HAMPTON -- Kenneth W. "Ken" Malcolm, 87, former eight consecutive term state representative to the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998, died Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at the Partridge House in Hampton after a brief illness.

Mr. Malcolm was employed in the insurance field for a period of time before starting a career as a sales representative that would span nearly 30 years.

He represented the Ray-O-Vac Corp., U.S. Safety Service, Cook Publishing Service, Lone Star Boat Company and retired from Skil Power Tools Corp. in 1980.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy M. (Hodgkins) Malcolm; three sons and their wives, Scott W. and Donna Malcolm of Hampton, Dale H. and Karen Malcolm of Kettering, Ohio, and Ross A. and Natalie Malcolm of Belmont; three grandchildren, Katelyn, Billy and Haley; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Edith and Marion Malcolm.

WE REMEMBER: He was born Dec. 30, 1920, in Albany, N.Y., the son of the late William P. and Minnie (Campbell) Malcolm. He came to Hampton in 1960.

He was a 1940 graduate of Albany High School.

Mr. Malcolm worked for General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y., before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942.

He served with the 22nd Armored Division serving overseas until his discharge in 1946.

After returning from the war he attended Mohawk College in Utica, N.Y., and Bryant College in Providence, R.I., where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

He was very active in Hampton as a member of the United Methodist Church; St. James Lodge No. 102 F & AM; Hamptons American Legion Post 35; Exeter & Hampton Senior Citizens Club; served as a cub master of Pack 178; was on the Hampton Budget Committee; Mosquito Control Committee; Advisory Board for the Hampton Water Company; became second vice chairman of the State Republican Party Executive Committee; was a friend of the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium; served as a state representative for 16 years serving on many committees; and was appointed in 1999 by former Governor Jeanne Shaheen to the State Licensure Board of Professional Engineers.

Before moving to Hampton he was active in DeMolay.

SERVICES: Visiting hours will be held Monday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton, with a Masonic service at 5:45 p.m. and American Legion service at 6 p.m.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 25, at 1 p.m., in the funeral home with a reception following at St. James Masonic Lodge, 77 Tide Mill Road, Hampton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833 or to a charity of one's choice. www.RemickGendron.com.

HAMPTON -- Former state representative Kenneth Malcolm was remembered by friends as a "staunch Republican who was dedicated to serving the town."

Malcolm, who served eight consecutive terms in the House from 1983 to 1998, died last week at age 87 after a brief illness.

"He was a state representative when I first got on the Board of Selectmen," Brain Warburton said. "He gave a lot to this community."

Former state representative Sheila Francoeur said Malcolm persuaded her to get into politics.

"Two people that I was very happy to know were Tom Gillick and Ken Malcolm," Francouer said. "They were both very different, but they came from a generation that we all know is dying off.

"The epitome of their lives were service. They served their country during the second World War. They raised families and worked hard. When they completed their working years they wanted to give back to the community they lived in and they did just that."

Friends recalled that Malcolm moved to town in 1960. After he raised a family and retired from a career as a sales representative, he became heavily involved in local politics.

Over the years, he served on the Hampton Budget Committee, Mosquito Control Committee and on the Advisory Board of the Hampton Water Company. Malcolm was elected as a state representative representing Hampton/Hampton Falls in 1980, a position he held until 1998.te representative," Warburton said. "He was from the old school that he was honored to represent Hampton and took it seriously. He made sure Hampton had a voice in Concord."

Warburton said he also fought for the people's right to know what was going on in their government.

In 1996, Malcolm sponsored a bill that was eventually approved that guarantees all records of payments to a public employee who resigns, retires or is fired is subject to the state's Right-to-Know law and can be made public. The bill was sparked by the controversy regarding the departure and pay-off of former Hampton town manager Hunter Rieseberg in 1995.

"He worked hard as a state representative," Warburton said. "He was from the old school that he was honored to represent Hampton and took it seriously. He made sure Hampton had a voice in Concord."

Warburton said he also fought for the people's right to know what was going on in their government.

In 1996, Malcolm sponsored a bill that was eventually approved that guarantees all records of payments to a public employee who resigns, retires or is fired is subject to the state's Right-to-Know law and can be made public. The bill was sparked by the controversy regarding the departure and pay-off of former Hampton town manager Hunter Rieseberg in 1995.

"He had an intense interest in public service and was a staunch Republican," former selectman Art Moody said.

Moody recalled that Malcolm was one of the regulars who would go to Marelli's market each day for a 3 p.m. coffee break. The group of local officials consisted of a who's who of Hampton.

"We would all talk about whatever was going on in town," Moody said.

Moody said Malcolm was a huge supporter of the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium and even got Town Meeting to support donating $1,000 to the cause.

Francoeur said Malcolm will be missed.

"We had our agreements and disagreements, but I'm certainty a richer person for having known him," Francoeur said. "Hampton is also a richer place due to his service."