Gene Hammel I currently reside in Odenton, Maryland, between Baltimore and Annapolis and close to Washington, DC. My work has taken me all over the world, from Antartica to South Africa, Ukraine to Indonesia, Norway to the Phillipines, United Kingdom to Costa Rica, and many places in between. I have been so blessed to have jobs that allowed me this opportunity. FAMILY: I have two great kids, a daughter, Susan and a son, Paul. I got started late so both are in their early 20's. Susan is married to a great guy and they have two beautiful boys. She's expecting in March and we're all hoping for a girl this time. Paul is still searching for his niche and is working and attending junior college. I'm divorced after many years of marriage. I'm having a home built in Vero Beach, Florida, and will move in later this year, and spend much of the year there. I'll keep my place in Maryland so I'll have somewhere to put my head when I visit my kids/grandkids. I was diagnosed a couple months ago with a very rare blood cancer called Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (quite a mouthful huh!!) and am meeting with experts to determine treatment regimen, etc. As you might expect, this was very painful to hear from the doctor and it felt like he hit below the belt when he gave me that news. But I'm OK discussing it now and am doing research and communicating with others in a similar situation to learn as much about the disease as possible, as well as various treatment options. EDUCATION AND CAREER: After a short hiatus doing other things, including growing up a little more, I graduated from the U of A, then worked in Los Angeles until the early 70's when I moved to Washington, DC, and worked the rest of my career until my retirement last summer. I had three distinct careers -- 12 years with a Federal agency; then 12 years on Capitol Hill working first as Executive Assistant for U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles for 10 of those years followed by 2 years as Staff Director of the Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee, Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; followed by 14 years as Assistant Director, International Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard. I wish I'd have kept a diary of my time working on the Hill; lots of unforgettable memories that might have made a good TV series or maybe a book. My time with the Coast Guard took me all over the world and I represented the United States at many international meetings and conferences, and negotiated multilateral agreements, including the international oil spill agreement after the EXXON VALDEZ accident. I also was instrumental in authoring the U.S. legislation that resulted from this massive spill. I've been fortunate to receive numerous professional awards, including the Superior Achievement Award for my leadership role in implementing a three-fold increase in Coast Guard technical assistance and international engagement, as well as the Distinguished Career Service Award, which is the highest award given to civilian employees of the Coast Guard. I also served in both the Arizona and California Army National Guard for 10 years, rising to the rank of Captain. During my time as Commanding Officer, my unit was awarded the Eisenhower Trophy as the top unit in California. I've had my Maryland real estate sales associate license for many years. I recently obtained my Florida real estate broker's license and plan to open my own firm later this year when I move to Vero Beach. OPINIONS: Yes, and no. Don't really discuss politics or religion, although I have pretty strong beliefs about both. I respect others opinions, and believe the world would be much better off if we all did a little more of that. The interactions I've had with other cultures has given me a better understanding how others live and how they view this ever shrinking world. World peace is my great hope. AVOCATIONS: As many of you remember, my first love was always baseball. I was fortunate to play semi-pro ball in Alaska for two great summers with Floyd Watson and some other wonderful Arizona lads. And we played together in the Hollywood Entertainer's League - that's right, in Hollywood. As you might imagine we were "ringers" brought in to help the team win and we loved our time rubbing elbows with the likes of Bing Crosby's sons, Jack Nicholson (he was just as crazy in real life as he's depicted in his movies), Joel Grey, James Garner and his brother Jack (who played pro ball in the Pacific Coast League), Chuck Connors (of the Rifleman series), and the list goes on. One of our sponsors was the Rolls Royce dealer in Beverly Hills and we went to some of the games in his vintage Rolls Royce cars. We also had the Hollywood starlets accompany us to the games, including Stephanie Powers (who was just a budding starlet at that time), followed by after game parties at various clubs in Hollywood. Memories!!! Even dated a TV actress for a short while. I've always been active in all kinds of outdoor activities and remain so today. I coached baseball for many years and have many fond memories seeing young boys grow up into young men, and am proud to have been a part of their lives. I've so enjoyed watching my kids grow