Mary Jane “MJ” Hamilton lived her life with passion, purpose, and dedication. She retired in 1996 and moved to Allen, Texas, where she helped start the Allen Retired Educators Association. Having worked in schools for more than 30 years as an elementary teacher, counselor, and associate psychologist working with Special Education students, Hamilton was no stranger to organizing and executing new programs. Throughout her retirement years, she did just that as she worked in the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) to elevate the organization to new heights.
During Hamilton’s retirement years, she became close friends with two people, Tim Lee and Jo Long, who molded TRTA at the state, district, and local level. Hamilton’s friendship with Lee began at a District President’s meeting in 2004. Lee immediately recognized Hamilton as the type of leader that the association needed.
“Mary Jane and I connected on the development of ideas and then bringing those ideas to the table in order to encourage people to be part of this organization,” Lee said.
Lee and Hamilton formed a strong friendship over prolonged phone calls as Lee traveled to local chapter meetings across the state. Lee sought out Hamilton’s advice due to her ability to fine-tune details. Lee describes himself as “an idea person” and that Hamilton could take those ideas and make them a reality.
“MJ simply had numerous talents that I found inspiring. She was a detail-oriented person, and she pushed me to take my BIG ideas and develop them in a way they could be accomplished. I think many people who love thinking up those big ideas often lack the details needed to get them accomplished. MJ helped me so much, she helped TRTA so much, and we are all better for her work and the time she gave to us.”
Hamilton became so ingrained in TRTA that she worked on the state staff to help plan three conventions, and she wrote the first book on personnel guidelines for TRTA.
Hamilton met Jo Long at a Delta Kappa Gamma meeting in 1998. Long and Hamilton founded together the Allen local chapter in 2001. But their friendship went beyond volunteerism; they became travel buddies.
Long described Hamilton as being a fantastic leader because of “her attention to detail” and that she could be described as “a perfectionist.” Long believes that Hamilton was driven by the belief in the mission of the association to help retired educators. Hamilton served as both a District 10 President and as a Board member for TRTA and the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF).
“I just can’t tell you how much I miss her,” Long said. “At night, we would text over TV shows. I miss all parts of that.”
Hamilton passed away on April 26, 2024, after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was posthumously awarded the highest honor in TRTA with the E.L. Galyean Award in the fall.
“It would have meant the world to her,” Long said of Hamilton receiving the E.L. Galyean award.
Lee said one of his final conversations with Hamilton was about how to continue to grow the organization. “She loved every minute of it,” he said. “I miss Mary Jane so much.”
On April 8, 2025, the Texas House of Representatives adopted a resolution honoring Hamilton’s life. In the statement, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach, she was described as having “lived a careful and purposeful life, and she will forever be remembered with admiration and affection by all who held her close to their hearts.”
