Lee Herbert Hamilton (April 20, 1931 – February 3, 2026) was an American politician and statesman who grew up in Evansville, Indiana. He represented Indiana’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, from 1965 to 1999, and later served as vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission.

Evansville and Early Life

Hamilton was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, but grew up in Evansville and graduated from Central High School in 1948. He was a standout basketball player and led Central to the championship game of the Indiana state basketball tournament during his senior year. He received the Arthur L. Trester Award for excellence in athletics and academics.

Hamilton continued playing basketball at DePauw University and was later inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Political Career

Hamilton was elected to Congress in 1964 and represented southern Indiana for 17 terms. He became one of the nation’s most respected voices on foreign policy and national security, serving as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Intelligence Committee and playing a major role in the congressional investigation of the Iran-Contra affair.

After leaving Congress, Hamilton remained active in national affairs. He served as vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission and co-chairman of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. He also founded Indiana University’s Center on Congress, now the Center on Representative Government.

President Barack Obama awarded Hamilton the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Hamilton died in Bloomington, Indiana, on February 3, 2026, at age 94. He is remembered as one of the most prominent national political figures to have grown up in Evansville.