Obituary of William J. Hampton III

William J. Hampton III, Formerly of Jackson, Mich., died July 18, 2012, in Novi, Mich. Born in Kalamazoo, he grew up in Royal Oak and attended the Univ. of Mich. before joining the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry (Red Bull) Div., H Company, and served in North Africa and Italy during WW II before being injured by a land mine explosion at the Battle of Casino. He met his wife, the late nurse Nora Williamson of Battle Creek, in a field hospital while recovering. He returned to the U-Mich., leading a group of students that made an award-winning short film based on Franz Kafka's novella, The Metamorphosis. After graduation, he began a dual career that alternated between college recruiting and advertising work for Chrysler Corp. and teaching at the U-Mich, Albion College and Jackson Community College. An accomplished photographer, he later formed his own advertising and public relations company in Jackson. He is survived by two sons, William 4th of Bloomfield and Kirk R. of Austin, Tex., and granddaughter Georgia Hampton of Ann Arbor. He and his wife were dog-lovers who took in strays for 50 years. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Michigan Humane Society.