On May 8, longtime Amityville Memorial High School track and field coach Reynolds Hawkins was honored for his years of service in coaching and mentoring student-athletes.

The high school’s track was renamed for Mr. Hawkins, who has coached their track and field team for 26 years. Officially named as the Jerry Pollock & Reynolds Hawkins Track, Mr. Hawkins now shares the name of the track with his former coach and lifelong friend, Jerry Pollock. District officials, school administrators, board members, alumnus of Amityville Memorial High School, and relatives of Mr. Hawkins joined him at the track for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“I’ve truly been blessed throughout the years,” Mr. Hawkins said. “For my name to go up there, that will represent my father’s name, Reynolds Hawkins Sr., myself as Reynolds Hawkins Jr., my son, Reynolds Hawkins III, and my grandson, Reynolds Hawkins IV. They all have the opportunity to see their name up there forever, which is truly a blessing.”

Mr. Hawkins is a member of the Suffolk Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His winter teams have won several league and county titles, and his spring track teams have earned countless divisional and league titles as well. Additionally, for the winter season, Mr. Hawkins has been named Suffolk County Coach of the Year four times, and he earned this award 10 times for the spring season. He was also named as Newsday’s Coach of the Year twice for his spring track coaching.

“Reynolds Hawkins just sounds like one of those legendary names,” said Amityville Memorial High School alumnus Alijah Benymon. “It didn’t matter whether or not your biological father was in your life, because for many people like me, he is my second dad.”

As an educator, Mr. Hawkins has worked as a social worker in the Amityville School District for several years. Mr. Hawkins said he was proud to share this honor with Mr. Pollock, who taught in the district for 33 years has coached track and field for 52 years. Both have coached together since 1990.

“They have been close friends for decades and they are such fine gentlemen,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale. “What they do for the young people of this community is not limited to what happens on the field. They are both outstanding role models, so it’s just fitting that this track will be rededicated to both men.”

Date Added: 5/10/2023