I slipped the surly bonds of earth, to quote a line from a favorite poem.

Some of you may recognize it. I'm no longer among you. For a short while as a child I thought I was a Creek Indian since I was born on the Perryman Ranch south of Jenks. But I was an only child of Marshall P. Hamilton and Alice Faye Jordan, full of energy and questions about anything.

Once an adult I thought myself a survivor, off the farm and into the caustic world of World War II, thence home again, my education, a rewarding world of the airline industry, and the teaching profession. Naïve at first, I thought myself an engaging personality, especially when God was on my side. Now, I can behold Him in all His Glory and to thank him, myself, for all His blessings, many obvious, others, not so obvious. I will be able to see all the wonderful people again, J.D., Mom and Dad, those who were so very important to me. No sad songs for me! I tried to be happy despite the ugliness I encountered, the violence, the profound sadness that often envelopes all of you, even yet, the woefulness which I beheld first hand. So, think about me if you wish. I hope you do, in every lovely summer's day.

So, I shall put in a good word for each of you. When the angels ask me

To recall the thrill of it all, I shall then remember you. After I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, I'll put out my hand and touch the face of God.

Only child of Alice Jordan Hamilton and Marshall P. Hamilton, born 09 July 1926 on the Perry Ranch, south of Jenks on what is now South Elwood Avenue. Even at an early age he presumed he too was of the Muscogee (Creek) Indian tribe until his grandmother and mother both told him that was not the case. Even so, in his entire life time he appreciated his strong interest in their culture. But it was his own Grandfather Hamilton who later explained the derivation of the name, Hamilton, that being from Scotland.

During the summer of his Sophomore and Junior year of high school, his parents and he moved to Muskogee. He graduated from Muskogee Central High School, 8:00 p.m., 05 June 1944. But it was D Day in Europe and so he called his class by that name. By October, after he turned 1       8 years of age, he was drafted into the army which became, as he often mentioned, the end of the first chapter of his life and the beginning of the obvious violence of World War II. He saw duty in the Philippine Islands but when that war ended, he was sent to the U.S. Occupation Duty for one full year. As he stated, as he wrote in his own obituary, I tried to be happy despite the ugliness I discovered, the profound sadness of losing one dear buddy who was J.D. Hamilton (same last name), the agony that envelopes all of you, the woefulness which I beheld at first hand. Ask any veteran of WWII about their exploits and more than a great many will frown on such a request.

He interests for a profession included the airline industry with American Airlines (1950-1956) shortly after his first degree at OU; later, the change of plans to become an instructor at the newly opened Memorial High School (1961-1969) after earning a teaching certificate; he pursued hos worthwhile interest in history at yet another university, OSU; he taught again, this time at Oklahoma Junior College, Oklahoma City (1976-1992) before he retired and moved to Tulsa. For ten years he volunteered to coordinate and arrange the archives of Theatre of Tulsa. This community theatre honored him with a lifetime membership.

During this time, he wrote three separate novels because he wanted to do so, We Are Not Gathered Here Alone , the story of his maternal grandmother, All The Time in The World , of Japan during the early stage of the Occupation, and Etude , his novella to offer his study of concert music. At one other time, with the help of an assistant, he charted the complete genealogy of the Perryman Family from the moment they arrived in Indian Territory (1832) to the inclusion of his grandmother whose first husband defied his siblings by marrying a white lady.