The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 24

Des Moines Sunday Register FINAL FAMOUS IOWANS Hamblin roamed the globe for Life magazine Page 2B Sunday, December 30, 2007 A family. Born June 15, 1920, Hamblin was the oldest child of Allen Woolcott Hamblin, the respected publisher and editor of the Bedford Times-Press, and his wife, Grace. All three Hamblin children, including son Harry, earned master's degrees in journalism. Dora Jane who throughout her life was known as "Dodie" to family and friends probably knew from an early age that she would be a journalist someday, her sister says. Hamblin received encouragement from her family and teachers at Bedford High School.

Then, following fam- By TOM LONGDEN REGISTER STAFF WRITER Dora Jane Hamblin was a gifted writer whose articles added luster to Life magazine during its heyday. Her byline appeared regularly and readers looked for it. The writer's sister says she was "superintelligent," "lots of fun" and "loved adventure." Mary Ovrom of Keosauqua also says her sister, who was seven years older, was a seasoned world traveler who always returned home to Iowa at least twice a year, in summer and at Christmas. Writing talent ran in the When Life died In her book "That Was the Life," Hamblin describes the day in 1972 when she and other staff learned that the magazine would cease publication: TEARS: "When I wandered in, at about 11:30 a.m. the first person I saw was (columnist) Loudon Wainwright standing in the reception center on the ground floor.

I rushed to greet him; he took one look and burst into tears. MORE TEARS: 'You don't know, do he said, and then the horrid statement burst out. 'It's dead. Life is So then of course I burst into tears, and a receptionist who had been around the place for years looked at the pair of us and SHE burst into tears. It was quite soppy in the reception hall.

It was pretty soppy upstairs, too, behind a brave mask of stiff-upper-lip. A word about Famous lowans on the Web Articles in the Famous lowans series that are normally found at DesMoinesRegister.com are temporarily offline. They will return in January. 1 I Do you have suggestions? Send your suggestions for other famous lowans to feature to tlongdendmreg.com. the 1 OPTIFAST70PTITRIM serious solution for weight loss 0PT1FAST0PTITRIM' Nutritional Products The most researched and highest quality weight loss formula cited in over 82 medical studies as producing an average 52 lb.

weight loss. Gym in a Bag The easy way to enhance your weight loss ily tradition, she attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, graduating magna cum laude in 1941. Next came a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1942. Returning to Iowa, she spent two years as a reporter for the Cedar Rapids Gazette before totally switching gears. In 1944, she joined the American Red Cross and took assignments in Australia, the Philippines and Japan, as well as in Europe.

She continued to write and sent articles back to the Gazette about her experiences with U.S. troops and people she met along the way. This led to her being named staff correspondent for the Red Cross Courier, the organization's official publication. In 1948, Hamblin joined Life magazine as a researcher, but 18 months later was named a correspondent in the Paris office. That was followed by other choice assignments: two years in London, two in Chicago and four in Rome, beginning in 1956, with her appointment as chief of Life's bureau there.

In 1954, Hamblin visited Des Moines and spoke at a gathering of the Ladies of the Press at the Hotel Savery. "I honestly don't think Europeans dislike us," Hamblin told her audience. "They do think we do some very peculiar things. They especially wonder about our friendliness for our enemies like Japan and Germany, who have recovered from World War II more rapidly than our Allies." In 1960, Hamblin was again based in New York City, serving in a series of posts at Life. One plum project, lasting from February 1967 to December 1969, was covering the cutting-edge U.S.

space program from Houston. She conducted interviews with astronauts, their wives and families, but also explained the brand-new space technology in a way Americans could understand. Readers were fascinated. This resulted in a 1970 book, "First on the Moon, a Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael efforts anytime, anywhere and for anybody. 1 -V -2.

REGISTER FILE PHOTO DORA JANE HAMBLIN Writer Although Hamblin knew many celebrities, her sister, journalist Mary Ovrom, once wrote in an article for The Des Moines Register: "We don't let any of this go to Dodie's head. When she's back in Iowa, we take her on farm hikes, and she'll never live down the time she was scrambling around on Rattlesnake Bluff with us, still clutching her city purse on one arm." Ovrom says her sister was "an outspoken Democrat" who was not inclined to domesticity. In her youth, Hamblin loved playing tennis and once won a state high school tennis title. Hamblin's papers are housed in the University of Iowa's Women's Archives. Collins and Edwin Aldrin," written with Gene Farmer, that detailed the Apollo 11 mission.

