Tad D. Hammond ’56

Skip died Nov. 21, 2024, in Nebraska City.

He joined us at Princeton after graduating from Nebraska City High School in 1950 and the Lawrenceville School in 1952. An accomplished pilot (and legendary for his flights over campus) while at Princeton, Skip left early for service in the Air Force, including as a first lieutenant and private pilot for Gen. Curtis LeMay. He later graduated cum laude from the University of Nebraska with degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering.

Most of Skip’s professional life was focused on acquiring, building, and merging banks eventually into the Valley Bank & Trust in Cherokee, Iowa, which he served as chair of the board and president.

In 1993, Skip married Jill Renee Dennis with whom he enjoyed 31 years, especially skiing, boating, golfing, scuba diving, and, of course, flying. His family knew him to be a voracious reader and a gifted writer, especially poetry.

Predeceased by son Val Whitaker, Skip is survived by his wife, Jill; and daughters Jay Courtney, Logan Lucile, Sage Dennis, and SeeDee Clark.