Melbourne High School Mural To Be Saved By Palm Bay Artist Hamilton Masonry

Painted nearly 40 years ago

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A mural remembered fondly by generations of Melbourne High students will be saved by a Space Coast masonry company during a major summer renovation of the school cafeteria.

Painted nearly 40 years ago, the 6 ½-by-30-feet mural depicts school staff at that time as sports figures. It was created by Phil Roberts, a Melbourne High alumnus and professional surf artist who today lives in California.

“Generations of Melbourne High Students, including myself, have seen it and eaten lunch near it,” said Principal Chad Kirk, a Mel High alumnus himself.

“Some of the people painted in the mural still live in the area. We’re trying to save the thing.”

But removing and relocating the mural could cost more than $5,000, an expense that doesn’t fit Brevard Public Schools’ budget for the cafeteria renovation, Kirk said.

Coming to the rescue is Hamilton Masonry of Palm Bay. The company has volunteered to remove the wall that holds the mural in three sections. Then, those sections will be reunited, reframed and mounted on an exterior wall, Kirk said.

Hamilton Masonry owner Tami Hamilton and her husband, Grey, are Mel High alumni whose four children have passed through the school. Their youngest child graduates this year.

Artist Phil Roberts “is very excited that we’re going to save his mural,” Kirk said. Roberts’ work can be seen on his website, philroberts.com

Kirk called the project an example of a community and school working together to save something meaningful to both.

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