An official ceremony naming Hamilton Hall in honor of retired professor Carl Hamilton was held 40 years ago. This month, the university celebrated the 40th anniversary of the naming and honoring.
“I have spent more than half of those 40 years in Hamilton Hall as director and later as professor,” Michael Bugeja, a professor of journalism, said. “The building holds many precious memories, such as the thousands of gifted students I have taught in media ethics. As director, I experienced such high points as accreditors visiting our facilities three times under my administrative watch and bestowing on us full re-accreditation as one of the oldest journalism and mass communication programs in the country.”
Then-Iowa State President W. Robert Parks presented and officially recognized the renaming of the once-named “Press Building” to “Carl Hamilton Hall.”
Carl Hamilton graduated from Iowa State, majoring in agricultural journalism, in 1936 and was head of journalism and mass communications from 1962 to 1965. Hamilton then served as Iowa State’s Vice President for information and development from 1965 to 1984.
“With his twin information and development hats, Hamilton held extraordinary sway on and off campus. Some believe he was the power behind the throne during the administration of former President W. Robert Parks,” according to a newspaper article titled “He Loved ISU: Carl Hamilton’s Influence.”
Carl Hamilton died of a heart attack June 2, 1991. A letter he dedicated in 1979 commanded, “Be certain there is no eulogy. None. Let there be no searching for adjectives.”
Debra Gibson, the editor of VISIONS magazine during the time of his death, wrote in his eulogy, “You will notice that, according to the bulletin, I am not now giving a eulogy. I am in the midst of a meditation. I trust Carl, the editor, would appreciate the fine distinction.”
Hamilton held many positions and was heavily involved in the Iowa State community, including editor of The Iowa State Daily, president of the student body, assistant to the US Secretary of Agriculture, assistant administrator of the rural electrification, publisher of the Iowa Falls Record and Hardin County Times and Head of the “technical journalism department.”
“The University has seen fit to recognize his generosity by naming the Journalism and Mass Communication building in his honor and outpouring of praise and respect have come from friends and acquaintances far and near,” Wayne P. Davis, temporary instructor for the department of journalism and mass communications in 1991, said.
“Hamilton Hall will always be a second home for me,” Bugeja said. “I will miss it more when I retire after the Spring 2025 semester.
