He has a BS in Biology from William Carey College with the emphasis in Marine Biology from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. He also obtained a MS in Biology with emphasis in Ichthyology from Northeast Louisiana State University.
Mr. Hamilton worked at Northwest Florida State College for over 45 years. He was the Chairman/Instructor of the NWFSC Science Department, and taught college science to high school students for a decade at the Collegiate High School. He has directed seven summer science institutes on Coastal Ecology for public school teachers and was the director of five summer camps for middle and elementary students entitled
Cool Coastal Ecology.
In 2008, Ross received the Marjorie Carr Award that recognizes contributions to Florida's aquatic resources and was happy to accept the award on the behalf of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College.
"He is a tremendous soul," says Dennis Peters, Chairman of the CBA Advisory Committee, "giving freely of his time, scientific expertise, and political acumen to the betterment of CBA, NWFSC, and our local environmental concerns. Stop just about any resident who grew up in the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area, and they are likely to say that they or someone they know has had Ross as a teacher, professor, colleague, or friend. Few people have that kind of a community impact and influence on our lives."
"Ross Hamilton is a man who cares, and he wholeheartedly supports people and issues that he cares about," Alison McDowell, Director of CBA, agrees, "He has been a champion for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Northwest Florida State College, and I truly believe Mr. Hamilton’s efforts have improved both water quality and higher education in Okaloosa and Walton Counties." She continues, "On a professional level, he has been an excellent mentor to me, and on a personal level, he inspires me to be an everyday hero, like him."
Thank you Mr. Hamilton!
