Randol "Randy" Hamill

1941 - 2016

Randol "Randy" Hamill

December 28, 1941 - July 25, 2016

Visalia

Randol C. Hamill (Randy) Hamill, 74, of Visalia died Monday, July 25, 2016 from complications following surgery.

Randy was born on December 28th, 1941, in Merced, CA. As a child, family was first and Randy (Ardy) claimed that, in his position as the eldest cousin in the Randol and Hamill families. Following a stand-out career as a defensive lineman at Merced Jr. and High Schools then graduation in 1959, Randy moved to Visalia to play football for the College of Sequoias, where he met his wife, Nancy Rautter. Randy and Nancy met at a cast party for a COS play in December, 1960 and were married on August 26, 1961. Together they moved to San Luis Obispo where Randy attended Cal Poly, rode saddle broncs on the rodeo team, and daughter Alice June was born. They moved to Selma in 1965 where sons Charles Randol and Joseph Dean were born. Then settled in Visalia in 1967, where Randy worked in the construction trades for 50 years.

Family was always first for Randy; he coached many, many teams, from Little League Baseball to Pop Warner Football to Coach for Golden West High School. He was an active parent and grandparent involved in the Visalia Rockettes Jr. Drill Team. A charter parent member of the Golden West FFA Parent Boosters and Athletic Parent Boosters organizations, Randy thoroughly enjoyed his many years of involvement with the Golden West High School Football program and taught many young men the core values of hard work, honor and respect. Randy rarely missed an opportunity to be present and involved in any activity his children and grandchildren participated in. He was also an active member of the Sequoia Jr. Cowboy's Association (SJCA) and the Goshen Mounted Police organizations.

One of Randy's greatest loves was communication - he spent many hours behind a microphone. Early on as a rodeo announcer for the SJCA, the Flying U Rodeo Company and Growney Brothers Stock Contractors and later he embraced his love for speed, working as a track announcer at Plaza Park Speedway, Mesa Marin Speedway and at KMJ Radio on Racetalk Radio.

In his later years Randy refined his love for Cowboy Poetry and Music. A charter member of the Cowboy Cultural Committee/Chuckwagon Cooks, he enjoyed countless hours cooking Dutch Oven Cobbler throughout the State and volunteered to entertain at various venues reading his own poetry and entertaining with the musical members of the CCC.

Randy is survived by his wife Nancy, Daughter Alice, husband Jeff and grandchildren Randi, Kassidy and Jacob Kampen of Tulare; Sons Charles (Chuck) Hamill, wife Dori of Berry Creek and Joseph (Joey) Hamill, partner Jill Loverin and granddaughter Joei Faith of Exeter. Brother Robert (Bob) and wife Cindy Hamill of Snelling; Nephews Ryan,(Ardena) and Nathan,(Amy). Also his brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Rautter and Nephew Keith Rautter, (Cory); Nieces Lainie Petticrew (Jared), Adrienne Olsen Shelton, and Aleisha Olsen Maxwell (Tim) And many great-nieces and nephews. Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Dorothy Hamill and in-laws Charles and Thelma Rautter.

Services will be held at Salser and Dillard Funeral Home 127 E. Caldwell, Visalia, Thursday, August 4th at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Randy's name, supporting the Golden West FFA in care of Golden West High School, 1717 N. McAuliff St., Visalia, CA 93292. Please note Golden West FFA/Randy Hamill. A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com