John Hamlin, from Fort Morgan, served 14 years (1972-1986) as a Colorado legislator. In 1986 while serving as House Majority Leader, he was selected as Legislator of the Year. In addition to Majority Leader, John served as a member and Chair of the House, Business Affairs and Labor Committee. He was considered “a stabilizing influence and a voice of reason” in Colorado politics.
In Fort Morgan, he was involved with the community, serving as Mayor, was on the Fort Morgan City Council, an active member of Rotary, the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Municipal League.
Outside government, John Hamlin sought to improve the local community by serving on numerous civic and private boards. He was a generous contributor to Morgan Community College and Colorado Plains Medical Center because he believed they made Fort Morgan a better community.
All of Hamlin’s civic service was in addition to being an excellent businessman as exemplified through the success of Hamlin Electric, which he founded with his brother in 1949 and actively nurtured until his retirement.
John G. Hamlin died on January 25, 2000 at age 79 just after being name Citizen of the Year in Fort Morgan. He left a generous legacy of community service and very large footprints on the sands of time.