Also in 1970, Hamblin resigned from her full-time job with Life and moved to Trevignano, Italy, a resort near Rome, which became her base as a freelance writer. She continued to write articles for Life, but also submitted articles to the Smithsonian magazine and other publications. And she continued to travel the globe. Living in Italy allowed Hamblin to embrace her lifelong interest in archaeology, and she Physician Supervision Medical supervision ensures significant and rapid weight loss is safe even for diabetic and heart disease patients. ifMercy CENTER FOR WEIGHT REDUCTION 5 I Li' ill I began turning out a number of books on the subject.

On Sept. 14, 1975, The Des Moines Register's book critic, Charlotte Brunk, reviewed "The Etruscans" and called it "a fascinating book" about "these vigorous, exciting people." Other volumes included "Pots and Robbers" (1970), "The First Cities" (1973), "Buried Cities and Ancient Treasures (1973) and "The Appian Way, a Journey" (1974). And from 1973 to 1975, Hamblin helped Broadway star Mary Martin write her autobiography, "My Heart Belongs," which became a best-seller upon publication in 1976. The next year brought another book, "That Was the Life," Hamblin's chronicle of the beloved magazine for which she had toiled about 23 years. Life had ended its successful run in 1972, closing a chapter in American magazines.

While living in Italy, Hamblin became acquainted with actress Sophia Loren and taught the movie star how to play tennis. She also collaborated with Loren on a book about her life. But Loren backed away from the project and the manuscript was never published. Ovrom says Hamblin became chums with another legendary Italian actress, Gina Lol-lobrigida, and also counted Ingrid Bergman as a friend. Hamblin never married, but was close to her Iowa family and an inspiration to her nieces and nephews.

In the last two years of her life, Hamblin battled throat cancer, returning for treatment at Iowa City. In the summer of 1993, Hamblin was back in Iowa, as usual, visiting relatives and old haunts as well as attending a reunion of Campfire Girls in Boone and a high school reunion in Bedford. "She spent a busy summer having fun," Ovrom says. On Aug. 17, 1993, Hamblin died of a heart attack at her home in Italy, although Ovrom says her sister had no history of heart problems.

A memorial service was held Sept. 18, 1993, at the Congregational Church in Keosauqua. Her ashes were interred at the Ovrom family plot in Keosau- qua's Purdom Cemetery. I 11' 1 Walnut Ridge at Give Senior Community Experience a New Way of CANDIDATES' CAMPAIGN SCHEDULES See for yourself our quality. Free I-dtiy hu ride to our iter annmuniiy in I den frame, i all for tletuih DEMOCRAT JOHN EDWARDS BOONE: 11:30 a.m., "Countdown to Caucus," Giggling Goat, 628 Story St.

Open Monday Fridvv 9:00 a.m. p.m. Sm i kiuvs St i)vs By Aitoimmiat I University i University -v 1 (515)457-1111 1701 Campus Drive Clive, IA www.WalnutRidgeAtClive.com THE RED TAGS Se somp red. Here's a schedule of Iowa campaign events reported by presidential candidates. Events are public unless otherwise noted.

For a complete campaign schedule, see DesMoinesRegister.comcaucus. TODAY DEMOCRAT JOE BIDEN MASON CITY: Noon, "Caucus Countdown" tour stop, Masonic Temple Association of Mason City, 304 First St. S.E. GARNER: 2:30 p.m., "Caucus Countdown" tour stop, Garner Education Center, 325 W. Eighth St.

ALG0NA: 4:30 p.m., "Caucus Countdown" tour stop, Sister Sarah's, 1515 N. McCoy St. SIOUX CITY: 7 p.m., "Caucus Countdown" tour stop, Boys and Girls Club of Sioux City, 513 14th St. DEMOCRAT HILLARY CLINTON VINTON: 2 p.m., Benton County "Picks A President," Vinton-Shellsburg High School Student Commons, 210 W. 21st St.

TRAER: 4 p.m., Tama County "Picks A President," Traer Memorial Building, 414 Second St. CEDAR FALLS: 6 p.m., Black Hawk County "Picks A President," University of Northern Iowa Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota Ave. IOWA FALLS: 8:15 p.m., Hardin County "Picks A President," Pineview Elementary School, 1510 Washington Ave. DEMOCRAT CHRIS D0DD LE MARS: 11 a.m., "Caucus for Results" celebration, Four Brothers Restaurant, 1430 Two Rivers Blvd. EMMETSBURG: 2:30 p.m., meet-and-greet, Pizza Ranch, 2120 11th St.

