Donald Vincent ‘Jennie’ Hammond
Donald Vincent “Jennie” Hammond, 92, died July 7, 2011. He was born Sept. 16, 1918, in Burnet to Eva (Darby) and Fielding Hammond.
He is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Burnet County. Except for four years in the Air Force and college, he lived in Burnet all of his life. He attended public school in Burnet, graduating in 1936 as valedictorian of his class. He was a member of the Burnet High School football team and one year was elected as all-district center.
His freshman year in college was spent at Southwestern University in Georgetown. The balance of his undergraduate work was at the University of Texas at Austin where he received his law degree and passed the bar in 1949.
He practiced law with his father in the Burnet law firm of Hammond & Hammond. James Herbort later joined the firm and they were partners for seven years. He was elected for two terms as the 33rd state District Court judge and retired in 1984.
Since retirement, he served as a senior district judge in various courts in Texas.
He was a member of the American and Texas Bar foundation and belonged to the American Judicature Society. While in college, he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and was a life member of Valley Lodge 175, the Masonic Lodge in Burnet. In his youth, he was a Boy Scout, attaining the rank of Life Scout. He was a member of the State Bar College. He also was a member and president of Burnet-Williamson Counties Opportunities.
He also served on the boards of the Burnet County Hospital and the Burnet County Library System. He was recognized in Houston as Texas’ Most Fair Judge.
He was named Burnet’s Honor Citizen by the Burnet Community Center in 1997. He played an active role in Burnet and was instrumental in the construction of the Galloway Hammond Recreation Center.
He was a valuable asset to the community for a long time.
Survivors include his dear friend and companion of 55 years, Charley Dagher; sister-in-law Peggy Hammond of Burnet; daughters Charlotte Wilson and husband Denis, and Theresa Scherer and husband Butch, all of Katy, and Becky Buttery and husband William of Llano; great-nephew Taylor Scherer of Houston; great-niece Eva Scherer Jaco and husband Randy; great-great-nephew Tyler Jaco of Katy; nieces Patty Williams of Houston, and Anne Stuard and Donna Jo Lane, both of Austin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Darby and “Mac.”
The family thanks Dr. Robert Graves and the staff of Seton Highland Lakes Hospital, and Country Oaks Assisted Living and staff, as well as members living there now.
A memorial service is 11 a.m. July 22 at the Burnet Presbyterian Church, 101 S. Pierce St. in Burnet. A private burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Burnet.
In lieu of flowers, send memorial contributions to the Burnet Presbyterian Church, Burnet County Library System or a charity of choice.
Online condolences can be made to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 Texas 29 East in Burnet, (512) 756-2222.