by Connect Happy Valley staff writers
In a world where success is often measured by how far you can go, Don Hamer proved that greatness could be built by staying right where you are.
He did not chase headlines or relocate to tech hubs. He planted roots in Happy Valley, built a company with global reach, and gave back in ways that touched every corner of Central Pennsylvania. His legacy is a powerful reminder: you do not have to leave home to make an extraordinary impact.
From State College to the Stars
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict, Don earned degrees in ceramic engineering (University of Illinois), electrical engineering (Penn State), and an MBA (University of Chicago Booth School of Business). He arrived in State College in the 1960s to work in materials engineering—and stayed for the rest of his life.
In 1969, Don founded State of the Art, Inc. (across from the airport) which quickly became a global leader in high-reliability resistors for aerospace, biomedical, defense, and communications industries. Most impressively, his resistors were selected for NASA’s Voyager spacecraft, still traveling through deep space after more than 40 years.
“Now that’s reliability,” he liked to say with a smile.
Rooted in Generosity
While Don found fulfillment in building a great company, his deeper joy came from giving back. In 1989, he established the Hamer Foundation, which has supported environmental, educational, and cultural initiatives across the region.
A conversation with Joe Paterno in the early 1990s, encouraging Don to support the expansion of Pattee Library, helped spark his lifelong passion for philanthropy.
From that moment forward, Don made giving a central part of his life:
- Penn State: His gifts supported the Palmer Museum of Art, the Libraries, the Arboretum, and Materials Science and Engineering
- Conservation: He contributed to ClearWater Conservancy, Millbrook Marsh, Shaver’s Creek, and The Nature Conservancy
- Legacy honors: Including the 1992 White House Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award, 2014 Penn State Philanthropist of the Year, and University of Illinois Engineering Hall of Fame
He did not just write checks, he rolled up his sleeves, served on boards, and championed the causes closest to his heart.
A Life Lived Locally—and Fully
Don’s love for community extended beyond philanthropy. He embraced the beauty of life in Central PA: gardening, photography, hiking, and reading. He traveled the world but always returned home—rooted, grateful, and generous.
That spirit is alive and well across Happy Valley today. You see it at the weekend craft fairs, the local coffee roasters, the independently owned galleries and shops that bring energy to our towns. Don Hamer’s story reminds us that when we invest in local businesses and institutions, we build more than an economy—we build identity and community.
Big Without Leaving
Don Hamer was, in every sense, a local giant. He built globally, lived generously, and never forgot the place that gave him so much. His life is proof that you can aim high without leaving home—and that some of the most extraordinary legacies are grown one local act at a time.
Don Hamer showed us what it looks like to build something that lasts—not just in business, but in character, in community, and in care for the world around us.
His life is a reminder that true impact is not measured by how far you go, but by how deeply you root yourself where you are. He did not just stay in Happy Valley. He helped shape it.
How has Don Hamer’s legacy touched your life? Comment below.
One Response
Don Hamer has left a tremendous legacy in supporting local causes. What a great man.