Milo Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Leland Milo Hamilton is an American sportscaster
, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball
teams since 1953. He received the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
He is known by his middle name, which is pronounced "MY-loh".
; a small town in the southeastern part of the state. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. During his time in the Navy, he broadcast on Armed Forces Radio. He graduated from the University of Iowa
in 1949. After beginning his sportscasting career by calling college football
and basketball
for the Iowa Hawkeyes
, as well as minor league baseball
in the Quad Cities
region and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the NBA (now the Atlanta Hawks
), he got his first MLB announcing job in 1953, with the St. Louis Browns of the American League
.
When the Browns moved to Baltimore
as the Orioles
, Hamilton didn't go along. Instead, he moved to the St. Louis Cardinals
, where he worked alongside Harry Caray
and Jack Buck
during the 1954 season. However, he was fired after only one year when the Cardinals wanted a spot in the booth for Joe Garagiola.
He then moved to the Chicago Cubs
, working alongside Jack Brickhouse
and Vince Lloyd
. After three years, he was fired when Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley wanted to make room for Lou Boudreau
.
After a four-year hiatus, Hamilton moved to the Chicago White Sox
in 1961, serving as the assistant to longtime White Sox announcer Bob Elson
.
. Hamilton's voice was already well-known in Atlanta; WGST had carried White Sox games for most of the early 1960s.
Hamilton soon became so popular that executives with Braves flagship WSB-TV
credited the Braves' high ratings on television (in 1972, they garnered a prime-time 27 rating) in part to Hamilton.
While in Atlanta, Hamilton called Hank Aaron's record-breaking 715th career home run in the 1974
home-opener:
The Braves, however, weren't drawing very well due to some poor-to-mediocre seasons in the mid-1970s. Hamilton went as far as to criticize the poor attendance on-air. He refused to gloss over the poor attendance and was fired after the 1975 season
.
, but pulled out of talks after learning Buck could return to the team to reclaim his job if the NBC project (GrandStand) failed. Instead, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates
for the 1976 season
, succeeding Bob Prince
. Any announcer would have had difficulty following the well-entrenched Prince, who had been part of the Pirates' broadcast team since 1948 and had been their top announcer since 1954. He was the subject of biting criticism by sportswriters and fans. Most of them were used to Prince's folksy style and thought Hamilton was too restrained (one writer derided Hamilton's style as "broadcast-school professionalism"). Hamilton was hyper-sensitive to criticism, which made a difficult situation even worse.
to join the Cubs' broadcast team alongside Brickhouse, Lloyd and Boudreau. He was under the impression that he was heir-apparent to Brickhouse upon the latter's retirement; indeed, he later said that he had been "guaranteed in blood" that he would replace Brickhouse on Cubs television broadcasts in 1982. Brickhouse himself called Hamilton "the voice of the Cubs for years to come" just before he retired in 1981. That plan changed when Harry Caray, discontented with new White Sox ownership, was brought in shortly after the Tribune Company
bought the Cubs.
Hamilton and Caray never got along, in part because Hamilton blamed Caray for his replacement with Garagiola 27 years earlier in St. Louis. Hamilton claims that during the 1984 season
, their relationship got even chillier when Caray admitted to him that he'd in fact had an affair with the daughter-in-law of longtime Cardinals owner Gussie Busch
--which has long been rumored to be the reason for the Cardinals firing him in 1969. Hamilton also claimed that Caray said on the air that he'd mailed alimony checks to all of his ex-wives. However, on the record Caray always denied that there was ever an affair.
The Cubs fired Hamilton after the 1984 season. Hamilton has blamed Caray for the firing. He told author Curt Smith
that officials at WGN-TV
spent an hour praising him, but told him that they had to fire him because Caray didn't like him, and Caray was more important to the Cubs.
Hamilton made comments critical of Caray which were published in a story after the latter's 1998 death, but Hamilton claimed in his book Making Airwaves: 60 Years at Milo's Microphone that his comments quoted in that story were actually part of a magazine article from 13 years before and that he did not in fact make the comments after Caray's death. The story prompted an angry reaction from Caray's son, Skip Caray
(who had succeeded Hamilton in the Atlanta Braves' booth). In 2006, Hamilton recounted his experiences with Caray in his book. He devoted a chapter to Caray, whom he refers to as the Canary, calling him "a miserable human being."
. He spent two years as the number-two announcer behind longtime Astros voice Gene Elston
(another native Iowan). Coincidently, Hamilton helped push out Elston after the 1986 season much like Caray had done to him in Chicago. He has been their main announcer since 1987. On July 29, 2005, Hamilton announced that starting with the 2006
season, he would no longer accompany the club on the road, announcing only home games. Although, he has traveled with the club when Busch Stadium
, Nationals Park, and Citi Field opened respectively.
and Houston Rockets
; college basketball for Northwestern
, Kentucky
, and DePaul, as well as various Southwest Conference games for the Home Sports Entertainment channel in the '80s; and college football for Northwestern
, Ohio State
and Georgia Tech
.
