Charles F. Hamilton served on the MBS Law School staff in 1948 and became Dean of that school in 1949. He was elected Dean of Counselors for Missouri Boys State in 1950 and served in that capacity through the 1951 session. In 1952, he became the third director of Missouri Boys State and served in this very important position until his voluntary retirement following the 1970 session. He was involved with growth of Boys State from less than 300 participants to over 960 young men as it stands today. In addition, he is credited with changes in the format of the program to make Missouri a leader among Boys States nationwide. He authored the first comprehensive Boys State Counselors Handbook in 1950, and while the details have changed the structure and format of that handbook is still in use today. He was the chief Boys State architect in the early years and a giant among program administrators in Boys State history.
He practiced law in the City of St. Louis and was well respected among his peers. He served as general counsel for Laclede Gas Company in St. Louis for many years. Director Hamilton was very active nationally with the Boys State program and chaired the National Conference of Boys State Directors for many years. He is credited for developing the original format for the directors conference in Indianapolis, which still exists today. He also served as Chairman of the National Americanism Commission of the American Legion. Prior to his death he served as a lifetime member of the American Legion Boys State of Missouri Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
