Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1405271
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 31 Jason Hamilton's WAC committee service Membership & Marketing: 2012–2017; 1st Vice Chair 2015–2016, Chair 2016–2017 Finance: 2017–2018; Chair Athletic: 2018–2019; Chair House: 2019–2020; Chair Board of Governors: 2014–present brought Jackson and Mia-Michelle to Parents Nights Out, where they would run around the basketball court, watch movies, and hang out in their pajamas. "All that good stuff," Jason says. "And now they're almost out of the house. You go through that spectrum in your mind about the importance of the WAC and what it's meant to our family as an anchor over the years and it's really cool." Jason is the second Black Chair- man of the Board in WAC history. For him and his family, it's a point of pride. "It's not like me becoming Chairman is a reaction to recent events," Jason says. "It's been a long lead up to this. But it is interest- ing that at a time in society when there's a lot of change and discus- sion about race that I'm the second African-American Chairman. at means a lot to me and to my family." During a recent conversation at the family home, talk turned to Jackson's college selection, a com- mon topic as he prepares to enter his senior year of high school. Two of his finalists: Washington and Howard. "He would like the HBCU experi- ence," Michelle says. Although Jason and Michelle would love Jackson to stay close, they hold their family history and identity in high esteem and smile at the thought of Jackson attending a historically Black college and university. e importance of the family's Black identity is evident almost everywhere you look around the house, from paint- ings to family photos to the books by the fireplace, titles such as "Freedom's Children" and "Slaves in the Family." One book in particular holds a special place. Michelle explains how "Buried in the Bitter Waters" includes the story of a Black man lynched for a murder he didn't commit and his friend who fled before facing the same fate. e friend was Michelle's great-grandfather. THE THING ABOUT '98 is year marks Jason's 20th season on the Husky microphone. "I have such an affinity for the University of Washington, and the basketball program specifically," he says. Playing on national television in the 1998 Sweet 16, the 11th-seeded Huskies faced second-seeded Connecticut. Jason was part of the coaching crew. "I don't even know if I could put a value to it in terms of the importance it had on my life," he says about competing and coaching at the Division I level. Down eight at halime, Washington rallied to take its first lead with 29 sec- onds to play. ey are 29 seconds Husky fans would rather forget. "All the things that come with sports and competing on any level, but certain- ly when you're doing it on a high level in Division I, it had a lasting impact on me," Jason says. "Understanding work ethic, competitiveness, camaraderie, teamwork, the things that help you in leadership. Having to deal with person- alities and common goals." With the final ticks of the clock just about gone and a Washington victory seemingly imminent, an impossible falling-down shot by future NBA star Richard Hamilton (no relation) sailed up and in, ending the Husky season in heartbreak. "We had a good run," Jason says. "I take the coaches I've had, the mentors I've had, the lessons learned—whether they were tough defeats or great victo- ries—into what I do now. Leading an organization, mentoring, trying to grow, all of those things." —Darrick Meneken is the WAC Director of Communications. Reach him at dmeneken@wac.net.