Richard Dick F. Hammond

Dick Hammond, age 70, passed away at his home in Divide, Colorado on January 30, 2011. Born to Charles H. and Sylvia Potter Hammond on September 10, 1941 in El Paso, Texas, he spent his youth in Littleton, Colorado. As a youngster he was a member of the Westernaires riding group and was featured with the group as a Roman rider, performing at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo and many other area events before reaching his teens.

He graduated from Littleton High School and attended Colorado State University, Ft. Collins and Lamar Junior College, Lamar, Colorado, where he was a member of the rodeo team. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys’ Association while still in college and competed in bull riding and later in bareback bronc riding. His family moved from Littleton to the Black Forest area in 1960 where they continued to be involved with Quarter Horses. He helped to form the trick riding group “The Flying Cimarrons” and later, “The Fireballs” and performed over the next several years at most of the major rodeos in the U.S. and Canada while still competing in bareback bronc riding. During this time, he also shared his skill and knowledge of trick riding with a large number of young people and helped to train new trick riding performers.

After his rodeo career, he began a new career in real estate first as a salesman, then as a broker and developer. He established offices in Colorado Springs and later in Teller County.

He was a member of the Pikes Peak Range Riders, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys’ Association, and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Committee. He was a long-time member of the prestigious Realtors Land Institute and one of Colorado’s very first Accredited Land Consultants. Also a member of the Certified Commercial Investment Managers, Dick was honored as Exchanger of the Year. He spent many hours in volunteer service on the Teller County Planning Commission, providing the insights gained over his years as a real estate professional and advocate for private property rights.

He enjoyed horseback riding, roping, golfing, fishing and skiing.

He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by three sons; Reed (Melinda) Hammond, Ione, California, Derek Hammond, Lubbock, Texas and Charles Hammond, Austin, Texas; sisters; Charlene (Butch) Morgan, Peyton, Colorado, Carol (Don) Moore, La Junta, Colorado and Margaret Hammond, Calhan, Colorado; two grandchildren; Carson and Aidan Hammond, Ione, California and three nieces and two nephews.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 9 in the VIP Room at Norris Penrose Stadium. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Foundation, c/o Stockmans Bank, 601 N. Nevada, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 or to a charity of the donors’ choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.