over the next six weeks the Sonora High Distinguished Graduate Committee is recognizing graduates who excelled in Community Service, Academics, Public Services, STEM, Arts, and Vocational/Business.
This week is Community Service: Ron Hamilton Class of 1984
Ron Hamilton is a medically retired Director/Superintendent of Gold Rush Charter School in Sonora. Currently Ron oversees the Ronald and Krishna Hamilton Parkinson’s Foundation Tuolumne County, where fundraising efforts help patients and their families with the cost of hotels, gas, meals and other needs for out-of-town appointments. Ron’s most recent community service was helping to organize the 2024 State Football Championship Parade for the Sonora and Summerville high school football teams.
While Ron’s community service began in high school, he has since then organized various fundraisers for 4-H, Friends of the Animal Community, various cancer entities, the 2013 Rim Fire, Sonora’s 2021 Washington Fire, and many other causes. While the Rim Fire fundraiser began as a request for donations for a one-night dinner for firefighters, it grew to nightly dinners for roughly 400 firefighters, held in the yard of the Hamilton home in Jamestown. The yard became the firefighters’ command center when the long dining tables became surfaces on which to spread maps to strategize the next day’s maneuvers.
Whenever funds are needed in the community, Ron and Krishna, his wife of 35 years, and their adult children are at the ready.
What was your pathway to your current position?
Money was scarce while growing up in a family with six kids. Somehow my parents enrolled me in 4-H, which became the most significant part of my childhood, my teen years and beyond. Besides raising various animals, I also did public speaking in 4-H, which has served me well over my lifetime.
After graduation from high school I was given the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., during President Reagan’s administration. While there my jobs varied, and I traveled often. I created a Friendship Forest with Saudi Arabia. I spoke on a variety of topics, including hydro-farming for the United States Department of Agriculture, the Just Say No campaign for First Lady Nancy Reagan, and the national 4-H program for the USDA. I gave a speech at the White House and was privileged to lay a wreath at Arlington Cemetery. After returning home, I was invited to the Presidential Library where I was honored by President Reagan with an award for my many years of community service.
After working in Washington, D.C., I returned home, and with scholarships I had received in high school, attended Columbia Community College where I served as Associated Student Body president and graduated in 1991. Years later I was inducted into the Columbia College Hall of Fame. Also in 1991, I married my beautiful wife, Krishna, whom I met in a class while attending Columbia College. I would go on to CSU Stanislaus with a full scholarship awarded for my school and community involvement.
I graduated with a degree in Organizational Communications.
Several years later, after having children and becoming Director/Superintendent of Gold Rush Charter School, I earned my Master’s Degree in Education from Brandman University.
After 12 years at Gold Rush, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. This ultimately forced an early medical retirement at the age of 57. Because of the diagnosis and early retirement, my wife and I started the Ronald and Krishna Hamilton Parkinson’s Foundation Tuolumne County.
What memories do you have of Sonora High?
My four years at Sonora High were fantastic. I was involved in band, sports, theatre, student government, S Club, SADD (Students Against Drunk Drivers), and was a class officer. I participated in a number of fundraisers like Jump Rope for Heart and was a member of our radio station, KTUO and its 100-Hour Club, which allowed me to announce play-by-play action for freshmen sports. Steve Southard and Sherry Juhl made an incredible impact my senior year in Leadership Class and while being a spirit leader with the cheerleading team. I remember taking six rooters’ buses to the Oakdale/Sonora football game, and seniors winning the Homecoming Spirit Cup.
What future goals do you have?
As much as I can, I will add to my 40 years of community service, including our Parkinson’s Foundation, and will enjoy being with my wife, children, and grandkids, as they are the most important part of my life.
What advice would you give to current and future Sonora High students? Pursue life with passion. Everyone, no matter who they are, no matter how little they have, and no matter their challenges can make an impact in the community. Remember that even a little smile or a short conversation with the person in line next to you can make a difference. Be kind, be courteous, ask what you can do to help someone in need, and love one another.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I like working in my yard, watering my flowers, feeding my koi fish, spending time with my wife and three children, and having friends over. I especially love playing with my grandkids, spending time with the family and, did I say…I LOVE BASEBALL!
