An icon silenced

Dr. Peter Hamilton, whose cries of "First down, Pitt State!" was part of the experience of attending Pittsburg State University football games, died Thursday. (Submitted photo)

Dr. Pete Hamilton, who joined the Pittsburg State University faculty in 1972 and served for more than 25 years as the public address announcer for the PSU Gorillas, died early Thursday at the age of 65.

Hamilton, often called the "Voice of the Gorillas," first took the microphone as the school's public address announcer on Nov. 8, 1980, for the Gorillas' regular season finale against Emporia State University. He served in that capacity for 26 seasons and retired after PSU's regular season finale against Emporia State on Nov. 10, 2007.

Hamilton, who introduced generations of PSU students and fans to signature cries of "Welcome (opponent), heh, heh, heh, Welcome to the Jungle!", "Here Come the Gorillas!", and "First Down, Pitt State!", also served as the public address announcer for PSU men's and women's basketball as well as for the school's bi-annual commencement activities.

Hamilton, who was born Feb. 29, 1944, came to the United States from his native Scotland when he was 8 years of age. His family moved to Milawaukee, Wis., and he attended the University of Wisconis-Whitewater, where he earned a national championship in debate during his collegiate days. He later earned his master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1967, and his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1972.

He served as chair of the Department of Communication at PSU for 19 years. He began his career at PSU in 1972, when he was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977 and to full professor in 1984. He was named chairman of the department in 1989, and in 2007, he returned to teaching faculty. Hamilton retired from PSU in May 2009 after teaching part-time for a few years.

"Not every student is a gifted athlete, but they all have special talents," Hamilton said in an interview prior to calling his final PSU football game in 2007. "You apply your competitive juices where they're best fit in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. I think that's what I've done over the years, and that's what I've tried to instill in others."

Funeral arrangements are pending and under the direction of Brenner Mortuary in Pittsburg.