Popular pool worker trades swimsuit for boots

Jim Hamann isn't really retiring his swimsuit for cowboy boots, he said he's just hanging it up for a while.

The 62-year-old is retiring from the Carson Valley Swim Center in Minden after 17 years and leaving on a 5-1/2 month motorcycle ride across the U.S. and Canada. His last day at the center on Wednesday was also his birthday, and he was appropriately sent off in his red bathing suit, a tank top and cowboy boots, aboard his Honda Valkyrie.

"I'm not that presentable, but I'm definitely a conversation piece," he said, sitting on his motorcycle in the swim center parking lot, waving back to people stopping to say goodbye on their way out.

One of the most identifying features of Hamann is his foot-long beard, that is usually braided so it won't get in his face when he's riding his bike.

"Plus, it's one hell of a conversation starter," laughed Hamann.

The man who was known as Santa to the kids at the swim center, and as the Tonopah Tickler for a time to those who really know him, teared up when he was reading his farewell card from fellow employees.

Hamann took a job at the swim center in October 1989, six months after it opened.

"The reason I started here was because my eldest was a junior in high school and dear old Dad had to start thinking about paying for college," said Hamann.

A Vietnam War veteran, Hamann participated in the Ride to the Wall in 2002, when all over the country veterans and non-veterans ride their motorcycles to Washington, D.C., and meet at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day weekend. His bike sports a ring of barbed wire on the handle bar he picked up at one of the stops on the ride, and a POW flag flies from behind the seat.

"I've been riding 40-plus years," said Hamann.

Next week Hamann will pick up a 2007 Triumph Rocket 3 that will replace his Valkyrie.

"It's basically a retirement present to myself. The wife's OK with it," he said.

Hamann has been married to Karen Hamann for 39 years, and they have two grown sons.

The family moved to Carson Valley in 1979 and has been here ever since. Hamann worked for the phone company for 25 years until he retired. After that he became a substitute school bus driver and began working at the swim center, where he apparently will be missed.

"Jim convinced the lady who was to become my wife to work here 14 years ago," said co-worker Charlie Bowman. "If it wasn't for Jim, I wouldn't be married."

"Jim and I worked on Sundays together for many years," said director Kirk Chiapella. "It took me months to figure out he wasn't a hippy, he was a redneck."

"I'm an ultra-redneck," said Hamann later. "I'm a Barry Goldwater. The reason I have long hair is to cover my red neck."

When he turned 50 his goal was to grow his hair, which was hanging down his back in a pony tail, and beard, until he decides he no longer wants to anymore.

"Every year I look in the mirror, of course with my glasses off. I like what I see and go on to my next goal," Hamann said.

East Fork Swimming Pool District chairman Gordon Gray praised Hamann's job performance over the years.

"Jim was the main guy who ran this place on Sundays," Gray said, acknowledging that in all those years the building was kept clean, no one was hurt and there were no complaints.

"It was great working with him. He was always on time, very dependable, reliable," said Pat Bouhar, a co-worker of 18 years.

"Thank you very much," said Hamann, after reading his good-bye card. "This chokes me up just like it did when I went to the war."

Hamann's next plans are to embark on his motorcycle trip in March or April, depending on the weather, with an itinerary that includes Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nova Scotia, the Erie Canal, Wisconsin, Canada, Montana, Washington and Oregon. Even though his wife can't go with him, he said he's going with her blessing.

"She's gotta work. That's what happens when you marry 'em young," he laughed, clarifying that Karen is three years younger than he is.

"Next year I might be old and gray and might not be able to do it."

After his ride, he plans on coming back to Karen, his sons and grandchildren, and he said he just might try to get his jobs back as a school bus driver and at the pool, on a part-time basis.

"I'm looking forward to (the ride). I'm going to have a wonderful time," he said.

"I've had a wonderful life. It don't get much better than this."

-- Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.