He appeared to practice what he preached as a pious man, and he channeled his religious faith into a sense of duty toward others, especially future generations, rather than just serving himself imagine that. While he may not have directly influenced a single Saturday shoot, the spiritual calling that led him to WNDU was a blessing for every kid who came through BOC. Upon becoming GM in , Hamilton wielded considerable autonomous power.
There was no board of directors to answer to, and he claimed that he never had to take orders from Notre Dame because the administration trusted him to run the station in accordance with university and Church principles. Hesburgh and Fr.
Accordingly, he saw running the station as more than just a business. Sean Walton , whose father Paul worked for decades at WNDU, recalled how Hamilton created a family atmosphere at the station, hosting summer company picnics and an annual Christmas party where Santa who gave out gifts to all employee kids. He began every meeting with a prayer and gave supportive feedback to employees and friends via a memo pad that featured a cross and a JMJ Jesus, Mary, Joseph marker at the top.
His mission was to help young people carry Christian morals into society, and this began at home. He assured his girls that an education would help them be self-sufficient rather than reliant on marriage to support them, a remarkable belief for a religious conservative in the s. Junior Achievement Executive Director Robert Riedel approached Hamilton about forming a student group at WNDU in , and while other local stations received the same pitch and were apparently wary about trusting a large group of teenagers around the same equipment they used to produce their news broadcasts, Hamilton once again took the less traveled path.
(mh=4ZDR6AkEG9dF5pIX)0.jpg "Girls in South Bend")
Already involved with the local JA chapter, he saw how empowering young people with economic responsibilities could improve their lives. Dave Williams reminded BOCers to be on their best behavior during these visits; after all, Hamilton was the man who made their program possible. With his impeccable dress of heavily tailored vests and waistcoats and distinguished white hair, he cut a figure reminiscent of a Wall Street patriarch.