up and being there for their various activities. And I'm looking forward to doing the same for my grandchildren. I also hunt and fish when given the opportunity and have enjoyed doing that with friends, colleagues, and my kids. I love to dance and listen to all sorts of music, read a good book, drink a good wine or beer, ride horses, hang out with my friends, and all sorts of other activities. And I enjoy meeting people from all parts of the world and sharing experiences with them -- that has been one of my wonderful rewards from my work. STORIES: I've had so many it's hard to pick one to be quite honest. From sitting in a goose blind with a retired 3 star General listening to him tell and retell his stories from World War II and his bombing missions in the European sector between flights of geese is memorable. Hearing that my good hunting buddy, a Congressman from Alabama, had died at his desk in his Congressional office on Christmas eve was such a shock. Then learning of the untimely death of my former boss, Senator Chiles - who was more than just a boss but also a friend that we shared hunting trips together with Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Pete Domenici and others - who died while working out on his exercise machine in his office after his retirement from the U.S. Senate and while Governor of his home state of Florida was also a shock to me. While one might say that these aren't good stories, they're memorable in that they were wonderful men who had an impact on my life and have helped shape me into who I am today. They were good friends who had a lot to share with a much younger man. One lesson I learned as a young man was that you don't make dates with two women in a small town for the same night, especially when you find out real soon that they know each other. I took one to a party and was scheduled to see the other later that night, but what I didn't expect was that she was also at the party. They got to talking and I found myself in real trouble. I lost one right away and then the other shortly thereafter. This happened during my first summer in Alaska. Needless to say, I never made that mistake again. During my time as Staff Director of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, as part of our Congressional oversight, the Subcommittee Chairman as well as other members of the subcommittee made a trip to Antartica. We arrived in Christchuch, New Zealand and met with politicians/industry folks before our 8-1/2 hour flight to McMurdo, the U.S. base in Antartica, in a C- 130 aircraft with special wheels/ski's. We were outfitted with special flight suits, hoods and boots to endure the very cold weather when we landed, and the plane was outfitted with the bare minimum in essentials - web seats about 18 inches wide, little if any heat, a ten gallon bucket with a sheet draped around it to do your business (as if you could with all that clothing), and being advised before the flight that if the plane went down we would live for only a few minutes. It was somewhat scary but it was also very beautiful. After landing we flew by helicopter out to the Coast Guard icebreaker that was breaking the ice into McMurdo so the supply ships could follow and resupply the base. We spent a night on the icebreaker and were put up in the scientist's quarters, which were next to the ship's engines. Fortunately, one of the other Congressional staffer's had some sleeping pills which allowed us to get some sleep. The Coast Guard did not have a good working relationship with the scientific community at that time which is why they were put up in such horrible quarters. It's better now though. We met with scientists/researchers at McMurdo, then flew on the same plane to the South Pole and met with the scientists/researchers there as well as had our pictures taken at the South Pole. We were told that a shrink comes in every 6 months or so and makes sure folks aren't going wacky. I can see why that is needed. What a desolute but beautiful place - certainly a once in a lifetime experience but not something I'd want to do again. After returning to New Zealand we then flew to Sydney, Australia (one of my favorite cities in the world) and spent several days meeting with governmental officials and industry leaders, then made the long trek back to the States. The end of this story is that Congress authorized additional icebreakers for the Coast Guard and one is now built and in operation in both polar areas of the world, and it has excellent scientist quarters and much more scientific equipment on board. On my last overseas business trip before my retirement I had the good fortune of going to Cape Town, South Africa. After the business portion had ended I went on a safari in Kruger National Park. Unbeknownest to me, that was when the U.S. invaded Iraq and travel restrictions got quite dicey. My friends and family were worried about me being on a safari half way around the world all by myself and maybe being killed or something like that and no way of contacting me. I had no clue what was happening as I had access to nothing, no TV, radio, e mail, phone, nothing. I had a great time but caught the dickens from them when I returned. All's well that ends well. |
CLASS OF |
