FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (July 15, 2002) – Deputy
Lee County Manager William H. “Bill” Hammond has been elected to a two-year
term as chairman of the Florida Sports Foundation.
The Foundation is the State
of Florida’s lead organization for promoting and developing both amateur and
professional sports statewide. It
was founded in 1992 and is overseen by the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade
and Economic Development. The
Foundation’s board has 15 directors appointed by the governor and 15 directors
appointed from the private sector.
Hammond served as Foundation
treasurer the past two years and has been on the board for five years.
He also has been active as chairman of its finance committee.
He replaces Dave Almstead, senior vice president of Fox Sports Network,
as chairman.
Hammond
is a 24-year employee of Lee County Government and has held the position of
Deputy County Manager since July 1993. Prior
to that he was Acting County Manager for six months and Director of Community
Services – which included Parks & Recreation, Public Safety and Libraries
– for 14 years. He started his
public-service career as Sarasota’s Assistant Recreation Director in 1966 and
also was Tallahassee’s Assistant Parks & Recreation Director for four
years.
During his tenure as
Community Services Director, Hammond oversaw the construction of the $22-million
Lee County Sports Complex (Spring Training home to the Minnesota Twins since
1991). In 1995, the complex’s main stadium was named William H.
Hammond Stadium. He also supervised
the tremendous growth of the county’s award-winning Parks System and the
building of the area’s first regional park – Lakes Park. Hammond continues to remain active in the National Parks and
Recreation Association and Florida Recreation and Parks Association.