18 Bill Hamm

Bill Hamm was a starter on the Freshman squad of 1942-43.

He was inducted into the Hamilton (OH) High School Hall of fame in 2006.  From the induction program:

William Hamm played three years on the Hamilton High basketball team making All-State honors his senior year. He also played first base on the Big Blue baseball team for three years. He was recruited to play basket-ball for Coach Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky. In 1941, freshmen were deemed ineligible to play on the varsity squad, so Hamm played on the junior-varsity squad his first year, then became a reserve forward. In 1943, he left UK to serve in World War II. After the War, Hamm entered New Mexico State A & M and started on the basketball team for two years. He made All-Conference honors in the Border Conference in 1947. He was one of the leading scorers in the conference. He also played two years of baseball as the starting first baseman while at New Mexico State. He received his bachelors degree in 1950. Hamm taught high school chemistry and math for one year while also coaching the boys and girls basketball teams and the track team. He then joined the Central Valley Electric Corp., which was a member of the National Industrial Basketball League, one of the forefathers of the NBA. He played three years with several future NBA players. He continued his baseball career by playing semi-pro baseball for two years against teams from New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. 

Obituary, published in Lexington Herald-Leader on May 21, 2012.-

Hamm, William Louis, 90, husband of Maria Likou Hamm, died Saturday, May 19, 2012. Born in Hamilton, OH, he was the son of the late William Robert and Anna Hamm Sr.

Mr. Hamm was a Army WW II veteran. He was inducted into Hamilton High School Hall of Fame in Hamilton, OH and attended the University of Kentucky, where he was awarded a basketball scholarship in 1941, playing two years under Coach Adolph Rupp.

Mr. Hamm was a retired financial director for the Christian Appalachian Project. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where he had been a deacon since 1976.

Survivors other than his wife include a son, William Louis Hamm, II; a daughter, Laura Martin; three grandchildren, Zachary, Baylee, and Lorelai; a brother, Thomas Lee Hamm; a sister, Marilyn Schramm; sister-in-law, Victoria Hamm.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-3421 Harrodsburg Rd. Burial will follow in Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-9 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to Meals on Wheels at Trinity Baptist Church, 1675 Strader Dr., Lex., KY 40505, Trinity Baptist Church, or to one’s favorite charity.