Percy Vernon Hammon (August 28, 1873 – October 4, 1958) was a politician who served in the California State Assembly from 1907 to 1913 and in the Los Angeles City Council for the 2nd Ward from 1904 to 1906.[1] He also served as a Deputy City Attorney for 23 years.[2]

Percy V. Hammon
Hammon in 1935
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 75th district
In office
January 7, 1907 – January 2, 1911
Preceded byHenry E. Carter
Succeeded byWilliam A. Lamb
Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 2nd Ward
In office
December 8, 1904 – December 13, 1906
Preceded byChauncey Fitch Skilling
Succeeded byEdward A. Clampitt
Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education for the 2nd Ward
In office
December 5, 1902 – December 8, 1904
Preceded byChauncey Fitch Skilling
Personal details
Born(1873-08-28)August 28, 1873
Spring Hill, Iowa
DiedOctober 4, 1958(1958-10-04) (aged 85)
Los Angeles, California
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMabel Hammon
Children2
Alma materWoodbury Business College (BBus)
University of Southern California (LLB)

Early life and career edit

Hammon was born on August 28, 1873, in a lob cabin in Spring Hill, Iowa, moving to Los Angeles in 1895 where he attended Woodbury Business College.[3] In 1889, he was a clerk for Isidore B. Dockweiler, and from 1900 to 1904, was employed at the Title Guarantee & Trust Company.

Political career edit

 
Hammon in 1912.

In 1904, Hammon was elected to the Los Angeles City Council for the 2nd ward. Two years later, he was elected to the California State Assembly for the 75th district and was re-elected in 1908.[1][4] In 1907, after graduating from the University of Southern California, Hammon became a Deputy City Attorney under John D. Fredericks, resigning in 1915 to be in a private practice with W. Joseph Ford.[5]

In 1920, it was believed that Hammon would become the county chairman for the California Republican Party.[6] In 1929, he became a Deputy City Attorney again under Buron Fitts and was Fitts's legal adviser.[7] In 1941, he was reassigned to Dockweiler, replacing William O. Russel.[8] On July 20, 1943, Hammon retired from the post of Deputy City Attorney after 23 years.[7][9]

Personal life and death edit

On October 4, 1958, Hammon died in the Good Samaritan Hospital due to a heart ailment.[3]

References edit

Links to the Los Angeles Times articles require the use of a library card.

  1. ^ a b "Percy Hammon Paid Tribute". Los Angeles Times. September 1, 1943.
  2. ^ "HOWSER STAFF TO GIVE HAMMON FAREWELL FETE". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1943.
  3. ^ a b "Heart Ailment Fatal to Atty. Percy Hammon". Los Angeles Times. October 5, 1958.
  4. ^ "CHALLENGE TO PERCY HAMMON". Los Angeles Herald. October 23, 1908.
  5. ^ "FORD WILL JOIN RAMIN IN LAW PARTNERSHIP". Los Angeles Herald. November 11, 1914.
  6. ^ "Hammon Believed Slated for G.O.P. County Chainnan". Los Angeles Herald. September 13, 1920.
  7. ^ a b "Dep. Dist. Atty. Hammon Ends Long Service". Los Angeles Times. July 29, 1943.
  8. ^ "Dockweiler Shifts Aides: Percy Hammon Heads Complaint Division and Deputies Reassigned". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1941.
  9. ^ "Hammon to Retire From D.A. Staff". Los Angeles Herald. July 28, 1943.