Three southern Oklahoma legislators want to rename a short stretch of Highway 36 near Hollister in honor of the late businessman Edgar L. Hamm.
Hamm owned and operated Hamm’s Feed Lot for many years. He was co-owner of the Southwest Sire Evaluation Center and American Cattle Services, owner of Hamm’s Feed and Supply, Hamm’s Show Supply, and Hamm’s Sportsman Oasis. Hamm passed away on Jan. 10, 2022.
Following his death, Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, along with Sens. Brent Howard, R-Altus and Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, announced plans to file legislation in the upcoming session to rename part of the highway.
“Edgar Hamm was a pillar of not only our community, but our state all of his life,” Caldwell said. “I had the privilege of calling him my friend, and anyone who ever met him knows that he had never met a stranger. I am glad to be a part of the effort to get this section of highway renamed in his honor. It is a small token of our appreciation for all he has done for our state.”
“Edgar Hamm’s many contributions to Southwest Oklahoma, the livestock showing community, sportsmen and wildlife conservation, and the lives of so many Oklahomans will forever be remembered through this section of memorial highway. He was a great Oklahoman and will be dearly missed,” said Howard.
“Southwest Oklahoma suffered a great loss with the passing of Mr. Hamm. He was a strong supporter and great friend to the agriculture and sportsman community, having dedicated his life to helping farmers and ranchers while also helping transform this part of the state into a premiere sportsman’s destination. Naming this portion of Highway 36 in his memory is a fitting tribute to a man who touched so many lives and had such a great impact on Southwest Oklahoma,” Kidd said.
The portion of Highway 36 to be changed will be two miles on either side of Hamm Station in Hollister, OK. Legislation regarding the name change will be filed in the upcoming session which begins on Feb. 7.
Source: House release