News Page

Elections closed December 1, 2009

New officers be installed at the PBM 2009 Midwest general meeting

 

Sheryl Bowhay    - President

Paul Worosello   - Vice President

Keith Bearden     - Director

Cathy Williams    - Director

Mike Townsend  - Director

Rodney Bennett  - Director

Lois Wiggins       - Director

Elva Kaye Lance  - Director

Finley Ray Hamilton, Colonel (Ret.), United States Army, died of cancer on
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at the age of 61 at his home in Ellicott City,
Maryland. His wife, Kathy, was with him throughout his long illness.

Finley was born on January 21, 1948 in Richmond, Kentucky to Charles and
Nancy Hamilton. He attended Eastern Kentucky University’s Model School and
later Madison High School. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music in 1970 and a Master’s degree in
Music in 1975. Throughout his education, he was an active member of the
music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha, and marked himself as a career musician early
on.

In 1971, Colonel Hamilton was commissioned as an officer in the United
States Army through Eastern Kentucky University’s Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps. He would go on to have an illustrious 35-year career in the Army
Bands Program, commanding the Army Ground Forces Band at Ft. McPherson,
Georgia, the U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany, and
The U.S. Army Field Band, Washington, D.C.

Colonel Hamilton was a graduate of the Army’s Adjutant General’s Officer
Basic and Advanced Courses and the Command and General Staff College. His
decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was given
the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association’s highest award for
service to the regiment, the Horatio Gates Medal in Gold.

Colonel Hamilton was a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters
Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and
the Texas Bandmasters Association. He was President of the National Band
Association at the time of his passing. Eastern Kentucky University awarded
him its honorary Doctor of Arts degree in 2003 in recognition of his
lifetime of service to music, music education, and the university. He was
also inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame, and into the Honorable
Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Throughout his career, Colonel Hamilton remained active as a guest conductor
and clinician, conducting numerous state and national music festivals and
conventions, as well as the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Boston Pops
Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony. He was a fine representative of the
United States Army and of the music community. People close to him knew him
for his old-fashioned, Middle American sensibilities, his passion for
excellence in music, his cheerful pursuit of golf, and his appreciation of a
good joke. His Soldiers knew him as an honest, even-handed commander.

Colonel Hamilton is survived by his wife Kathy, his stepson José, and his
sister Rebecca Hamilton Brown of Ormond Beach, Florida. He is preceded in
death by his parents and his brother Benny.

Visitation for Colonel Hamilton will be held at:
Slack Funeral Home,
3871 Old Columbia Pike,
Ellicott City, MD
4-6 P.M., Sunday, April 19

A Funeral Service will be held at Post Chapel on Ft. George G. Meade,
Maryland at 10 A.M., 1000, Monday, April 20

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at 1:45 following the funeral
service. Those attending the interment should be at the Arlington National
Cemetery welcome center between 1:00 and 1:15 P.M.

Please check http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/finham/journal for updates
and additional information on access to Fort Meade and transportation to
Arlington National Cemetery.

The family asks that remembrances of Colonel Hamilton be sent in the form of
donations to the Colonel Finley Hamilton Music Scholarship Fund. Please send
donations to Eastern Kentucky University, Development Office, 521 Lancaster
Avenue, CPO 10A, Richmond, KY 40475. Annotate the memo line of checks with:
COL Finley Hamilton Music Scholarship Fund.

For those who wish to attend the Funeral Service and/or the Interment:
Transportation will be offered from Fort Meade, MD to Arlington National
Cemetery and return on Monday, April 20.  Details and directions will be
posted on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/finham/journal for those
desiring to use this transportation must RSVP no later than 12:00 Noon on
Friday, 17 April. The RSVP e-mail address will be posted on the website.