He is also known for his catch phrase "Holy Toledo, what a play!"
recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award
. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2000 and soon he will be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
As of 2011, Hamilton has broadcast major league games in 59 different ballparks.
On April 8, 2009, during the opening series against the Chicago Cubs, Houston Mayor Bill White dedicated Hamilton Street in downtown Houston to Milo Hamilton, changing the street's name to, Milo Hamilton Way in honor of the Hall of Fame Voice of the Astros.
flight attendant, died on July 10, 2006 in Atlanta, three weeks after suffering a stroke
.
On October 7, 2007, Hamilton suffered a heart attack while eating lunch with his son in Houston. He was taken to The Methodist Hospital
in the Texas Medical Center
in Houston, where doctors discovered that one of his coronary arteries was 99% blocked. Hamilton underwent a successful angioplasty
, and local media reported that he was resting comfortably.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams since 1953. He received the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
He is known by his middle name, which is pronounced "MY-loh".
Early career
Hamilton was born in Fairfield, IowaFairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
; a small town in the southeastern part of the state. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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...
. During his time in the Navy, he broadcast on Armed Forces Radio. He graduated from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1949. After beginning his sportscasting career by calling college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...
, as well as minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
region and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the NBA (now the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
), he got his first MLB announcing job in 1953, with the St. Louis Browns of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
When the Browns moved to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
as the Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Hamilton didn't go along. Instead, he moved to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, where he worked alongside Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
and Jack Buck
Jack Buck
John Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
during the 1954 season. However, he was fired after only one year when the Cardinals wanted a spot in the booth for Joe Garagiola.
He then moved to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, working alongside Jack Brickhouse
Jack Brickhouse
John Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983...
and Vince Lloyd
Vince Lloyd
Vince Lloyd Skaff, who worked under the name Vince Lloyd, was a radio announcer for Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs for over 30 years....
. After three years, he was fired when Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley wanted to make room for Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
.
After a four-year hiatus, Hamilton moved to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1961, serving as the assistant to longtime White Sox announcer Bob Elson
Bob Elson
Robert A. Elson was a pioneering American sportscaster.-Early life and career:Born in Chicago, Elson got into broadcasting by accident. While vacationing in St. Louis in 1928, Elson was touring KWK when a receptionist saw him among 40 men in line for an audition and thought he was going for one...
.
Atlanta Braves
When the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season, Hamilton got the call to become the main play-by-play man for the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Hamilton's voice was already well-known in Atlanta; WGST had carried White Sox games for most of the early 1960s.
Hamilton soon became so popular that executives with Braves flagship WSB-TV
WSB-TV
WSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
credited the Braves' high ratings on television (in 1972, they garnered a prime-time 27 rating) in part to Hamilton.
While in Atlanta, Hamilton called Hank Aaron's record-breaking 715th career home run in the 1974
1974 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*1974 World Series: Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Rollie Fingers, MVP*All-Star Game, July 23 at Three Rivers Stadium: National League, 7-2; Steve Garvey, MVP-Other champions:...
home-opener:
The Braves, however, weren't drawing very well due to some poor-to-mediocre seasons in the mid-1970s. Hamilton went as far as to criticize the poor attendance on-air. He refused to gloss over the poor attendance and was fired after the 1975 season
1975 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Boston Red Sox ; Pete Rose, MVP*All-Star Game, July 15 at County Stadium: National League, 6-3; Bill Madlock and Jon Matlack, MVPs-Other champions:...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Hamilton briefly considered a return to St. Louis after Jack Buck left the Cardinals for NBCNBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
, but pulled out of talks after learning Buck could return to the team to reclaim his job if the NBC project (GrandStand) failed. Instead, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for the 1976 season
1976 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over New York Yankees ; Johnny Bench, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Veterans Stadium: National League, 7-1; George Foster, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Naranjeros de Hermosillo...
, succeeding Bob Prince
Bob Prince
Robert Ferris Prince was an American radio and television sportscaster and commentator best known for his 28-year stint as the voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball club, with whom he earned the nickname “The Gunner” and became a cultural icon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Prince was...
. Any announcer would have had difficulty following the well-entrenched Prince, who had been part of the Pirates' broadcast team since 1948 and had been their top announcer since 1954. He was the subject of biting criticism by sportswriters and fans. Most of them were used to Prince's folksy style and thought Hamilton was too restrained (one writer derided Hamilton's style as "broadcast-school professionalism"). Hamilton was hyper-sensitive to criticism, which made a difficult situation even worse.
Chicago Cubs
Unhappy in Pittsburgh, Hamilton jumped at a chance to return to Chicago in 19801980 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals ; Mike Schmidt, MVP*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP*National League Championship Series Manny Trillo, MVP...
to join the Cubs' broadcast team alongside Brickhouse, Lloyd and Boudreau. He was under the impression that he was heir-apparent to Brickhouse upon the latter's retirement; indeed, he later said that he had been "guaranteed in blood" that he would replace Brickhouse on Cubs television broadcasts in 1982. Brickhouse himself called Hamilton "the voice of the Cubs for years to come" just before he retired in 1981. That plan changed when Harry Caray, discontented with new White Sox ownership, was brought in shortly after the Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
bought the Cubs.
