 Z. O. "CHIP" HAMILTON, JR., a 1973 Sam Houston graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Economics, is Vice President and General Manager of Provident Development Company in Austin, Texas. "I was enthralled with the ability to create a better way of life," Chip said of his reason for going into residential development. His accomplishments in his profession are reflected in his prior experiences in the Navy in the late 1960's and during his years at Sam Houston.
Chip is a native of Houston. From 1966 to 1970, he was in the U.S. Navy Seabees and served a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967-68. After his stint in the Navy Chip came to Sam Houston while commuting from Groveton. He was self-employed as a Land Surveyor (1970-72) and served as mayor of Groveton. Also during this time he was appointed by Governor Preston Smith to serve on the State Manpower Commission. And while doing all this, Chip was able to make the Dean's list at Sam Houston! Upon graduation Chip became the Capital Budget Officer for the Woodlands Development Corporation in Houston from 1973 to 1975; he was responsible for the development of an economic model for a 20,000-acre new town (which is still used today) and for all facets of interrelating the model to land plan and handled all cost accounting for the project. In conjunction with this project he is credited with helping to establish one of the few Title 7 communities existing today. In 1975, Chip became Vice President for SCREG, a French national real estate investment firm. He was responsible for managing a real estate portfolio of $18 million. His duties included evaluation and selection of raw properties for investment for both residential and commercial development. He played a major role in establishing a successful company which still operates. In 1977, Chip established his own company-the Hamilton Development Company-in San Antonio and Houston, a firm which specialized in purchasing financially troubled developments for sale. He handled all facets of start up, including the hiring of project managers, development and coordination of sales and marketing efforts, initiation and negotiations of contracts, and acted as overseer of all aspects of finance. From this endeavor, the opening of a 5,000-acre project in San Antonio and an 8,000-acre development we re-established. He sold the firm in 1979. From 1980 to 1985, he was Vice President and General Manager of the Arvida Corporation in Boca Raton Florida. His principal activities focused on overseeing sales, development, marketing, finance, construction and political activities for this major national real estate development firm, providing leadership and direction for a 30-person staff. His accomplishments include directing successful development of a $65 million project, Longboat Key Hotel and Resort (1983). He was one of fourteen executives of the Arvida Corporation which, in conjunction with the Bass Brothers organization, accomplished the leveraged buy-out of Arvida Corporation from Penn Central and subsequent sale of the company to Walt Disney Productions in 1984 for $400,000,000. In 1986-87, Chip was president of Z. O. Hamilton Interests of Florida, Inc., a real estate investment and development firm in Boca Raton and President of H & H Charters, Inc., a leisure company operating a sport fishing boat off the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas. In 1987-88, he was President of Hooker Homes (South Florida Division), a large national builder, which established through the merging Hamilton Interests of Florida and Hooker Homes. Presently, Chip is Vice President and General Manager of Provident Development Company in Austin. He directs one of the oldest and largest community development companies. Provident is currently in community development with their new 2,100-acre development in east Austin. Chip is a nationally recognized authority in the Real Estate Development Industry and represents his company on many civic and social boards in Austin, where he lives with his wife Trish and their children. Charles F. "Doak" Derman, a 1955 SHSU graduate and attorney in Austin, states that "Chip has been one of our more successful graduates and has been a great supporter of the University even while out-of-state." |
As profiled at October 18, 1991 Distinguished Alumni Banquet