Meet Your Neighbor… George Hammond

By DONNA NICKEL

“When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I make dreams and adventures come true.” No, the debonair and suave Mr. Roarke from t.v.'s “Fantasy Island” is not this month's “Meet Your Neighbor.” George Hammond, owner of Outdoor Connection does arrange fantasies, but he prefers camouflage to white linen suits.
Growing up in Akron, hunting and fishing was always part of George's life. When he was six-years-old, he went on his first annual fishing trip to Canada with his father, uncles and some family friends. “I never missed a a year until I was 26-years-old.” When he was 11-years-old, he and father built a cabin in Guernsey County. “I still have that cabin and go down there as often as I can.”
After graduating from Buchtel High School, he earned a liberal arts degree from the University of Akron, minoring in special education. “It was the late 1960's and my advisor told me I'd be guaranteed a job if I had a degree in special ed.” After graduation George taught at Cloverleaf Local School Districts in classrooms for several years, then as a supervisor in a work study program. “This was around 1973 and I was one of the first work study supervisors in the system. I found jobs for the students in industry and machine shops. It was very rewarding.” George also served as principal at Mogadore Elementary and assistant principal at Spring Hill Junior High.
George met his wife Vicki, a psychologist through the Summit County Board of Education. The Hammonds have been married for 23 years and have lived in North Canton for 20 years. “If I had my choice I'd be living in the woods in Guernsey because I like being outside with nature. That doesn't mean I like to mow the lawn.” Vicki, the director of special education for North Canton City Schools, likes to visit the cabin, and will fish on occasion, “but she prefers places with all the amenities.” Their home, located on a quiet cul de sac, is indistinguishable from their neighbors' from the outside. Open the garage door though, and you'll find what is surely the street's only giant, mounted elk head hanging on the wall. “We don't have a room big enough to hang it inside,” George explained. He doesn't send everything to a taxidermist, but he does have a trophy room filled with mounts and hides with a large bear skin rug on the floor. George's room is not lodge-like though. With plush carpeting, contemporary furnishings and wallpaper, “Vicki had a hand in the decorating.”
George retired from education after 34 years to stay at home with the couple's daughter Tasse. Ten years ago he bought into Outdoor Connection, a franchise specializing in fishing, hunting and outdoor travel. “All you do is hunt and fish, make some money and have some fun. It's not the kind of thing where you'd quit your day job, but I have a lot of fun and meet a lot of interesting people.” He represents 250 outfitters and lodge owners all over the world. “Every place I represent I've either been there or my partners have been there.”
Though booking trips is where he makes his money, scouting out locations is a perk that's part of George's job. “I used to do some guiding, not anymore,” he said, adding that sometimes he'll go on trips with clients.
Outdoor Connection provides full service sporting adventures, “ranging from very expensive to less than $1,000 for a week of fishing. All they have to do is show up at the airport.” Sportsmen can peruse the 100 page Outdoor Connection catalog or visit George's website at HYPERLINK "http://www.huntfishtrips.com/"www.huntfishtrips.com “There isn't anything in the world you can't do. From elephants to doves, there isn't a species we don't represent.” George spends time getting to know clients; getting an idea where they want to go, what they want to do, their price range, and their lodging expectations. “I narrow it down to three or four choices that would fit that individual or group. I try to put them someplace where they will be successful, but I can't set the hook, pull trigger or control the weather.”
Some of the trips are surprise gifts. “I'll get wives who want to go beyond the typical screwdriver, drill or chainsaw; they want to book a dream trip for their husbands.” He said the most popular outings are “probably the elk hunts with the hottest location being New Mexico. I also book a lot of bill fishing in Guadalajara.” His personal favorite locations are Alaska or South Africa. “I enjoy going to so many places. I go for the adventure,” he said, adding that “fishing and killing the game is an added bonus.” His favorite prey includes white tail deer, Ohio turkey and South African plains game.
As a result of his successful hunting and fishing outings, George's family eats well. “I do all the cooking; I always have.” He also does all his own processing, with the exception of sausage and hot sticks. Thanksgiving dinner at the Hammond house features both wild and tame bird. “People always say the wild turkey tastes better though.” George also cooks for Tasse and her friends after their competitive synchronized swimming meets.
The 13-year-old North Canton Middle School student is clearly the apple of her father's eye. George enjoys sharing his love of the outdoors with his daughter and encourages her participation in the Canton/McKinley Gun Club. He treasures the time they spend hunting together. “Tasse loves to go with me, but has yet to draw blood. If she never wants to, I don't care. I would never force her. Just the fact that she wants to go with me is all I care about.”