Former music professor dies
Dr. Jackson Hammitt, music professor at Chadron State College from the fall of 1967 through the spring of 2001, died early this week in Houston, Texas, where he and his wife, Peggy, were returning from a Caribbean cruise. Memorial services are pending. He was 76.
The Hammitts had lived in Rapid City for more than a decade, but returned often to Chadron State to attend special functions.
Besides teaching music at CSC, Dr. Hammitt directed the Chadron Community Chorus for 29 years, often provided piano accompaniment for college students and guest performers and frequently was a vocal soloist during concerts.
In addition, he almost always played the processional and recessional on the organ during Chadron State commencements and sang the National Anthem at CSC football games during the 34 years he was employed by the college.
Hammitt also was president of the CSC Faculty Senate “seven or eight times” (in his words) and was a Student Senate sponsor for about 20 years. In addition, was extremely active in Kiwanis International. He was a leader in the Chadron Club for more than 30 years, lieutenant governor of Division 6 (western Nebraska) and governor of the Rocky Mountain District (western Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming). The couple attended nearly 20 Kiwanis International conventions.
The Hammitts, who had no children, have been outstanding supporters of the Chadron State music program both while he was employed by the college and since they retired. She worked in the Chadron City Schools for about 33 years, mostly as an elementary media specialist and an instructor in the gifted program.
Both of the Hammitts were natives of Ohio and met while they were students at Ohio Wesleyan University. Both did graduate work at the University of Michigan, where she earned a master’s degree in library science and he earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in music history.
—Con Marshall and Ryan Lovell
Category: Campus News