McNairy County is no stranger to iconic citizens. Car salesman and music enthusiast Earl Latta, little-known but widely read author Jack Boone, legendary disc jockey Dewey Phillips, and a host of other famous individuals all called McNairy home. While these people may have more recognition, their impacts at home are nothing like the ones of the hometown heroes who made deep, long-lasting changes in the county. Joseph “Joe” Hamm was born in 1927 in Ramer. Joe was the fourth generation of men to make a living at the A.B. Hamm store, opened by his great-great-grandfather, A.B., in 1873. Joe graduated from Ramer High School and following a short stint in the military, Joe returned to the area. Soon after, in the mid-1950s, Joe was approached by Mr. John Howell.
“OUR DREAM PARK” JOE HAMM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIG HILL POND STATE PARK Jacob York
Mr. Howell was the owner of a large chunk of property west of Ramer, an area known to locals as Big Hill. Mr. Howell had been known to allow his friends to hunt on his land for a small price. However, as this “business” began to grow, Mr. Howell came to the realization of how valuable the land was. He approached Joe about selling his land, ensuring that the land be protected and conserved in some way. Little did Mr. Hamm know, that this approach from Mr. Howell would spark a decades-long effort toward conserving this area for generations. Joe got to work immediately. Working with other local leaders, Joe began working towards a plan to get this land to the attention of the state and federal government. In a letter to Senator Estes Kefauver on June 27, 1963, Mr. Hamm wrote, “It would be a waste of time for me to tell you that McNairy County needs a shot in the arm or I should say pocket book because you know it as well as I do. We feel that this area properly developed would be That needed shot.” He continued, “The proposed Big Hill Pond Park and Wildlife Area lies in the southwest corner of McNairy County…It has the largest colony of beavers in the state, good deer hunting, and some of the best bass and bream fishing in West Tennessee. There are very few acres
