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Dr.
T. Earle Hamilton, professor emeritus of Spanish and classical
languages, Texas Tech University, was the founder and first president of
Sigma Delta Mu. He was for 15 years the president of Sigma Delta Pi, the
first national honor society in Spanish Studies, formed in 1919 at the
University of California (Berkeley) to encourage Hispanic studies in the
universities. Requests were received at the national level for the
formation of a similar society for community and junior colleges. In the
spring of 1978, Dr. Hamilton received the approval and backing of Sigma
Delta Pi’s executive council to initiate such a project. He
relinquished his activities with the four-year college society to give
all his time and efforts to the creation of Sigma Delta Mu. Dr. Hamilton
held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in his field from Southern
Methodist University, and took his doctorate in Spanish and classics at
the University of Texas. He began his teaching career in Texas high
schools, and had visiting professorships at a number of western colleges
and universities. A member of several learned societies, and former
editor of their publications, he was co-author of graduate reading
examinations in Spanish for the Educational Testing Service, Princeton,
NJ. He was co-founder of the Texas Foreign Language Association and held
office in various societies. During his presidency of Sigma Delta Pi,
Dr. Hamilton helped organize its 300th chapter and set a new
record of 37 chapters in a single year. He brought the new society the
zeal and dedication he had always given to encouraging the knowledge of
and love for Spanish and Hispanic culture. His high standards of
personal integrity and scholarship were an inspiration to all.
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