Ron Christensen

Mrs. Hammond was the greatest - my favorite teacher.  She made English class one I looked forward to every day.  She took a liking ot me when I wrote a short story for an assignment in which I had "borrowed" a theme from a Johnny Bond song called "Five Minute Love Affair" (see link below).  I changed the cigarette in the song to a bottle of Coke with appropriate revisions to the text.  Instead of smoking the cigarette, the girl in my story drank the Coke.  Listen to the song and you might get the jist of what my story was about. (I should have saved it!)  Changing the subject from a cigarette to a Coke bottle was a lot more suggestive than I knew during that time of innocence. (We were sophomores after all)  But Mrs. Hammond picked up on all of it and a great "friendship" blossomed.  Our friendship during that year helped me to get through all of the Shakespeare and other tedious reading assignments without having to actually READ them.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1oQOX5x3Q

The Coke bottle theme was remembered by many as seen in these autographs in the 1964 yearbook . . .

Ron, I wonder if Mrs. H will ever get over the "Coke Bottle" theme - real clever.  It has been fun knowing you.  Have a great summer! - Margaret Fry

Ron, This has been a fun year in English.  I'll always remember your theme in Mrs. Hammond's class.  Have a fun summer and try to keep your affections to Coke bottles. - Margie Sharp

Ron, To the ugliest looking protozoan and paramecium at East.  I hear Mr. Bradshaw would like to have you back again next year and Mrs. Hammond would like to sit on you.  Might imporove your looks.  Have a jolly summer. - Davis Christensen

Once Mrs. Hammond saw me with Patty Hollands (East 1965) sittiing in my Fiat behind the billboard across the street from East (on the hill where students parked).  It was during classtime when we were skipping out to go for a ride and a Coke at Hires.  Mrs. Hammond used to tease me about that and even mentioned it in her autograph that year.   I gave her a small ceramic cartoon character for Valentine's Day during that Sophomore year as a token of our friendship and appreciation.  She was a wonderfully fun woman and I wish I had kept in touch with her in later years.   She wrote . . .

Dear Ronald, Thanks for my "little friend." - he's still on the marble top table.  Don't go behind billboards or I'll have to give it back.  Remember - you are brilliant - don't ever lose sight of true values. -  Mrs. "H"

Jared Weaver

Mrs. Hammond was good friends with an English teacher who was employed at Granite High School--my mother. This meant I never got away with anything in her Sophomore English class. For better or worse, I can still remember most of Marc Antony's speech at Ceaser's funeral that we all had to memorize and recite that year.

Kathy Schoenhals (Feigal)

Mrs. Hammond was a favorite teacher. She wrote a letter to my parents because she liked one of my essays so much. She arrived early to my wedding reception - was the first one there - because she was so happy for me. Unfortunately, I arrived late (not a good idea to scedule your reception close to the ceremony.).

Sissel Hadel (Hawkes)