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“There’s the GOAT right there," said two Hamilton High School students to the camera as they pointed to Mr. Bob Hippey.

If you’ve spent any time at Hamilton High School, you’ve likely heard students say something like that about Hippey.

For more than two decades, Bob has been a steady, familiar presence in the halls — greeting students as they stepped off the bus, supporting them through attendance and ISS, and standing in the cafeteria during lunch making conversation. But what set him apart wasn’t just his role. It was his remarkable ability to remember names.

“I believe it’s a God-given thing,” Bob says. “I can look at a face and a name and put the two together — and it sticks.”

And it mattered.

“You just never know,” he explains. “By saying their name, you get their attention — but it’s more than that. It’s like saying, ‘Hey, you’re important.’”

Parents have told him how meaningful it was to see him call their children by name at graduation rehearsal. Students felt it every single day. In a world where teenagers can sometimes feel overlooked, Bob made sure they weren’t.

“I’m going to miss seeing the students come off the bus, being around the staff, the friendships I’ve made,” he shared. “This wasn’t just good. This was unbelievably good. It was beyond any words — an honor to serve the Hamilton community.”

Over the years, Bob’s connection to Hamilton has been personal, too — watching his grandson graduate and seeing his granddaughters in the building each day. For him, Hamilton has always been more than a workplace. It’s been family.

As he prepares to retire, one thing is certain: Hamilton High School will feel a little different without hearing him greet students by name in the hallways.

Thank you, Bob, for 24 years of impact, consistency, and heart. Your legacy will live on in every student who felt seen because of you.

Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate more Hamilton retirees in the coming weeks.