Hamilton and Caray never got along, in part because Hamilton blamed Caray for his replacement with Garagiola 27 years earlier in St. Louis. Hamilton claims that during the 1984 season
1984 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over San Diego Padres ; Alan Trammell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirk Gibson*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Garvey...
, their relationship got even chillier when Caray admitted to him that he'd in fact had an affair with the daughter-in-law of longtime Cardinals owner Gussie Busch
Gussie Busch
August "Gussie" Anheuser Busch, Jr. was an American brewing magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world as company chairman from 1946–75, and became a prominent sportsman as owner of the St...
--which has long been rumored to be the reason for the Cardinals firing him in 1969. Hamilton also claimed that Caray said on the air that he'd mailed alimony checks to all of his ex-wives. However, on the record Caray always denied that there was ever an affair.
The Cubs fired Hamilton after the 1984 season. Hamilton has blamed Caray for the firing. He told author Curt Smith
Curt Smith (author)
Curt Smith is an American author, media host and columnist.Smith is a 1973 graduate of SUNY at Geneseo. He worked as a Gannett Company reporter, a speechwriter to former Texas Governor John Connolly, and an editor at the Saturday Evening Post. In 1989 he joined the George H.W...
that officials at WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
spent an hour praising him, but told him that they had to fire him because Caray didn't like him, and Caray was more important to the Cubs.
Hamilton made comments critical of Caray which were published in a story after the latter's 1998 death, but Hamilton claimed in his book Making Airwaves: 60 Years at Milo's Microphone that his comments quoted in that story were actually part of a magazine article from 13 years before and that he did not in fact make the comments after Caray's death. The story prompted an angry reaction from Caray's son, Skip Caray
Skip Caray
Harry Christopher "Skip" Caray, Jr. was an American sportscaster, best known for his long career as a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball...
(who had succeeded Hamilton in the Atlanta Braves' booth). In 2006, Hamilton recounted his experiences with Caray in his book. He devoted a chapter to Caray, whom he refers to as the Canary, calling him "a miserable human being."
Houston Astros
After leaving Chicago, Hamilton joined up with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He spent two years as the number-two announcer behind longtime Astros voice Gene Elston
Gene Elston
Gene Elston is a former Major League Baseball broadcaster, primarily with the Houston Astros.-Early life and career:A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Elston's first job in announcing was high school basketball in 1941. From there he progressed to minor league baseball starting in 1946...
(another native Iowan). Coincidently, Hamilton helped push out Elston after the 1986 season much like Caray had done to him in Chicago. He has been their main announcer since 1987. On July 29, 2005, Hamilton announced that starting with the 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
season, he would no longer accompany the club on the road, announcing only home games. Although, he has traveled with the club when Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
, Nationals Park, and Citi Field opened respectively.
Other sports
In addition to his early work with the Iowa Hawkeyes and Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Hamilton has also, at various points in his career, called NBA basketball for the Chicago Zephyrs, Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
; college basketball for Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball
The Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team representing Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference. Men's basketball was first introduced at Northwestern in 1901...
, Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
, and DePaul, as well as various Southwest Conference games for the Home Sports Entertainment channel in the '80s; and college football for Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
and Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...
.
Commentating style
Hamilton's style could be described as enthusiastic but not "over the top." He told Smith that Elston encouraged him to save his voice for thrilling moments, such as Aaron's 715th home run.He is also known for his catch phrase "Holy Toledo, what a play!"
Honors
Hamilton was the 19921992 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves ; Pat Borders, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar*National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz...
recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2000 and soon he will be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
As of 2011, Hamilton has broadcast major league games in 59 different ballparks.
On April 8, 2009, during the opening series against the Chicago Cubs, Houston Mayor Bill White dedicated Hamilton Street in downtown Houston to Milo Hamilton, changing the street's name to, Milo Hamilton Way in honor of the Hall of Fame Voice of the Astros.
Personal
His wife of nearly 53 years, Arlene, died at age 73 in February 2005. The couple had two children: Mark and Patricia. Hamilton's daughter, Patricia Joy Hamilton Watson, a former Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
flight attendant, died on July 10, 2006 in Atlanta, three weeks after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
On October 7, 2007, Hamilton suffered a heart attack while eating lunch with his son in Houston. He was taken to The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital is a hospital located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Established in 1919 as an outreach ministry of The United Methodist Church, Methodist is one of the most comprehensive teaching hospitals in the United States, with leading specialists in every field of...
in the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
in Houston, where doctors discovered that one of his coronary arteries was 99% blocked. Hamilton underwent a successful angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
, and local media reported that he was resting comfortably.