2000 Distinguished Service Citation

While following in the footsteps of a family of community leaders, Harry Hamilton has blazed his own path of civic contribution and professional accomplishment. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Beloit, Dr. Hamilton earned his advanced degrees in atmospheric science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During a 25-year stint at the State University of New York – Albany, his numerous accomplishments included founding the Educational Opportunities Program, a special admissions vehicle for high-risk college students, and planning a unique facility housing the local National Weather Service office and private meteorology firms as well as an atmospheric research unit for the university. In 1990, Dr Hamilton and his family traveled west when he accepted the post as provost of Chapman University. During his tenure as provost, the University added a film and television school and a law school, gaining recognition as one of the top comprehensive universities in the western United States. This fall he has traded his administrative responsibilities for the classroom.

His community contributions have been many and varied in both of his home locations – the boards of YMCAs, the NAACP and the First Presbyterian Church to his affiliations with the Discovery Sanger Science Center and the art council of Orange County. And of great importance to us all has been Harry’s dedicated service to the Beloit College Board of Trustees, where he has offered his leadership and guidance since 1972. He credits Beloit professors Ronald Palmer, Milt Feder, Stanley Soper and Marion Stocking with teaching him to think and awakening him to the extraordinary world of knowledge and the arts.

Son of Velma Bell Hamilton of the Class of 1930, brother of Patricia Hamilton Gyi of the Class of 1963 and father of Lisa Hamilton of the Class of 1993, Harry’s family roots at Beloit run especially deep. The Beloit College Alumni Association is proud to recognize his achievements with the conferral of the 2000 Distinguished Service Citation on the occasion of his 40^th reunion.