Robert Lee Hamm

Born on August 23, 1919, in Roodhouse, IL, he was the youngest of the four sons of Conrad Gunnet Hamm and Martha Anna Kidd Hamm.

Following his graduation from Roodhouse Community High School, Bob attended Western Illinois State Teachers College in Macomb, IL, where he studied Industrial Arts. He was appointed a seasonal Park Ranger serving in Yosemite National Park for the summer of 1940 where he first met his future wife Helene, who was vacationing there with family. He was inducted into service in the U. S. Air Force in 1941 for World War II. He served initially as a Chaplain’s Assistant at Camp Callan in San Diego, CA. He also was trained as a meteorologist, which inspired a life-long personal interest in the weather. Soon after his arrival in California he visited Helene in Ojai and their friendship blossomed into a romance. They were married April 12, 1942 in the Ojai Presbyterian Church. Helene returned with Bob to Camp Callan to begin their life together. Bob was soon after selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Edgewood Arsenal, MD and was trained as a Chemical Weapons Specialist. He was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the Chemical Warfare Service and transferred to Randolph Field, TX. He was quickly promoted to the rank of Captain and served as the Base Chemical Officer through the end of the War.

Upon his return to Ojai after the War, Bob launched his civilian career in Ventura County. He worked for three years as a teller at the Ojai and Oxnard branches of the Bank of America. In 1949 he found his professional calling and began his 34-year career of service in Ventura County government as Clerk of the Superior Court.

Bob was recalled to active duty in 1950, serving as a Captain in the U. S. Air Force Reserve, Staff Armament Branch, for the Korean Conflict. He served on Guam Island through 1951, then Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and Tachikawa Airfield near Tokyo, Japan through his honorable discharge from the armed services and return to Ojai in 1952. He resumed his position in the County Clerks office and his responsibilities were soon shifted to head the Election Department. He was subsequently promoted to Deputy County Clerk.

In 1958 Bob ran for the newly combined office of County Clerk and Recorder, which officially includes the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Clerk of the Superior Court, Registrar of Voters and Head Elections Clerk responsibilities. Editorials of that time described him, among other things, as “one of the nicest young fellows we know in county services” and he received numerous important endorsements. He was elected in a landslide, replacing long term incumbent L. E. (Ted) Hallowell. Bob later ran unopposed for the next five successive terms, until he retired in January of 1983.

As Recorder, he was in charge of records affecting all real property in the county, certain personal property transactions and records on vital statistics. Bob headed his office through the transition from paper recording of records to the implementation of microfilm, reducing the recording process cost to a third and providing for multiple archival copies including for remote secure storage.

As Registrar of Voters Bob’s responsibilities included execution of all regular and special elections at the county level. The professional accomplishment of which he was most proud was the introduction of mechanized voting to the election process. He sought a modernizing system that would improve efficiency while absolutely safeguarding a trust-worthy election process. He pioneered the punch card ballot system, electronic data processing of election information, initiated the county’s Election Information Management System, and installed a voter outreach program. These changes delivered accurate election results to the public much more quickly, at a significant cost reduction, and increased voter participation. He was recognized by his peers at the national level as a leader of election process modernization and, at the time of his retirement, the punch card ballot casting and computerized tabulation system had already been adopted in 23 states and was about to be introduced in Ireland and Great Britain.

Ever conscious of constraining escalating costs, in many years his was the only county department to submit a reduced budget, in spite of expanding work load due to increased county population. “I work for you, the people of Ventura County!” he often said.

In testimony to the high regard bestowed upon him by his colleagues, in 1966 Bob was invited by then California Secretary of State, Frank M. Jordan, to serve in his office as Assistant Secretary of State in Sacramento. Despite the opportunity to advance his career from the county to state level, he declined citing his deep love for Ventura County and of his life and home in the Ojai Valley. A distinguished County Clerk in the State of California, state-wide succession plans positioned him second-in-line to the office of Secretary of State in the event the Secretary should not be able to perform the powers and duties of his office.

Bob became a Master Mason in 1947 in Ojai Lodge #663 of the Free & Accepted Masons, which recently merged with the Channel Islands Lodge #214. He deeply valued the Freemasonry belief system and strove to live it in his daily life. He was also a member of the Santa Barbara Scottish Rite and the Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles.

Bob was active in a broad range of volunteer and service groups throughout his career and retirement, holding many leadership roles. His ready wit and cool rostrum presence enlivened many a meeting. These involvements included the California County Recorders’ Association; the California County Clerks Association, President 1979-1981; The Lions Club of Ventura (Downtown), First Vice President 1961-1962 and President 1962-1963; the American Cancer Society, Ventura County Chapter, President 1971-1972; AID – United Givers of Ventura County, serving as President, 1959-1960, board member for 10 years; the United Fund of Ventura County, Board of Directors 1966-1970; the Ventura County Employees Association, Director and Second Vice President; the County Employees Federal Credit Union, Supervisory Committee; the Retired Employees Association, serving as president 1985-1986; the Nordhoff Union High School District Lay Committee Chairman in 1958; Ojai Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce, charter member; the Ojai City Planning Commission, 1954; the American Veterans Committee of Ojai; and HELP of Ojai, serving as Director 1987-1993. Bob was also a sworn Ventura County Deputy Sheriff for many years through the time of his retirement from county government.

In 1984 Bob was invited to participate as an usher with other county officials for the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, for events held at the Casitas Lake venue, which he considered an honor.

Bob most treasured the 1979 Freedom of Information Award presented by the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, Los Padres Chapter, “… for his untiring efforts to maintain the free flow of information to the true decision-makers, the public” and referencing the Society’s Code of Ethics. Bob was the first ever recipient of this award, which was regarded as a testimony to the open office Bob headed, as well as “a tribute to the man who occupied it – indeed a measure of the man, as seen by those whose jobs depend on immediate and free access to information.”

Bob received many other accolades and awards, including Boss of the Year from the Ventura County Legal Secretaries Association in 1964. His staff described him as “…kind, considerate, tolerant and patient. His office door is always open ...” “He is straightforward and unflinching. He has firm convictions with courage to support them.” With characteristic humility, Bob attributed credit to others for his successes. On the occasion of his retirement he asked all present and past staff members and vendors to stand and called them “the people who have made me look so good” and added that he was “honored, humbled and overwhelmed at this outpouring. It’s some way to end a career.”

Bob had a life-long love of classical music, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. After retirement he developed his interest in orchid growing and became an avid golfer -- being on the golf course in the company of good friends brought him great joy.

Bob was respected by his professional colleagues, admired by his friends, and loved dearly and treasured by his family.

Bob is survived by his wife, Helene, Ojai; daughter, Sharon H. Booth, Ojai; son, David R. Hamm (and wife Rochelle), Mountain View, CA; granddaughter, Kimberly N. Booth, San Francisco, CA; and grandson, Avery P. Hamm, Mountain View, CA.

A private burial service with military honors was conducted Friday, January 7 at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, January 22 at 2:00 P. M. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Rd., Ojai, CA. A reception will follow in Stockham Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to HELP of Ojai.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at www.TedMayrFuneralHome.com.