Hamilton, William 1915-2004.

William Eugene "Gene" Hamilton was born on April 10, 1915 in Allerton, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State College (University) with a B.S. (1938) in agricultural economics. After graduation, Hamilton became assistant agricultural economist in the office of economic information of Iowa State College's Extension Service. He also continued taking graduate level courses in economics.

Throughout most of his forty year career (March 18, 1940 - March 31, 1980), he worked for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), except for a period of leave for military service as a Naval communications officer during World War II. He began his career in AFBF's Washington Office where his duties were mainly related to economic aspects of legislation and included preparing articles for the newsletter (Farm Bureau News) and national magazine (The Nation's Agriculture) and gathering statistics and analytical material for Farm Bureau policies. He then moved to AFBF's general office (1950) in Chicago to work as an economist where he became director of research (1954) and chief economist (February 1973-March 1989). He wrote the Farm Bureau News' regular monthly feature "Farm Business Roundup." His writings included topics such as government farm programs and updates on commodity trends and prices. During his tenure with the AFBF, Hamilton analyzed economic problems, wrote legislative and administrative proposals, prepared discussion materials on policy issues, and represented the Farm Bureau on numerous occasions at Congressional hearings. Hamilton provided the economic view on AFBF statements, testimonies and letters. According to his retirement announcement in the Farm Bureau News, Hamilton believed that "economic progress lies in the direction of dispersal of economic decision-making, the enhancement of private property rights, sound money and greater reliance on the marketplace." In addition to his work at the AFBF, Hamilton was also a member of the National Planning Association's Agriculture Committee (March 1955-1970s).

After his retirement, Hamilton's activities included serving on Wheaton, Illinois' planning commission and volunteering with the Internal Revenue Service tax preparation program for senior citizens. Hamilton died on July 29, 2004 at his home in Wheaton, Illinois.