Raymond Hamlin '86 to be Keynote Speaker at 2027 ESU MLK Celebration Breakfast
East Stroudsburg, PA (10/16/2026) — East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania has selected Raymond Hamlin '86, a founding partner of the law firm of Hunt, Hamlin, and Ridley, to be the keynote speaker for the 2027 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast. The 30th annual celebration honoring Dr. King is scheduled for Monday, January 18, 2027, at 8 a.m. in the ballroom of the University Center on ESU's campus. The theme of this year's breakfast is "The time is always right to do what it is right."
Raymond Hamlin '86 graduated from ESU after being recruited to play basketball. A native of Long Branch, N.J., he continued his education at Rutgers Law School in Newark, N.J. After attending law school, Ray became an associate at the law firm of Ashley & Charles in Newark.
In 1995, Ray became one of the founding partners of the law firm of Hunt, Hamlin, and Ridley. He has spent the vast majority of his career as a trial lawyer, handling cases in both state and federal courts. He has tried complex criminal and civil cases, focusing much of his civil practice to civil rights cases, where he has had a great deal of success in obtaining six- and seven-figure jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. Ray's legal acumen also gained him an invitation to attend Oxford University, in Oxford, England, as a panelist in the area of human rights. He has successfully argued before the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals and most recently successfully argued a case before the New Jersey Supreme Court, obtaining a ruling in favor of his client regarding the illegal search and seizure of a motor vehicle.
A highlight of his legal career has been his representation of individuals in a number of high-profile cases, including former talk show host and radio DJ Wendy Williams, as well as representing the family of civil rights leader Malcolm X in various intellectual property matters, including negotiating the audiobook of the Autobiography of Malcolm that is available on Audible.com. He is also part of the litigation team, along with Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, in a lawsuit against the City of New York, the New York Police Department and the federal government for their alleged role in Malcolm X's assassination.
Ray has been recognized for his professional and athletic achievements throughout his career. He was inducted into the Long Branch High School Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments as a star point guard and was named the 1999 recipient of ESU's Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He has also been honored by various community organizations for his work in the legal field. He is also a proud member of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and previously served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Ethics Committee.
In 2024, Ray established the Ray Hamlin '86 Men's Basketball Annual Scholarship to assist members of the ESU men's basketball team, reflecting his continued commitment to supporting student-athletes and giving back to the university community.
Ray has been married to his wife, Zoraya, for more than 35 years. Together, they have two adult children, Raymond and Asia. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf (including his quest to play in all 50 states) and creating music in his home recording studio. Recently Ray released an album under the artist name RayLH. The title of the album is called "Who Am I." Ray wrote, produced, arranged and performed all the tracks on the album which can be found on all streaming sites including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and all other streaming sites. You can also follow him on Instagram @raylh_music.
Reserve a Space Today
Reservations are now being taken for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast at a cost of $50 per person, $25 per student and $400 for a table of eight. Proceeds will benefit the Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie Scholarship Fund at ESU, which provides financial assistance to undergraduate students who show a commitment to social justice through community and/or university service. In 1904, Ms. Boddie was the first African American student to graduate from what was then known as East Stroudsburg State Normal School and ultimately became East Stroudsburg University in 1983. Reserve your seat today (https://www.esufoundation.org/mlk2027).
As a result of the breakfast, four Boddie Scholarship awardees will each receive a $4,200 scholarship award for the Spring 2027 semester. Scholarship winners are selected based on their ability to demonstrate their commitment to Dr. King's philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity, and respect for humanity.
Breakfast organizers are asking regional business organizations to consider becoming a sponsor of this community event. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call the ESU Foundation at 570-422-7000.
For more information about the Celebration Breakfast or for special accommodations, contact Lyesha Fleming, director for the Center for Student Engagement and Belonging, at 570-422-3896 or email lfleming@esu.edu.
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