Clair E. Hamilton
U.S. Army
1917-19 & 1943-46
Clarence Hamilton epitomizes the character and accomplishments of a Hawkeye Distinguished Veteran. Mr. Hamilton left the University of Iowa Law School to serve as an ambulance driver during WWI. The French government awarded him the Croix De Guerre for bravery for his service. After WWI, he returned to Law School and graduated in 1921. He started in private practice, but soon became the Country Attorney and then a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of Iowa. He was privileged to argue eight cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1943 at the age of 50, he reenlisted in the U.S. Army as an attorney. He soon became the head of all civil courts and prisons in the city of Nuremberg and Bavaria. He tried thousands of cases and was the in charge of the denazification of the civil courts system. After his time in Germany, he returned to the U.S. where he continued to practice as an attorney. He served as District Court Judge for Johnson County from 1960-1968. Upon retirement as a judge at 75, he immediately went back to private practice.
While proud of his service in the courts and Army; he was equally proud of his selection as the University of Iowa Outstanding Father of the year in 1958.
Locator
