Bob Hamm
Encyclopedia
Early years
Bobby Richard Hamm was born in Winnfield, LouisianaWinnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
(May 7, 1934) to Clinton Cason Hamm and Annie Belle Kelly. He was the youngest of five children. Bob Graduated from Bolton High School
Bolton High School
Bolton High School is the name of several schools:*Bolton High School in Bolton, Connecticut*Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana*Bolton High School in Arlington, Tennessee...
located in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
in 1952
Contribution to Cajun Culture
Bob Hamm was the premier and probably earliest proponent and supporter of the CajunCajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
people. His love of this part of Louisiana would initially prompt him to create the classic poem, What is a Cajun. Published in 1972, this work was available far before the Cajun culture would find popularity through wonderful culinary dishes. Prior to this work, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
was mostly noted for the food and antics of New Orleans.
In 1972, the Cajun people in Louisiana did not enjoy any prestige within the hierarchy of what was then the politics and social web of the state. They were seen as backwards in every sense especially with respect to holding high office or governing. In this situation, Bob Hamm took up the mantle of the Cajun people. As a North Louisiana
North Louisiana
North Louisiana is a region in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The region has two metropolitan areas: Shreveport-Bossier City and Monroe-West Monroe....
native, he could not claim kinship with these people. He did, however, travel the south of Louisiana to find the essence of the Cajun people.
Family and Career
On July 9, 1960, Bob Hamm married Gloria Ann Lewis. From this marriage, he had three sons. They were Kurt Richard Hamm, Clinton Cason (Casey) Hamm, and Kevin Bruce Hamm.Bob Hamm served as the News Director for the local TV station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Lafayette, Louisiana KATC (TV)
KATC (TV)
KATC, channel 3, is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana. It began operations on September 19, 1962.A 1000 kW transmitter for its digital broadcast is located near Branch, Louisiana and became operational November 6, 2007...
. His nightly editorials chronicled not just life in Louisiana, but the national news as well. A long time resident in Lafayette, Bob had connections at all levels of Louisiana government. He wasn't shy about uncovering stupidity and created a few enemies along the way. He often said that he would have been more successful in life had he been able to "suffer fools".
Bob Hamm continued to create works of poetry related to the Cajun people and their way of life. These poems included "A Cajun Prayer", "A Cajun Toast", and "A Cajun Blessing".
Later life
Later in life, Bob Hamm would marry again, creating a life with Leora Lacy. During this time, he penned two books that brought a Cajun flair to everyday Nursery RhymesNursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
. Bob Hamm's Cajun Nursery Rhymes I and II. His interpretation of these classics were spot on and every Cajun understood his subtle changes. He served as the Editorial Editor for the local newspaper, The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Lafayette Daily Advertiser
The Daily Advertiser is a Gannett daily newspaper based in Lafayette, the fourth largest city in Louisiana. The Daily Advertiser covers international, national, state, and local news in the six parishes of Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion. The publication circulates...
while continuing to provide Public Relations consulting to various organizations.