Russell Hammond ’73 has not wavered in his love for sports.
From his days as a basketball player at Waltham High School to his prowess playing—and later receiving numerous awards for—basketball and baseball at Westfield State University, to serving many years as an assistant high school girls’ basketball coach, he relishes team play, camaraderie, leadership, and legacy.
Hammond was elected into the Westfield State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008; he says it was an honor that humbles him, and, in part, motivates him to give back to his alma mater—particularly to the Athletic Department.
Fellow basketball teammates—like the late Ben “BA” Adams ’75, also a University Hall of Famer, and friends he made while here—continue to give Hammond an affinity for Westfield State, as does the knowledge that his support of the University will benefit future student athletes.
“Ben was instrumental in bringing me back into the Westfield State fold even more. His enthusiasm for Westfield State helped me see how important it was to not only help future students but to also talk about the experience and opportunity of getting an education here,” Hammond says.
Hammond has for many years helped round up 15 to 20 former teammates and classmates to participate in an annual golf tournament at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick that raises money for the Westfield State Athletic Department.
“We have a great time playing golf and afterwards. It’s fun to see everyone again. We love to reminisce about our time spent at Westfield State,” Hammond says.
Whenever he hears from alumni or staff in the Development office, Hammond doesn’t hesitate to write a check. He recently committed $500 a year over a fiveyear period to help support the University’s Jimmy Banacos Center for Academic Support.
Banacos, who passed away in 2005, was a fellow student at Westfield State. Banacos was paralyzed playing lacrosse for the University in 1970. The center that bears his name offers disability support services for students as well as other academic
support services.
Since attending Westfield State, Hammond took his elementary education degree and made a career teaching fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders at schools in Waltham, as well as serving for many years as assistant girls’ basketball coach at schools in Burlington, Lynnfield, and Wayland.
Now that he’s retired, Hammond keeps sports at the forefront in a unique way. Since 2013, he has worked as an usher at Fenway Park for Red Sox baseball games and special events. Last summer, he got to escort attendees to their seats at concerts featuring James Taylor, Billy Joel, and Paul McCartney.
“I’ve always been a Red Sox fan,” he says. “I enjoy that I get to be out in the bleachers helping fans.”
