by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
He’d been close before, but the hometown crowd helped a City of Jacksonville Public Works Equipment Operator take home top honors at the American Public Works Association Rodeo at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in April.
Chris Hammond, 40, had competed in about eight rodeos before the event made its way to Jacksonville this year. He was one of the top five finishers every year he competed in the contest, which moves around the state from year to year. This year was the first year Hammond didn’t have to travel a long distance to compete.
“I was more comfortable this year with the rodeo being in Jacksonville,” said Hammond. “Being a single parent, I think about my daughter when I leave town. It was good to have her and my parents at the rodeo cheering me on.”
Hammond and five other equipment operators from the city advanced to the state tournament after a citywide competition. These six were part of a field of about 100 competitors at this year’s rodeo.
“The guy in South Florida that wins every year is like a robot. He knows each piece of machinery so well it’s hard to beat him,” said Linnie Russell, Hammond’s supervisor, “but Chris finally did it. I’ve got about 12 people working for me and he is the best I’ve got.”
Contestants competed on six different pieces of machinery and they were judged on skills with machinery in timed events. Some of the tests included using a trachoe to pick up a tennis ball off the top of a
traffic cone without knocking over the cone. Operators had to drive a street sweeper through a road course in a parking lot. They had to pick up a basketball and drop it through the hoop while in a seated position using a Vac-Con (a sewer vacuum).
Operators had to navigate an industrial mower through an obstacle course. Reflexes were tested when they attempted to catch a ball in the bucket of a back hoe. They also had to place garbage into a garbage truck.
“I’ve been working with machinery since I was about old enough to walk,” said Hammond. “I grew up baling hay and running a tractor working with friends.”
Hammond gets to keep the traveling cup for one year and his name will be engraved on it. He also received a plaque recognizing his accomplishment, but the awards didn’t stop there.
Russell nominated Hammond for the City’s “Goal Star” award for setting a goal to win the rodeo and achieving that goal. The City’s employee rewards and recognition program is held quarterly and nominations for the the current quarter are due today.
“He can see things that need to be done and he wants to do things right and wants people do things right,” said Russell. “(He is) Always looking for the best way to do something and it’s not just the best procedure, but he’s also thinking about the most cost effective way of doing things. I’d have a hard time doing without him ”
The “Goal Star” award is given to a person, “reflecting city guiding principles in dealing with internal or external customers, consistent devotion to department or City goals, focusing on quality and excellence and/or creative use of innovation to achieve goals.”
The certificate of award comes with a letter of recognition from the mayor, a $200 savings bond and $100 worth of mall money.
Reflecting on his first place finish, Hammond summed up his vast knowledge of heavy equipment operation.
“I’m a jack of all trades,” said Hammond jokingly, “and a master of none.”
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