Hawkins Elementary was once called San Juan Elementary because it is located in the San Juan neighborhood just south of I-10 between Paisano and Trowbridge streets. It was renamed for William Deane Hawkins, a Congressional Medal of Honor hero and a First Lieutenant in the  United States Marine Corps. Lt. Hawkins lost his life in the line of duty at the Battle of Tarawa in World War II in 1943.  He was honored in the naming of the USS Hawkins in 1944.

Lt. Hawkins was born on April 19, 1914, son of Mrs. C. Jane Hawkins. He was a graduate of El Paso High, Class of 1931, and later attended Texas College of Mines (now the University of Texas at El Paso). On January 5, 1942, he joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to 2nd Marine Division, Scout-Sniper, Amphibious Forces Raiders. He trained at San Diego, serving at Tulagi, Tanambogo, Florida Islands, Guadalcanal, and Tarawa. Lt. Hawkins made scouting trips to other islands in the Pacific. As a Private First Class, he was made an instructor in "Scout Sniper" School. He was awarded the citation as "outstanding man of his platoon" in Boot Camp. He received a Letter of Commendation in Guadalcanal and two Presidential Unit Citations. The airfield in Beito, Tarawa, is named in his honor.

Source: The Fighting Men of Texas

Administration

Adriana Ruiz, Principal

Jessica Ortiz, Assistant Principal

Important Numbers

Main Line: (915) 236-8900

Fax: (915) 775-2699

Cafeteria: (915) 236-8974

Student Records: mytopete@episd.org

Student Records Fax: (915) 775-2699

School e-mail:

hawkins@episd.org