John Hampton (philanthropist)
Encyclopedia
John Hampton was an American
retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel
and former journalist
. Hampton is credited with co-founding Toys for Tots
with Major William L. Hendricks
and other U.S. Marines during the late 1940s.
Hampton was born on May 24, 1907. Hampton received a bachelor's degree
in journalism
from Baylor University
. He worked as a journalist for several wire service
s and newspapers in Texas
, Louisiana
and Kansas
following his graduation. Hampton enlisted in the United States Marines during World War II
and was sent to the Pacific theater. He coded and decoded encrypted messages during the war.
Hampton was stationed at a Marine Reserve training center in Los Angeles
following the end of World War II, where he worked as a public information officer
. He would meet Major William L. Hendricks at the Los Angeles center, who would co-found Toys for Tots
. Hendricks, who was public relations
officer for Warner Bros.
by profession, created a campaign to place collection bins for toys outside of Warner Bros movie theaters, which evolved into Toys for Tots. Hendricks partnered with Hampton to lead the toy
collections in the area. Hampton also used his journalism experience to promote the campaign.
Hampton later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
, where he practiced public relations
in Oakland. He married his wife, Pulitzer Prize
-nominated journalist, Nora Hampton. Nora Hampton, who worked for the Oakland Tribune, was nominated for a Pulitzer for first-person account of her experience as an airline passenger on a plane which was flown to Cuba in a 1969 hijacking. The couple resided in Orinda, California
, until Nora Hampton's death on November 24, 1994.
Hampton began showing symptoms of dementia
in 2000. He died on July 4, 2010, at the Deer Hill Care Home in Lafayette, California
, at the age of 103. His son, Mikey Hampton, died in 2006, leaving no close relatives.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and former journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. Hampton is credited with co-founding Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
with Major William L. Hendricks
William L. Hendricks
William L. Hendricks was a former USMCR Colonel who was the key figure in setting up the "Toys for Tots" program. Aside from his USMCR career he also worked in the film industry for many years, initially as a documentary producer for the United States Army, then as a production executive at Warner...
and other U.S. Marines during the late 1940s.
Hampton was born on May 24, 1907. Hampton received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. He worked as a journalist for several wire service
Wire Service
Wire Service is an American drama series that aired on ABC as part of its 1956-57 season lineup.-Synopsis:Wire Service focuses on three reporters for the fictional Trans-Globe wire service, which was similar to real-life news wire services such as the Associated Press and United Press International...
s and newspapers in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
following his graduation. Hampton enlisted in the United States Marines during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was sent to the Pacific theater. He coded and decoded encrypted messages during the war.
Hampton was stationed at a Marine Reserve training center in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
following the end of World War II, where he worked as a public information officer
Public information officer
Public Information Officers are the communications coordinators or spokespersons of certain governmental organizations . They differ from public relations departments of private organizations in that marketing plays a more limited role...
. He would meet Major William L. Hendricks at the Los Angeles center, who would co-found Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
. Hendricks, who was public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
officer for Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
by profession, created a campaign to place collection bins for toys outside of Warner Bros movie theaters, which evolved into Toys for Tots. Hendricks partnered with Hampton to lead the toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
collections in the area. Hampton also used his journalism experience to promote the campaign.
Hampton later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, where he practiced public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
in Oakland. He married his wife, Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-nominated journalist, Nora Hampton. Nora Hampton, who worked for the Oakland Tribune, was nominated for a Pulitzer for first-person account of her experience as an airline passenger on a plane which was flown to Cuba in a 1969 hijacking. The couple resided in Orinda, California
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
, until Nora Hampton's death on November 24, 1994.
Hampton began showing symptoms of dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
in 2000. He died on July 4, 2010, at the Deer Hill Care Home in Lafayette, California
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
, at the age of 103. His son, Mikey Hampton, died in 2006, leaving no close relatives.