Monticello Live

Most Monticello residents know Truman Hamilton from when he owned the radio stations.  Others remember when he managed the Magic Mart store, but there’s more to know about Truman than where he used to work.

Truman has just accepted the position of executive director of the Monticello Economic Development Commission. 

I think the job is in good hands.

MEDC’s director, Derrill Pierce, is stepping down because of health reason, but is helping it’s new director during the transition. 

Truman has just been in the office a few days, but the first thing that I noticed about his desk, was that his Bible was on it.  That’s a sign of leadership.

Truman was born in Reedley, California, and graduated from Russelville High School, and later attended Arkansas Tech University, at Russelville.

Truman was a member of the Arkansas National Guard, with basic training at Ft. Polk, LA., and then AIT was at Fort Gordon, GA., which is where he originally became involved in radio.

Truman is a former member of the Executive Board of the Ark. Baptist Home for Children, a past president of the Monticello Rotary Club, and a former member of the Drew County 4-H Council, and Extension Council.

He was in retail management with Magic Mart for 20 years, and then was owner / operator of the local radio station(s) for 15 years, and followed that with 8 years working with the Monticello School System.

Truman’s free time doesn’t include very much TV.  He said, “The writer’s strike won’t affect me much.” He does however like sports.  Truman in an avid Billie, Razorback, and Weevil supporter.

Truman says, “UAM quarterback Scott Buisson is a Division I player, that we’re lucky to have.  Most players of his caliber go to bigger schools.” 

Truman’s wife, Mary, works at Fred’s Pharmacy.  They have 3 daughters; Joanna, who lives in Ft. Worth, TX; Karen, in Port Authur, TX; and Christina, who still lives in Monticello.

Mary and Truman are members of Monticello’s First Baptist Church, where he is a deacon.

Truman described retirement this way, “Retirement was killing me.  There are always so many people that I was trying to help, from fixing screen doors, to other projects for friends and church members.”

Truman sees the MEDC as “a great opportunity to help the city and the area.”  He added, ”So many people think that the answer to our employment situation is a big smokestack, and a huge factory.”  ”Our growth is going to have to start from what we already have in town.  Jobs can come from within the health, education, and retail fields, as well as local entrepreneurs.”

Truman remembers Monticello’s old economy, and he seems to understand the current economy. 

He told me about the time he announced that a local factory, the newly purchased Curry Machine & Tool on Old HWY 13, had sold and was moving to Mexico.  He found out later that the management hadn’t told their employees before they held a press conference at City Hall.  “I announced the plant’s closing on the radio, and that’s how their employees learned that they were losing their jobs.”

He also remembers, ”When the Coke plant was actually bottling, and Burlington was running full tilt.”  ”The need for economic growth is a never-ending spiral.  The inter-modal facility will be great for the area, but we need jobs now, not down the road.”

It sounds to this reporter, like Truman understands the situation pretty well.

Truman used to bass & crappie fish, but hasn’t had many chances lately.  It doesn’t look like he’ll get to much now either.

Thanks, Truman Hamilton, for sharing your One Monticello Life. 

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 11th, 2007 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Feature: OML. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.