Richard Berry Hamm

Richard Berry (Dick) Hamm passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on Saturday, March 20 after a lengthy illness with cancer. Dick was born February 22, 1926 in Ardmore, Oklahoma to his parents William Dow Hamm and Helen Berry Hamm. He married Mary Lou Sarber, his wife of 58 years on June 8, 1951. Being the son of a major oil company executive, Dad moved between Dallas, Houston, and The Hague Holland. He started first grade at Bradfield Elementary in the Highland Park School District then moved to Holland in the third grade with his family where he lived for a few years. Interestingly, the family traveled to Holland on The Queen Elizabeth Ship – which later – at the age of 19, transported Dad back from his service in World War II. The Queen Elizabeth had been converted to a hospital ship and was used throughout the war. He used to say his first trip on the QE was much more enjoyable than his second. The family returned to Texas where they settled in Houston River Oaks. Dad attended Lamar High School and loved his life in Houston. The family later moved to Dallas. Dad attended Highland Park High School and played football on the 1943 team that went to the state semi-finals. He graduated from Highland Park High School in January 1944. He entered the U.S. Military Service as an enlisted reserve in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) as a civilian stationed at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After the U.S. Military terminated the ASTP, Dad went on active duty and took basic training at Joseph T. Robinson, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was assigned to the 69th Infantry Division at Campo Shelby Mississippi. He was deployed overseas with the 69th and saw combat action in Germany as a rifleman in the Infantry and as a member of the 271st Regiment, 69th Division. He spent his 19th birthday in a fox hole fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. After serving his country valiantly, Dad was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center to recover from severe frost bite. He spent six months convalescing at Brooke before he enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin. While at U.T., Dad was an active member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the same fraternity his father, brother, and eventually a son, were members of. He was loyal to The University of Texas at Austin and enjoyed following the various sports teams. He graduated from The University of Texas with a BBA in 1950 and moved to Midland, Texas to work for Shell Oil Company, and later, became District Landman for Phillips Petroleum. While in Midland, he met the woman that would soon become his wife and partner for almost 59 years, Mary Lou. Dad ambitiously left the comfort of the corporate oil and gas industry just seven years after graduating from college to become an independent oil and gas operator/investor. He was active in the oil and gas business until the time he died. After spending 40 years raising a family in Midland, in 1990 Dick and Mary Lou moved to Emerald Bay, a golf course community on Lake Palestine just outside of Tyler, Texas. After many enjoyable years in East Texas, in 2007 they moved to Dallas to be closer to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He served on the Board of Governors of High Sky Children’s Ranch in Midland; was a life member of the Chancellor’s Council of The University of Texas System; served on the Development Boards of The University of Texas at Tyler and The University of Texas Health Center, Tyler. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, William Dow Hamm and Helen Berry Hamm. He is survived by a brother, William Dow Hamm, Jr. and his wife Bettie of Midland; wife Mary Lou Sarber Hamm; his son Richard Berry Hamm and his wife Regina of Dallas; his daughter Mary Kathryn Jenke and her husband Virgil of Dallas; his son William Frederick Hamm and his wife Madeline of Dallas; his son Robert Matthew Hamm and his wife Judy of Tyler; nine grandchildren: Philip Hamm, Marsha Hamm Bell and her husband Blake, Sarah Hamm, Paul Jenke and his wife Amy, Amy Abney, Patrick Jenke, Eleanor Hamm, Mary Claire Hamm, and Margaret Hamm; five great-grandchildren: Carter and Kendall Jenke; Mary Grace, Caroline, and Charlie Abney; and numerous nephews and nieces. He grew up in the Presbyterian Church but became an active member of Emerald Bay Community Church in Bullard, after moving to Emerald Bay. He had a deep and abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The family wants to thank the many kind and professional doctors and health care providers that treated him and gave their support to the family during this difficult time. Specifically, we want to recognize the wonderful care given by Baylor Hospital, Walnut Place, and Reachout Home Care. They were a Blessing to our family. A private service for family only will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest on Tuesday, March 23. The family wants to thank Reverend Jay Riley from Emerald Bay Community Church for conducting the service. Following the service, friends are invited to meet with the family in the Club Room at The Edgemere from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. The Edgemere is located at 8523 Thackery Street, Dallas, Texas 75225. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Emerald Bay Community Church, 160 La Salle Drive, Bullard, Texas 75757, or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701, or a charity of your choice.