"Billy Hamilton" Archive

Professor of Russian Billy Hamilton passes away

We are saddened to announce that Professor of Russian Billy Hamilton died October 9 after living with leukemia.

Professor Hamilton, who was also a former assistant dean of the College, won the 2021 Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching at Wake Forest University, a fitting capstone to his 38-year career at Wake Forest. 

In addition to teaching Slavic languages and linguistics, he also taught many aspiring old-time and bluegrass musicians of various abilities over the years. Professor Hamilton and his wife, Cindy, were members of the Unbroken Circle, a group of Wake Forest administrators, faculty and friends. The multigenerational music group annually raises funds for the Shalom Project at Green Street Church.

The Wake Forest community grieves Professor Hamilton’s death and extends our condolences to his family and friends, as well as those who had the opportunity to know him. 

Because of Covid restrictions, rather than a formal funeral, the family is planning a musical celebration in the spring or summer of 2022. An obituary can be found here.

Wake Forest offers support and counseling services for all students, faculty and staff.  The Counseling Center may be reached at 336-758-5273 and the Chaplain’s Office at 336-758-5210.  For faculty and staff, there is also the Employee Assistance Program at 336-716-5493.

Wake Forest University professor Dr. Billy Hamilton teaches his Russian grammar class in Greene Hall on Wednesday, February 21, 2007.

2007

Billy Hamilton at Commencement

2011

The Unbroken Circle plays a benefit concert for the Shalom Project on the WFU campus on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

The Unbroken Circle in 2015

Billy Hamilton sits outside between classes.

2013

Billy Hamilton sits outside between classes.

2013

WFU homecoming October 12, 2002. Dean Billy Hamilton and his wife perform at the Festival on the Quad. ©2002 Wake Forest University, Office of Creative Services.

2002

Billy Hamilton enjoying a pipe on his front porch on a warm winter day.

2016

Categories: Inside WFU

'College House' opens for retired Wake Forest faculty

A guest post by Alex Abrams, Communications Coordinator, Office of the Dean of the College

Ed Wilson sat in a plush chair with a book of poetry in his hands.

Rather than enjoying a quiet evening, Wilson entertained the small crowd that gathered on Oct. 23 inside the renovated house at 2430-A Reynolda Road with poems by former Poet Laureate Billy Collins.

Looking up every so often from his book, he recited Collins’ poem “Schoolsville” about a retired college professor adjusting to life away from the classroom. The crowd laughed as Wilson read aloud.

After all, many of the people in attendance for the grand opening of the College House were retired Wake Forest faculty members – including Wilson, the longtime English professor and provost affectionately known as “Mr. Wake Forest.”

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Concert to benefit The Shalom Project

unbroken.circle.membersMark your calendars for The Shalom Project Benefit Concert featuring Unbroken Circle, Wake Forest’s multi-generational string band. The event will be held Sat., February 1. at 7 p.m. in Kulynych Auditorium in Byrum Welcome Center.

Band members include:
Bailey Allman: Fiddle
Ella Allman: Guitar, mandolin, vocals
Joe Allman: Bass
Martha Allman: Autoharp
Nick Bennett: Banjo, vocals
Linda Bridges: Accordion, vocals
Kate Brooks: Guitar
Billy Hamilton: Banjo, vocals
Jodi Hildebran: Guitar
Will Huesman: Guitar, vocals
Graylyn Sage Kersh: Muse, musical apprentice
Cecilia Kucera: Fiddle
Jordan Lee: Guitar, vocals
Linda Luvaas: Mandolin, vocals
Sara Pesek: Banjo
Ed Wilson: Poetry

All proceeds go to support the work of The Shalom Project.

Categories: Events

September 2012 faculty milestones

See a list of employment milestones reached by faculty in September 2012:

30 years
Maya Angelou; Reynolds Prof/American Studies

William Selden Hamilton; Professor, German & Russian

35 years
Andrew V. Ettin; Professor, English

Allan Louden; Chair/Assoc Professor, Communication

Teresa Radomski; Professor, Music

Cecilia H. Solano; Assoc Chair/Assoc Professor, Psychology

40 years
James J. Kuzmanovich; Professor, Mathematics

45 years
Ronald E. Noftle; Professor, Chemistry

Categories: Faculty News

Band of Wake Foresters raises money for local nonprofit

The Unbroken Circle performs“The Unbroken Circle,” a bluegrass band that incubated in the living rooms of Wake Forest faculty and staff, played a concert recently that raised $5,000 for the Shalom Project, a nonprofit that offers vital programs to its West Salem neighborhood.

The multigenerational band, whose members all have ties to Wake Forest, teamed up on Jan. 29 at the Green Street Church with professional blues musician Big Ron Hunter to perform a benefit entitled “Come Home.” Provost Emeritus Ed Wilson also read from the poetry of W. B. Yeats to an audience that exceeded 250.

“Wake Forest students, faculty and staff have a long history with both Green Street Church and the Shalom Project, be it serving the homeless through the Wake Saturdays program, tutoring children in the after school program, or serving meals at Wednesday night dinners,” said Martha Allman, dean of admissions and one of the Unbroken Circle’s founding members.

See a photo gallery »

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Categories: Events

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