E. W. Hamilton

IN MEMORY OF E. W. (Alex) HAMILTON Alex was born March 16, 1910, in Benkelman, Nebraska, the son of Harry P. and Rebecca (Work) Hamilton. He married Edna A. Yoder on December 21, 1935, in Tarkio, Missouri. He died Friday, February 3, 1995, at Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, Iowa, at the age of 84 years. Alex is survived by his wife, Edna, Cedar Falls, Iowa; two daughters, Suzanne McCoullough, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Mary Margaret Baxter, Cedar Falls, Iowa; and two grandsons, William Hamilton McCoullough and John Armstrong McCoullough. He was preceded in death by his parents. Alex started teaching at age 16 in a one room country school in the "Sand Hills" of Nebraska. He received his bachelor's degree from Tarkio College and, after teaching in Nebraska and Missouri, received a Ph. D. from the University of Iowa. In 1949 he joined the staff of the University of Northern Iowa in the Department of Mathematics. In addition to his teaching, he served as a statewide consultant for Iowa schools. He was Head of the Mathematics Department from 1963 to 1976, retiring from teaching in 1978. He was a textbook author with Scott Foresman; he also was President of the Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers and served as co-editor of the Arithmetic Teacher, a journal of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Alex is remembered professionally for his long years of service to the Mathematics Department, both as a faculty member and as its Head, and for his national leadership in the "modern mathematics" curricular changes in the 1950's and 1960's. On a personal level, he is remembered fondly for his quick and quiet wit, his loyal friendship, and his wise perceptions of the issues and trends of his time. He guided and led by quiet encouragement. The department, the university, and his many friends were enriched by knowing him. Condolences and memorials may be directed to his wife, Edna, at 822 College Street. E. W. "Alex" Hamilton, 84, of 822 College Street, died Friday, February 3, 1995, at Sartori Memorial Hospital, of natural causes He was born March 16, 1910, in Benkleman, Nebraska, son of Harry P. and Rebecca Work Hamilton. He married Edna A. Yoder on December 21, 1935, in Tarkio, Missouri. He received a bachelor's degree from Tarkio College and, after teaching in Nebraska and Missouri, received a Ph. D. from Iowa University; in 1949 he joined the University of Northem Iowa math department. He served as a statewide consultant for Iowa schools and was head of the UNI math department from 1963 to 1976, retiring in 1978. A textbook author for Scott Foresman, he was also president of the Association of School Science and Mathematics and a co-editor of Arithmetic Teacher. Survived by: his wife [she died September 14, 2014]; two daughters, Suzanne McCoullough and Mary Margaret Baxter, both of Cedar Falls; and two grandsons. Memorial services: will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dahl-VanHove-Schoof Funeral Home, with burial at a later date. There will be no visitation. Memorials: may be directed to the Hamilton Scholarship Fund. Copyright Waterloo Courier, February 5, 1995, p. B4.