Potentate

Illustrious Sir Cecil Hammer
Potentate 2010
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Cecil Lawrence Hammer was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Oil Capitol of the World. Cecil’s dad was a union ironworker working the high steel in the south and southeastern states. The Cecil’s family moved from Tulsa to Henryetta, Oklahoma to work on a glass plant that was to be a five year job. As construction goes, five year jobs get shortened to one year jobs if the job gets cancelled, as it did in this case. Construction workers go where the work is. Cecil’s parents wanted him to stay in one school, so Cecil and his mom stayed at home and dad went to work in other cities and states. Cecil and his mom would spent the summers with his dad in such great places as Independence, Kansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Altus, Oklahoma; Eldorado Springs, Missouri and Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, just to name a few. Cecil attended grade school in Henryetta, and then in Junior High moved to Del City, Oklahoma when he graduated from High School. Cecil’s dad died in a tragic car accident his senior year.

Never wanting to become an Iron worker, drafting was his chosen career choice. Upon completion of drafting school, military service was the only option. It was either join or be drafted, so Cecil joined the Air Force. Upon completion of Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he was sent to a SAC base at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and there he stayed until his Honorable discharge. Cecil had met Barbara Ann Hodges in July of 1965 at a DeMolay/Jobs Daughters function. They were married in 1969 in Norman, Oklahoma, home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners. Moving back to Del City after the Air Force, he was hired at Tinker Air Force Base to make cardboard boxes. From there he was moved to aircraft mechanic building J57 compressors. The civil service career next lead to Retribution and Marketing, an electrician working on jet engines, and lastly an aircraft mover. Cecil did not like moving airplanes and went to college and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Business Management and a minor in accounting.

After 14 years civil service, Cecil and Barbara sold their home, bought a 40-foot 5th wheel, and moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a lifelong dream. It was in Glenwood Springs were Cecil joined Carbondale Masonic Lodge. They sold the 5th wheel and moved to Woodland Park, Colorado, and in 1988 moved to Portland, Oregon. Arriving in Portland, Cecil attended Milwaukie Lodge and then moved to southeast Portland. He started attending Lents Lodge, and was installed as Master in 1997. Cecil joined the Shriners in fall of 1995. He was going to join the Concert Band, but the Drum and Bugle Corps asked him to join them--and he did. After the Drum Corps had fallen into declining membership, he joined the Concert Band. He was asked by IS Bill Doherty, PP to join the Divan as Director. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Since civil service, Cecil has been in sales with the exception of time as a Controller and a Purchasing Agent. Cecil started to work for Dunn Electronics in 1995.

Cecil and Barbara have one son, Dennis Eugene Hammer, and three grandkids. Dennis and his family live in Muskogee, Oklahoma where Dennis is long-haul trucker.

Cecil is a charter member of Del City DeMolay and a past senior Councilor. He joined the Zubural Order of Knights. Cecil has been involved with DeMolay in many adult capacities, including Chairman of Board. Cecil started a new DeMolay Chapter in Woodland Park, Colorado.
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