Clair E. Hamilton (1975)

HAMILTON, DICK, HEBERLING, SMITH, ANTHANAS, CROCKETT

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 11/10/2007 at 19:49:02

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
January 22, 1975

CLAIR E. HAMILTON,
Burial Rites Here for Well-Known Lawyer

Burial services were held in the Winterset cemetery this Monday morning, January 20, for Clair E. Hamilton, a Madison County native who became one of Iowa's most distinguished jurists.

Mr. Hamilton died Thursday, January 16, 1975, at Los Alamitos, California at the age of 81 years. He had retired from active law practice in Iowa City in the fall of 1973, and he and Mrs. Hamilton moved to California.

He was born in Winterset on November 5, 1893, a son of Joseph E. and Catherine Dick Hamilton. He attended local and elementary and secondary schools, and was graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1921.

He was married to Prudence Herberling in 1919.

Mr. Hamilton served in both World Wars. During World war I, he received the French Croix de Guerre for bravery as an American Ambulance Driver with the French "Blue Devils: Division. In World War II he had an esteemed record as chief legal officer at Nuremburg, Germany.

In 1921 he established a law practice in Winterset, which is known today as the firm of Webster, Jordan and Oliver. During his residence here, he served as Madison County Attorney, was an assistance Attorney General of Iowa, and a member of the State Tax Commission.

While in Winterset he was also active in the American Legion and other civic organizations.

He returned to Iowa City in 1939 to join the former law firm of Messer, Hamilton and Cahill, with which he served until being named a district court judge. He served on the bench of the Eighth Judicial district from 1959 to 1963. He then practiced with the Iowa City law firm of Meardon, Sueppel and Downer until retiring in 1973.

In Iowa City Judge Hamilton served as commander of Roy L. Chopek Post of the American Legion, president of the University of Iowa Quarterback Club and on the official board of the First United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Elks, Masonic and Moose Lodges, Sigma Alpha Epsilion fraternity and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

As an attorney, he gained renown as a defense lawyer in criminal proceedings. He was also an ardent Iowa sports fan, and for many years accompanied the Hawkeys baseball team to Arizona in the spring.

He is survived by his wife in California; a son Joseph of Greensboro, North Carolina; three daughters, Prudence Smith of Missoula, Montana, Constance Athanas of High Point, North Carolina, and Judith Crockett of Los Alamitos, California; and nine grandchildren.

Memorial services for Mr. Hamilton were held Sunday afternoon, January 19 from the Methodist Church in Iowa City.

Officiating at the graveside service in Winterset was the Rev. Paul Bousfield. Military rites were conducted by members of Green Rogers Post of the American Legion.