MASON CITY: 7 p.m., "Caucus for Results" celebration, The Other Place, 125 First St. S.E. I 1 Save some green. V' TAIIT1 OMnnULL. p.

1U WA "Countdown to Caucus," Carroll CAUCUSES High School, 2809 N. Grant Road. DENIS0N: 4 p.m., "Main Street Meet Greet," Crank's Cafe, 812 Fourth Ave. S. MAPLETON: 5:45 p.m., meet-and-greet, Beef n' Brew, 420 Main St.

SIOUX CITY: 7:30 p.m., "America Rising" rally, Convention Center, 801 Fourth St. DEMOCRAT BARACK0BAMA KN0XVILLE: 11:15 a.m., "Stand for Change" tour stop, Knoxville Middle School, 102 N. Lincoln St. NEWTON: 2:30 p.m., "Stand for Change" tour stop, Newton Senior High School, 800 E. Fourth St.

S. INDIAN0LA: 5:15 p.m., "Stand for Change" tour stop, United Methodist Church, 307 W. Ashland Ave. DES MOINES: 7:30 p.m., "Stand for Change" tour stop, Nathan Weeks school, 901 S. E.

Park Ave. REPUBLICAN MITTR0MNEY COLUMBUS JUNCTION: Noon, "Strong America" bus stop, Columbus Junction Civic Center, 232 Second St. IOWA CITY: 1:30 p.m., "Strong America" bus stop, Hamburg Inn, 214 N. Linn St. MOUNT VERNON: 3 p.m., "Strong America" bus stop, Fuel and Nest Coffee Shop, 103 First St.

E. MOSCOW: 4:30 p.m., "Strong America" bus stop, The Cove Restaurant, 1288 307th St. BETTEND0RF: 6:45 p.m., "Strong America" bus stop, The Lodge, 900 Spruce Hills Drive DATELINE IOWA From Register staff and news services WOODWARD Woodward Resource Center official plans to retire Mike Davis will retire next month after 2 1 years as superintendent of the Woodward Resource Center for people with mental retardation. During his time at Woodward, the facility's population has been cut in half to 240 residents. Wards have been eliminated in favor of campus houses.

Davis has helped develop specialty services for people with complex conditions, such as autism or borderline personality disorder, and people with problematic sexual behavior. DAVENPORT Woman sues sheriff, jail officials over restraint chair use Lillian Slater, who said her sickle cell anemia flared up when she was restrained in a chair for several hours at the Scott County Jail in January 2006, has filed a federal lawsuit. The Scott County sheriff's office, Sheriff Dennis Conard, jail physician Scott Ludwig and other jail staff and medical personnel are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Iowa Ombudsman Bill Angrick reported in June that jail staff violated state law and internal policies by strapping Slater into a restraint chair for two hours, then for five consecutive hours. Slater complained to the ombudsman's office that she asked for medication and to see a doctor.

She was restrained after she yelled and banged her head against a wall. The county submitted a letter that said Slater's condition was more likely the result of intoxication than sickle cell anemia. COUNCIL BLUFFS Judge sentences two to prison in methamphetamine case U.S. District Judge Ronald Longstaff sentenced Daniel Lynn Brown 31, of Council Bluffs to 42'2 years of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Longstaff sentenced Brown's accomplice, Jeffery Monroe Bowman, 36, also of Council Bluffs, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute at least 4 pounds of methamphetamine.

Both people pleaded guilty to the charges in 2006. 2008 Buick Lucerne CX lOOafteOOO total cash back fei v--- 2008 Buick LaCrosse total cash back Visit lowaBuick.com CORRECTIONS An article Saturday about a letter of credit obtained by Republican John McCain's presidential campaign incorrectly characterized certain details of the line of credit. The letter of credit is secured by campaign assets, not by federal matching funds. Jill Hazelbaker, a campaign spokeswoman, acknowledged that McCain has taken steps to qualify for federal matching money, but he has not decided whether to take the money. The letter of credit is being used to purchase television advertising in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Campaign officials said that repayment of the loan does not depend on contributions. An article in the Metro Communities column Saturday about the 101 Lounge, 102 Third incorrectly reported that the Des Moines City Council had rejected the business's liquor license. The liquor license was approved on Dec. 17 by the council, and state liquor records show the business has a valid license through December 2008. Based on MSRP after all offers.

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