HAMM, William Howard

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ April 19, 2000, p. A16 William Howard Hamm of Wickenburg, died April 14. He was 91. As an artist, Howard left behind a legacy of painting of Native American Indian Chiefs that he painted over the years. Always mindful of the injustices Indians suffered over the years, he had hoped to show his paintings in several western states to raise money to help Native American causes. Along with the Indian painting, he has many paintings of the desert he loved, and the Kansas prairie which was his home. Born in Pratt, Kansas, he spent his early years on the family farm between Nortonville and Valley Falls. He received his art training at the Kansas City Art institute. Howard called Arizona home for the last 60 years. During that time, he worked as a florist, drew up house plans, wrote poetry, published two books on his prints and poems, worked as a draftsman at Davis-Monthan Air Force base and always painted. In the 1950’s he developed Trail Dust Town in Tucson, a western tourist attraction and steakhouse. Also a naturalist, one of his greatest ventures was the Southwest Trail Dust Zoo, outside of Bisbee. He helped raise many mountain lions over the years, along with scores of other animals. He also had quite a reptile exhibit, and survived five rattlesnake bites. He loved teaching the local schoolchildren about the wonders of nature. Ill health forced the closing of the zoo in the mid-seventies. Around that time he returned to Valley Falls, Kansas, where he painted an historical mural at the Kendall State Bank. After retirement he enjoyed live in Sun City, where he lived with his sister. He spend the last few years living quietly in Wickenburg, where he always had a project he was working on. The last month was spent at the Wickenburg Regional Medical Center’s Extended Care Unit, where he received warm and loving care. We are very appreciative of the ECU and the angels at In Home Health. Howard is survived by his sister Mary Bragg of Sun City; brother Raymond Hamm of Valley Falls; daughter and son-in-law Alondra and Rob Roehler of Wickenburg; and grandchildren Michelle and Andrew Roehler. Howard loved his family, art and nature, but above all he loved the Lord. There will be a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Frey Funeral Home of Wickenburg handled all arrangements.