Ben Rigsby Hammond Jr.

HAMMOND
Ben Rigsby Hammond, Jr.
January 19, 1934
April 19, 2012

Ben passed from here as he would have wished..with his loving children and wife by his side. His illness was very quick and his life was not diminished, nor was his indomitable spirit. A lifelong resident of San Antonio, Ben was born on January 19th, 1934. He attended Alamo Heights High School and the graduated from the University of Texas, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He was a fighter pilot in the Air Force where he received the rank of Captain. His love of flying remained throughout his life. He was a Jeweler and gemologist of note. He worked with his father Rigsby and brother, Hall, for the BM Hammond Company of San Antonio, a company founded by his grandfather, Benjamin Morton Hammond . He was the consultant for the Hixon Gem Collection, considered to be one of the finest collections of colored gemstones in the world and housed in the Los Angeles County Museum.. He was one of the first US distributors of Seiko watches with his company, Texchron, and he helped launch Swatch watch in the US while working with the Swiss watch company Certina. He was very involved in civic activities in San Antonio .was President of the Order of the Alamo, a Texas Cavalier and member of many clubs and organizations. He traveled the world and spoke several languages and made many lifelong friends on his journeys. He was an avid fisherman, organic gardener and loved the natural world of birds, trees, flowers and the Texas Hill Country. He was fascinated by history, geology and archeology. His story telling was legendary. With his brilliant mind, quick smile and booming voice, he was a memorable character to many. If Ben decided to launch himself into something, he did it wholeheartedly and with much research. Ben chose to spend the last 15 years of his life in service to others. As with all other endeavors, he gave all of himself to this mission and there are hundreds of previously lost souls now grateful for his loving attention and hard work. He was imperfect, precious and grand. A great dad and a wonderful man. He was preceded in death by his parents Ben Rigsby Hammond and Virginia Street Hammond. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn Hammond and by his daughter Hallie Hammond Lopez and her husband Antonio, his son Ben R. Hammond, III and his wife Margaret and grandchildren Morgan Christian Lockwood and Elizabeth Grace Hammond, his brother Hall Street Hammond and family and many friends. A Memorial Service and celebration of his life will be held at Christ Episcopal Church - 510 Belknap Place on May 4, 2012 at 10am.