Forrest "Fog" Clyde Hamilton

Forrest was born in St. Clair, Missouri on June 16th, 1930, to Thelma and Clyde Hamilton. After graduating from high school in St. Clair, where he was a star basketball player, Forrest went on to study physical education at the University of Missouri and Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University).

At Southwest Missouri State, he was a key figure as a forward and part of the 2-time NAIA National Championship men’s basketball team. His athleticism and success on the basketball court led to him being selected as an alternate for the 1952 Olympic basketball team, a member of the 1952 and 1953 Chuck Taylor All-American squad, winning the FIBA World Championship in Brazil (with the Peoria Cats), being drafted by the New York Knicks, and eventually being inducted into the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame and State of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

After his illustrious sports career, Forrest began his professional sales career in St. Louis, Missouri for Chase Bag Company. During this time, he met and married Betty Von Hoffmann and they had two children, Michael and Tim. Forrest was known as a legendary salesman, mostly due to his warm and welcoming personality and became instant friends with most everyone he met.

While still in St. Louis, he met and married Joan Francine Merlo and in integrating their two families, became a father to her children, Karen and Ray. In 1963 Forrest and the family were transferred to Louisville, Kentucky. Soon, they added to the family their youngest child, Scott, in 1965.

In 1972, Forrest continued to flourish in sales and took on his role as a northwest based regional salesman with Chase Bag Company upon settling in Beaverton, Oregon. In Beaverton, they established their family home which remains a central part of the family to this day. It was also here where he bridged his personal charm, love of sport, and his expert salesmanship, and found his home away from home on the golf course. Upon settling in Oregon, Forrest joined the Portland Golf Club where he was a 2-time Club Champion and became President of the club in 1989. His love for the game took him across the country to play the best courses, and this carried on for the rest of his life.

After many years as a celebrated and awarded salesman, Forrest retired in 2005 and turned his focus to that of which he loved most, golf (both watching and playing), eating sweets, studying horse racing, and spending time with friends and family. In 1999, Joan and Forrest began splitting their time between Tonto Verde, Arizona and Beaverton, Oregon, building long lasting friendships in both places over the course of the years.

Forrest was predeceased by his parents, Thelma and Clyde Hamilton. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his children Michael (and spouse Jack), Karen (and spouse Mike), Tim, Ray, and Scott; his grandchildren Lindsay, Katy, Garrett, Daron, Maggie, and Henry, and his great-grandchildren Gavyn, Benny, Sadie, and Avery as well as countless other treasured family members and friends.

A private gathering will be held for family and close friends in the coming days. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to The Bears Fund, a fundraising program for the men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletics at Missouri State University.