5 In memoriam: William H. Hamilton, 1924 - 2012 meritus University Professor William H. Hamilton was born March 9, 1924 in Evanston, IL and died in Portland Feb. 28 of congestive heart failure. He was reared in a middle-class Chicago suburb, earned a baccalaureate degree at Oberlin College in 1943, and served in the US Navy during World War II. At the behest of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, with whom he eventually developed a lifelong friendship, Bill enrolled in Union Theological Seminary, earning a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1949. He speculated that very likely he was Bill Hamilton the only crewman on his ship possessing a copy of Niebuhr’s notable work, The Nature and Destiny of Man. To complete formal theology training, Bill attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, earning a PhD in Systematic Theology in 1952. Professor Hamilton began his distinguished career with an appointment (1951-1953) as Dean of the Chapel and Assistant Professor of Religion at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. From 1953 to 1967, he held an endowed chair as Professor of Historical Theology at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, an ecumenical institution stemming from Baptist origins. Concurrently he served (1955-1967) as Adjunct Professor Religion at the University of Rochester. Through teaching and publishing he gained recognition as a leading American academic theologian. For many years scholars had been exploring the nature of the relationship of God to the all-too-often brutal human historical experience. In 1965 he and Thomas Altizer published an essay collection entitled “Radical Theology and the Death of God.” During the April 1966 Easter-Passover season Time Magazine published a cover article, “Is God Dead?,” that embodied some of those ideas. The predictable resulting furor on behalf of self-identified defenders of religious belief totally altered Professor Hamilton’s scholarly career. Expression of displeasure by colleagues and trustees prompted him to leave Colgate-Rochester in 1967 to take an appointment as Professor of Religion at a nontraditional institution, New College, in Sarasota, FL. Professor Hamilton came to PSU in Sept. 1970, where he served as Dean of Arts and Letters until his designation as University Professor in Sept. 1976. He was a disciplined and prolific writer who authored several books and dozens of articles. A gifted speaker and teacher, he offered courses in his academic specialty until retirement in 1986. His scholarly achievements contributed significantly to this institution’s reputation for academic excellence. In 1949 Bill married Mary Jean Golden, a New York City ballet dancer, who survives him along with their children Donald, Ross, Patrick, and Jean Hamilton, and Catherine Passo; eight grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. To the Hamilton family, our organization extends its heartfelt sympathies. The family suggests that remembrances be made to Oregon Public Broadcasting, 7140 SW Macadam Ave., Portland OR 97219. Recognition of Professor Hamilton’s legacy appeared in numerous media obituary feature articles, including ABC News, the Oregonian, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. Time Magazine (March 26, 2012, page 21) noted his passing with an analysis of its 1966 issue that had raised the “stark question, ‘Is God Dead?’” and acknowledged the worthiness of William Hamilton’s thoughtful reflections. --Victor C. Dahl, Emeritus Professor of History Remembering Don Willner ormer Oregon State Senator Don Willner died March 27. The obituary that appeared in the April 3 Oregonian records the life of a man who used his legal training in the service of justice. One dimension of that life not mentioned is his support for Portland State University. In The College That Would Not Die, Gordon Dodds described Willner as Portland State's "main legislative champion." Willner worked to allow Don Willner Portland State to offer doctoral programs. It was he who, in 1969, introduced the bill to raise Portland State's status from College to University. Willner used his membership in the Portland Chamber of Commerce to rally support for the bill from the local business community. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor McCall. Tens of thousands of PSU graduates as well as current students and faculty have reason to honor his memory and to remember him with gratitude. Survivors include his wife Marjorie Burns, Professor Emerita of English. --Jack Cooper, Emeritus Professor of English E F
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