D-Day veteran, Springfield businessperson Jack Hamlin dies

Jack Hamlin, a World War II D-Day veteran who contributed to the local business and government sectors, has died. He was 102.

Hamlin died July 20, according to his obituary posted to GormanScharpf.com. Graveside services are scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on July 24 at Maple Park Cemetery.

Last month, Hamlin was presented with the Key to the City honor by Springfield Mayor Ken McClure during a ceremony at The Montclair Senior Living. The mayor also has presented the recognition to southwest Missouri businessperson Bill Darr, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and former city leader Mary Lilly Smith, according to past reporting.

"Those of you who know him know about his indeterminable spirit, his 100-watt smile and his enthusiasm for life," McClure said in his State of the City address in June. "Thank you, Jack. We salute you."

Hamlin was born in Springfield in 1921 and played Minor League Baseball for the New York Yankees farm club in Joplin, according to a news release from the city of Springfield. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII.

Hamlin in 1951 was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, and he started a Springfield insurance agency in 1952 that he ran for 40 years, according to his biography on file with the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The biography indicates Hamlin additionally was appointed as deputy collector of revenue for the Missouri Department of Revenue, was a member of the Springfield Planning Commission in 1973 and 1977 and was part of the Queen City's charter revision committee.