Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation have introduced legislation to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Lafayette, Louisiana, after Rodney C. Hamilton Sr.
Rodney Hamilton was born in 1932 in Fort Worth, Texas, and moved to Lafayette in 1948. He joined the Marine Corps at age 17 and served during the Korean War. In September 1951, he was wounded in combat and received a Purple Heart. After his military service, Hamilton became active in Lafayette’s city government from 1968 to 1972 and later founded the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Action Coalition.
Hamilton played a key role as an advocate for veterans, helping to establish the VA clinic that opened in Lafayette in 2016. The road leading to the clinic was named after him in 2017. Local chapters of veteran organizations including the American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans have supported renaming the clinic as a tribute.
“Rodney Hamilton dedicated his life and career to serving America and Louisiana’s Veterans. He showed true passion for helping his fellow Veterans. It is fitting that the VA clinic he helped secure for our community will be named in his honor. I am humbled to lead this effort in Congress,” said Rep. Higgins. “Those who served deserve our humble gratitude, and in some way, when we name a public building after one Veteran, We the People honor all Veterans.”
Original cosponsors of this legislation include Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Congresswoman Julia Letlow (R-LA), Congressman Cleo Fields (D-LA), and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA).
Clay Higgins has represented Louisiana’s 3rd district in Congress since 2017 after succeeding Charles Boustany; he previously served in the Louisiana House of Representatives and currently lives in Lafayette.
