DePauw Stories

DePauw University grieves the passing of Lee Hamilton ’52, an influential leader who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years and achieved renown in matters of foreign policy and national security. He died at the age of 94 at his home in Bloomington, Ind.

“Lee Hamilton was a gift both to our university and to our nation,” said DePauw president Lori S. White. “Whenever Lee and I spoke, I loved listening to the way that he reflected upon his lifetime of incredible experiences. I have greatly appreciated his sage advice, and I will always admire how his career of public service embodied the values that we continue to instill in our students to this day.”

During his esteemed career, Hamilton won the trust and respect of his constituents and colleagues on both sides of the political aisle, earning him numerous recognitions, including the Presidential Medal of Honor. The New York Times argued that from the beginning of his time in office, “Mr. Hamilton displayed a moderation and independence more common to experienced legislators.” The Times also highlighted his remarkable accomplishments, adding, “Mr. Hamilton in time became head of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees, a confidant of congressional leaders and the presidents of both parties from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama, and the author of white papers and books on foreign policy and intelligence matters.”

Hamilton studied history at DePauw, where he also played basketball, graduated cum laude and was awarded the prestigious Walker Cup. He was inducted into the DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, and he delivered commencement addresses in 1971 and 1998, as well as an Ubben Lecture in 2011.

The DePauw University community honors this exceptional leader and extends condolences to his family, friends and all those affected by his passing.