Martin Edward Hamilton

Message: Martin Edward Hamilton Martin Edward Hamilton Martin Edward Hamilton entered into eternal rest on Friday, November 16, 2007 at his residence in Lakeway, Texas He was born in Purcell, Oklahoma on March 20, 1913 but lived most of his life in Texas. He is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth (Betty), to whom he was married for 64 years. Their children and spouses include Martin Edward Hamilton III and wife Vaness, Carolyn Hamilton Cole and husband Jerry, William Barnes Hamilton and wife Glenna. Other immediate family members include his sister, Sybil Rice, and his grandchildren William B. Hamilton Jr., Ashley Hamilton Elliott, Christina Cole, Lori Cole Scrogin, and Drew Barnett-Hamilton. He was a graduate of Lubbock High School, and while a member of the school debate team won the state championship for his debating ability. As a young man at Texas Tech his desire to become a lawyer was interrupted when he was seriously injured in an automobile accident. Times were difficult and in order to make a living he went to work at a CCC Camp. Early on he knew working in the hot sun building roads was not his preference and when he heard the camp commissary needed someone to manage it he quickly volunteered. His ingenuity established him as a born salesman and this would be the career path he would follow. In the field of education he was well respected as the owner of the Houston territory for Balfour Company, the manufacturer of graduation rings. Later he joined forces with his friend William J. Taylor Jr. as a co-owner of Taylor Publishing Company in Dallas and today that company is known nationally for providing yearbooks to high schools and colleges. Martin often said he never felt he was working because he enjoyed what he did and his customers became life long friends. He came from modest circumstances but early in life developed a strong work ethic that would later afford he and his wife the opportunity to pursue many philanthropic endeavors. They established the Martin and Betty Hamilton Endowment in Cardiology at UTMB Galveston, the Dr. Herbert M. Seybold Scholarship Fund at UTMB Galveston honoring their dear friend Dr. Herbert Seybold, The President's Scholarship Fund at Texas A&M College Station, Shreiner Institute Educational Scholarship fund at Kerrville and numerous other things in the field of education. They were faithful supporters of the Cultural Arts in Galveston, the Galveston Historical Foundation, Our Daily Bread and Trinity Episcopal Church. He remembered as a young man what it was to do without and in later years he willingly responded to people he knew who were in need. At various times Mr. Hamilton served on the Board of Directors for Keystone International (now known as Tyco International), Adams Laboratories, Sterling Bank, Baylor Laboratories and Shriners Burns Hospital. He was a partner in Big Three Enterprise Leasing in Dallas, and participated in various investments in real estate and the oil and gas industries. While living in Houston he was Senior Warden of the Vestry at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. In 2004 he and his wife relocated to Lakeway, Texas to be near their children and transferred their church affiliation to St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church. Mr. Hamilton was member of the Masonic Order and a Shriner. For twenty years he maintained an investment office in Galveston. The office was a gathering place for his retired buddies and each Monday was designated "Lunch Day at Casey's". Martin Hamilton took pride in his family and was dedicated to providing for their future. When Alzheimer's Disease became an invasive factor in has day-to-day living his children responded by giving back to him generous amounts of the love and care he had always shared with each of them. The family welcomes family and friends to a service at St. Luke's on the Lake at 10:00 in the morning on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 with Reverend Mike Wycoff officiating. Arrangements for interment at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston with Reverend Ron Pogue officiating are pending. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Alzheimer's Association or the charity of one's choice. The family would like to thank Jean Tholcken for her dedication to Martin and the family for 20 years of service. A "thank you" is given to caregiver Carol Anne Chancellor for her dedicated service and special appreciation is extended to the many friends Martin was privileged to have. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy, 4:7. Memorials and guestbook online at http://wcfish.com Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 11/18/2007
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