2012 Alumni Award Winner
As a publisher of community newspapers and an energetic supporter of rural Iowa, Mark H. Hamilton ’71 is helping breathe new life into areas that others often overlook.
A political science major and an All-Conference football player at Grinnell, he traveled the country after graduation. He worked as a commercial salmon fisherman in Seattle, a staff member for two U.S. senators, and as a general manager and marketing director for two Alaska newspapers.
In 1983, he returned to his home state of Iowa to become co-owner, president, and publisher for Times-Citizen Communications, a company that publishes community newspapers and a variety of other publications.
In 1986, he received first place in the Iowa Newspaper Association’s editorial writing category. In 1994, he received the Iowa Master Editor-Publisher Award, the state’s highest newspaper industry honor.
His commitment to the small towns of Iowa goes beyond his work with community newspapers. He is charter chair of both Positively Iowa and the Iowa Community Vitality Center. The two organizations work to rebuild small towns through job creation, entrepreneurship, and other programs. In 1992, he was recognized for his extensive volunteer contributions with an Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award.
Grinnell is pleased to honor Mark H. Hamilton ’71 for his deep commitment to building stronger communities and a stronger state.
