Thursday, October 22, 2015
I have not seen Woody Hamil since high school, but it really saddened me to learn of his death. He was an incredibly good guy. I never knew him when he didn't have that big grin on his face. I understand he was quite sick late in his life and this is sad. For those of you that don't realize it, he was a great athlete. One of the very best in his class and in our school. He was a starter on a great Niskayuna basketball team for 2 years. He was a big guy who could bang hard under the basket, but he would also stand way outside and shoot that two hand set shot and swish it and then that big grin wood appear. He was really good. He could also throw a baseball very hard. He was a pitcher and I was one of the catchers and I hated catching for him because he threw so hard it wood knock you over and if you were at bat, he was scary to hit against, you didn't dig in when Woody Hamil was pitching. But what a great guy, when you are in 10th grade, 11th graders are to be looked up to, but he was always nice to me and many others of us who were younger. That is what he was about. He dated a good friend of mine's little sister and I saw him around their house alot and he was a big gentle soul. I know that girl's mother loved Woody. I am sorry I never kept up with him, but I have nothing but great memories of him from when we were young. Just a great guy who will be missed by anyone who knew him. Bill Bowman, Birmingham, AL NHS class of 1961.