Catalina High School, Tucson, Arizona, USA |
Gene Hammel I currently reside in Odenton, Maryland, between Baltimore and Annapolis and close to Washington, DC. My work has taken me all over the world, from Antartica to South Africa, Ukraine to Indonesia, Norway to the Phillipines, United Kingdom to Costa Rica, and many places in between. I have been so blessed to have jobs that allowed me this opportunity. FAMILY: I have two great kids, a daughter, Susan and a son, Paul. I got started late so both are in their early 20's. Susan is married to a great guy and they have two beautiful boys. She's expecting in March and we're all hoping for a girl this time. Paul is still searching for his niche and is working and attending junior college. I'm divorced after many years of marriage. I'm having a home built in Vero Beach, Florida, and will move in later this year, and spend much of the year there. I'll keep my place in Maryland so I'll have somewhere to put my head when I visit my kids/grandkids. I was diagnosed a couple months ago with a very rare blood cancer called Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (quite a mouthful huh!!) and am meeting with experts to determine treatment regimen, etc. As you might expect, this was very painful to hear from the doctor and it felt like he hit below the belt when he gave me that news. But I'm OK discussing it now and am doing research and communicating with others in a similar situation to learn as much about the disease as possible, as well as various treatment options. EDUCATION AND CAREER: After a short hiatus doing other things, including growing up a little more, I graduated from the U of A, then worked in Los Angeles until the early 70's when I moved to Washington, DC, and worked the rest of my career until my retirement last summer. I had three distinct careers -- 12 years with a Federal agency; then 12 years on Capitol Hill working first as Executive Assistant for U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles for 10 of those years followed by 2 years as Staff Director of the Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee, Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; followed by 14 years as Assistant Director, International Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard. I wish I'd have kept a diary of my time working on the Hill; lots of unforgettable memories that might have made a good TV series or maybe a book. My time with the Coast Guard took me all over the world and I represented the United States at many international meetings and conferences, and negotiated multilateral agreements, including the international oil spill agreement after the EXXON VALDEZ accident. I also was instrumental in authoring the U.S. legislation that resulted from this massive spill. I've been fortunate to receive numerous professional awards, including the Superior Achievement Award for my leadership role in implementing a three-fold increase in Coast Guard technical assistance and international engagement, as well as the Distinguished Career Service Award, which is the highest award given to civilian employees of the Coast Guard. I also served in both the Arizona and California Army National Guard for 10 years, rising to the rank of Captain. During my time as Commanding Officer, my unit was awarded the Eisenhower Trophy as the top unit in California. I've had my Maryland real estate sales associate license for many years. I recently obtained my Florida real estate broker's license and plan to open my own firm later this year when I move to Vero Beach. OPINIONS: Yes, and no. Don't really discuss politics or religion, although I have pretty strong beliefs about both. I respect others opinions, and believe the world would be much better off if we all did a little more of that. The interactions I've had with other cultures has given me a better understanding how others live and how they view this ever shrinking world. World peace is my great hope. AVOCATIONS: As many of you remember, my first love was always baseball. I was fortunate to play semi-pro ball in Alaska for two great summers with Floyd Watson and some other wonderful Arizona lads. And we played together in the Hollywood Entertainer's League - that's right, in Hollywood. As you might imagine we were "ringers" brought in to help the team win and we loved our time rubbing elbows with the likes of Bing Crosby's sons, Jack Nicholson (he was just as crazy in real life as he's depicted in his movies), Joel Grey, James Garner and his brother Jack (who played pro ball in the Pacific Coast League), Chuck Connors (of the Rifleman series), and the list goes on. One of our sponsors was the Rolls Royce dealer in Beverly Hills and we went to some of the games in his vintage Rolls Royce cars. We also had the Hollywood starlets accompany us to the games, including Stephanie Powers (who was just a budding starlet at that time), followed by after game parties at various clubs in Hollywood. Memories!!! Even dated a TV actress for a short while. I've always been active in all kinds of outdoor activities and remain so today. I coached baseball for many years and have many fond memories seeing young boys grow up into young men, and am proud to have been a part of their