In Loving Memory of F. M. "Bubba" Hamilton II by Robert Taggi

I never did like picture shows that started with the end first, 'cause it kind of spoiled everything, knowing the ending and all. In Bubba's case we have to, because we did not know this gentleman until a little over a year ago. Never having been personally involved in Competitive Roller Skating ourselves (I played Pro Hockey for a couple of years as a young man and my wife dabbled in several sports), we did not know much about Roller Skating until our daughters, first one then the other, took up the sport about four years ago. Our oldest daughter became very successful at skating, almost from the beginning, but only spent the last six months of last season as his student exclusively; hence, our ties with him explained.

We met Bubba kind of by chance at Pre-Regionals, here in our Region, in 1996. Phil Lawhorn, one of our rink's coaches had 3 figure skaters on the floor at the same time and our other coach, was nowhere to be found. Phil asked Bubba to spot my daughter for that event. I remember watching the two of them stand there, silent, but communicating, nonetheless. This went on for a while before eliminations and then again before finals. I never saw either of them speak. She won the event, but much more importantly, looking back, this is where the "magic" between the two started. Later we would see it was not only her, but he had the same special kind of magic with all who came into contact with him, whether they were his skaters or not.

Another great example of the "magic" was in evidence during the Las Vegas Meet in early 1997. Our rink's coach could not make the meet at the beginning due to problems beyond his control. Bubba took it upon himself to be at the rink at 6:30am to help one of our skaters. He arrived just after she had skated eliminations in 1B figures and had made the finals holding 6th place. He worked with her for awhile, then they had a long talk. Shortly thereafter he pushed her back on the floor to skate finals. Not only did she WIN 1B Figures, she also won 1B Solo Dance as well and never failed to win either event the rest of the season.

And class, this guy just had tons of it. Several years ago he anonymously donated a large sum of money to our Annual Skaters Banquet so the kids could get trophies that particular year. (OK BB, now you know). Another example, every time my daughter skated at a competition after they met at Pre-Regionals in 1996 until she joined his club, there was a telegram from him waiting for her at our hotel wishing her good luck at that meet or an advertisement in that competition's program doing the same or both.

He stopped skating competitively around 1960 and began to teach full time. "Although we had no daughters and Bubba had no sisters, he seemed to have a special way with the girls he taught," says Edna Hamilton, his wife of 35 years. Edna also skated competitively and taught back in those days. "All the girls wanted to skate with or for Bubba" she said, "His grace and charm were overpowering. He always skated and taught in a suit and tie, even at the end; he was a classy guy."

On July 2, 1962, Bubba and Edna were married. Edna already had a young son, Ken, from her first marriage. They would have two more sons, Floyd "Morgan" Hamilton III and Michael. All three sons skated only briefly.

Around 1966, Edna got a job with Braniff and the two moved to Houston. Bubba got a job teaching at the old Skate Ranch there working for the legendary Norm Malone. He worked there for most of the next ten years or so, with short side trip to a rink in Waco, still cranking out those National Champions. Throughout all of his adventures in skating, Bubba was a steadfast husband and father as evidenced by the 17 year hiatus he took from skating. From 1975-1992, Bubba was forced to leave his great passion of teaching on the back burner, as he had to put 3 sons through college. As his wife Edna puts it, "you don't get rich being a skating coach." He sold shoes at Sears and then started his own company in the asbestos removal field. When the last son graduated from college, Bubba sold his business and went to the Sports Page in Pasadena to start up still another of his "Five Year Artistic Skating Programs". Once again he started cranking out National Champions almost immediately. Such Skaters as Kyle and Lacey Benton and Michelle Chadwick, who all still skate, come to mind. He almost had another one in Pensacola this year two weeks before he left us. My daughter was holding 1st going into 2a Figure Finals, but she finished second.

In February 1997 his former college roommate, long time best friend and coaching colleague, leased him Big Wheel Skateland in Arlington, Texas which he had full intentions of buying at years end. This whole arrangement worked out perfectly for Bubba as his wife had been transferred back to the Dallas, Fort Worth area by her employer last year. Although he was only there for a few months before he left us, he quickly made the rink like a home for all of us who came. Honest to Gosh, when I walked into that rink I felt so at home, it was like walking into my own living room, and I REALLY mean that!!!

On the way from Bubba's rink tonight I said to my daughter, Sara, do you feel cheated not knowing Coach Hamilton for very long before he left us? Sara thought for a minute, then said "Yea, but at least we knew him for a little while. Think of all the skaters who never met him - they're the ones who got cheated." Ten-year-olds are something, aren't they?

Good-bye my friend - rest in peace - your legacy lives.

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