 Our Rotarian of the week moved to Cheyenne when he was three years old. He attended Alta Vista, Rossman and Johnson Junior High and graduated in the first class from East High School in 1962. The graduating class was 225. His first job was mixing cement and delivering mortar for his dad and uncle for no pay. He grew up with an appreciation for the outdoors with many fishing and hunting trips with his family. This appreciation grew into a passion for fishing which continued throughout his life. He graduated from UW with a degree in Electrical Engineering and went to work for Gates Rubber Company in Denver where he worked for 30 years until his retirement in 1996. His work at Gates began in R & D where he helped to invent a new type of battery, he then was in charge of sales and marketing and finally ran their battery company which had relocated to Warrensburg, Missouri. He first joined Rotary in 1987 in Warrensburg and has belonged to a total of 4 different Rotary clubs. His most challenging Rotary experience was overseeing the fundraising, construction and operation of an indoor aquatic center for the Laurie-Sunrise Beach Rotary Club in Laurie, Missouri. His most memorable Rotary Experience was being the Team Leader for a Group Study Exchange to Japan in 2003. He spent a month staying in Japanese Rotarians homes and learning about their business and culture. Ron currently serves as the website administrator and creates the bulletin each week. We are so grateful for Ron’s continued service to our club. Ron Hammel met his wife Susan in Denver and they were married in 1970. They have had a wonderful life with 2 children, 2 stepchildren, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ron and Susan were able to travel to many countries on business trips with Gates. In 1998, Susan experienced kidney failure. Ron was able to donate a kidney to her and says it was the best thing he ever did. Ron enjoys spending time with his family and building furniture in his woodshop. He continues to enjoy the pursuit of fish and loves teaching the art of fishing to his grandchildren. His favorite meal is a nice walleye fillet with fresh Olathe corn on the cob and a piece of pie for dessert. Please help me congratulate the Rotarian of the Week, Ron Hammel. |
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