lives. I've so enjoyed watching my kids grow up and being there for their various activities. And I'm looking forward to doing the same for my grandchildren. I also hunt and fish when given the opportunity and have enjoyed doing that with friends, colleagues, and my kids. I love to dance and listen to all sorts of music, read a good book, drink a good wine or beer, ride horses, hang out with my friends, and all sorts of other activities. And I enjoy meeting people from all parts of the world and sharing experiences with them -- that has been one of my wonderful rewards from my work. STORIES: I've had so many it's hard to pick one to be quite honest. From sitting in a goose blind with a retired 3 star General listening to him tell and retell his stories from World War II and his bombing missions in the European sector between flights of geese is memorable. Hearing that my good hunting buddy, a Congressman from Alabama, had died at his desk in his Congressional office on Christmas eve was such a shock. Then learning of the untimely death of my former boss, Senator Chiles - who was more than just a boss but also a friend that we shared hunting trips together with Senator Sam Nunn, Senator Pete Domenici and others - who died while working out on his exercise machine in his office after his retirement from the U.S. Senate and while Governor of his home state of Florida was also a shock to me. While one might say that these aren't good stories, they're memorable in that they were wonderful men who had an impact on my life and have helped shape me into who I am today. They were good friends who had a lot to share with a much younger man. One lesson I learned as a young man was that you don't make dates with two women in a small town for the same night, especially when you find out real soon that they know each other. I took one to a party and was scheduled to see the other later that night, but what I didn't expect was that she was also at the party. They got to talking and I found myself in real trouble. I lost one right away and then the other shortly thereafter. This happened during my first summer in Alaska. Needless to say, I never made that mistake again. During my time as Staff Director of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, as part of our Congressional oversight, the Subcommittee Chairman as well as other members of the subcommittee made a trip to Antartica. We arrived in Christchuch, New Zealand and met with politicians/industry folks before our 8-1/2 hour flight to McMurdo, the U.S. base in Antartica, in a C- 130 aircraft with special wheels/ski's. We were outfitted with special flight suits, hoods and boots to endure the very cold weather when we landed, and the plane was outfitted with the bare minimum in essentials - web seats about 18 inches wide, little if any heat, a ten gallon bucket with a sheet draped around it to do your business (as if you could with all that clothing), and being advised before the flight that if the plane went down we would live for only a few minutes. It was somewhat scary but it was also very beautiful. After landing we flew by helicopter out to the Coast Guard icebreaker that was breaking the ice into McMurdo so the supply ships could follow and resupply the base. We spent a night on the icebreaker and were put up in the scientist's quarters, which were next to the ship's engines. Fortunately, one of the other Congressional staffer's had some sleeping pills which allowed us to get some sleep. The Coast Guard did not have a good working relationship with the scientific community at that time which is why they were put up in such horrible quarters. It's better now though. We met with scientists/researchers at McMurdo, then flew on the same plane to the South Pole and met with the scientists/researchers there as well as had our pictures taken at the South Pole. We were told that a shrink comes in every 6 months or so and makes sure folks aren't going wacky. I can see why that is needed. What a desolute but beautiful place - certainly a once in a lifetime experience but not something I'd want to do again. After returning to New Zealand we then flew to Sydney, Australia (one of my favorite cities in the world) and spent several days meeting with governmental officials and industry leaders, then made the long trek back to the States. The end of this story is that Congress authorized additional icebreakers for the Coast Guard and one is now built and in operation in both polar areas of the world, and it has excellent scientist quarters and much more scientific equipment on board. On my last overseas business trip before my retirement I had the good fortune of going to Cape Town, South Africa. After the business portion had ended I went on a safari in Kruger National Park. Unbeknownest to me, that was when the U.S. invaded Iraq and travel restrictions got quite dicey. My friends and family were worried about me being on a safari half way around the world all by myself and maybe being killed or something like that and no way of contacting me. I had no clue what was happening as I had access to nothing, no TV, radio, e mail, phone, nothing. I had a great time but caught the dickens from them when I returned. All's well that ends well. |
