“My wife, Lori Hamilton, has been a huge help with pecan grading and food processing. Fortunately, these two functions are somewhat seasonal, so she has time to spend with our six grandchildren quite often.” And the office manager, Jan Walters, has worked for the family business for 36 years and, as Mark Hamilton says, “She knows the business inside and out.” Now a respected member of the nationwide Third from the left, Mark Hamilton stands with his brother Mat- pecan community, Mark Hamilton currently holds thew Hamilton, wearing a cowboy hat, at a trade show in Kun- several positions where he contributes to the ming, China. Standing with them is their interpreter, second from future progress of pecans and pecan products. the right, along with three representatives of the Pumei Pecan He is a member of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers’ Company. Courtesy Mark Hamilton. Association Board of Directors, which is responsible he will help with production equipment in the food for providing ongoing education, research facility. Paul is always the calming force when things opportunity, and networking for pecan growers get crazy.” statewide. As well, he is a member of the board of Mark Hamilton’s son, Jacob Hamilton, is directors for the American Pecan Council (APC), following in his dad’s footsteps. He’s currently which is responsible for overseeing the operation a teacher and a coach. He has helped out with of the USDA Federal Marketing Order for pecans the family business since he was about six years in the United States. The APC provides data old. Mark Hamilton says of Jacob, “He is another collection, marketing initiatives, and research for one who can fill in anywhere and can run most the pecan industry of the United States, which has operations that we perform.” grown to a billion dollar-per-year industry. Shown in the middle, Mark Hamilton is with his sons and grandsons. On the left is Lucas Hamilton holding his son Holden Hamilton. On the right is Jacob Hamilton holding his son Maddox Hamilton. Courtesy Mark Hamilton. 16