Tom Hammond
Biography
Biography
Tom Hammond's plans weren't always to appear on camera. Born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1944, Hammond originally planned on following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Thomas Poe Cooper, who was the dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Enrolling at the school himself, Hammond majored in animal science, specializing in equine genetics. However, after graduating, Hammond found himself pulled more toward the world of broadcasting, pursuing his love of sports as the sports director at WVLK Radio. He eventually moved into television, becoming the sports director for WLEX-TV in Kentucky in 1970. Hammond would remain at the station for ten years. His departure from WLEX was punctuated in 1980 when he was named as the play-by-play announcer for Southeastern Conference basketball games. Four years later, Hammond found a use for his education on horses when NBC named him as a host of the Breeders' Cup. Hammond would find tremendous success on NBC, eventually helping to cover the NBA and NFL for the network, and even becoming NBC's chief commentator for track and field at the Olympic Games in 1992. Hammond's achievements would be honored over the years, especially in his native Kentucky, where he was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Sound (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1970
Was the sports director for WLEX-TV in Kentucky.
2006
Was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
