As a student at Hellgate High School, he wrote for his local newspaper, The Missoulian, and placed second in a national journalism competition.
Born in Gebo, Wyoming, he began working for the Missoulian in Montana and worked on the base newspaper while stationed in the army at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center from 1960 to 1962.
The Missoulian was instrumental in restoring the Clark Fork (river) of the Columbia River from a polluted, sterile river to a blue ribbon trout stream today.
In 1900, Hammond began selling stock in the Missoulian to political rival Joseph M. Dixon who would later become a US Congressman, US Congressman, and the state of Montana's seventh governor.
In 1900, Hammond began selling stock in the Missoulian to political rival Joseph M. Dixon who would later become a US Congressman, US Senator, and the state of Montana's seventh governor.