A driving force behind the creation of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation has died at his retirement home in Colorado. Bob Hamilton came to Knox as the President of the Farmer’s Bank and Trust Company which is now Key Bank.
Upon his arrival in the early 1980’s, Hamilton realized Starke County needed a way to attract industry. He once said, “How can the bank make loans if people don’t have jobs to pay the loan off?”
He was instrumental in the reorganization efforts of the Starke County Fine Arts Commission, and beamed at the first presentation of The Nutcraker Suite that used children from local elementary schools in the production.
The Greater Knox Area Chamber of Commerce also was of special interest to Hamilton.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
