James L. Hamm was a native of Pueblo and lived there all his life. He attended Centennial High School then married Louis Takash in December 1964. James and Louise had three children: Lynette Hamm, Jim Hamm and Louise Fowler. The couple divorced in 1979.
James Hamm loved riding his motorcycle. A very sociable individual, he had many friends. James was very mechanically inclined. He took pleasure in fixing cars and then selling them. He enjoyed his career as a janitor and he became custodian for Centennial High School. James worked for District 60 for more than a dozen years. His children say he was very content with his life.
Saturday was James’ night out so on June 15, 1991 he started out to have a good time. But this Saturday would end in tragedy. Riding his beloved motorcycle, the 46-year-old came to a stop sign at Beulah & W. Arroyo Avenues in Pueblo.
As James turned left onto Beulah, a shotgun roared five times. James Hamm’s son, Jimmy, who lived a few houses away, heard the gunshots and ran to the scene. He saw a vehicle make a sharp right turn and disappear. Jimmy found his father lying in the street near his motorcycle. The victim died a short time later.
If you have any information relating to this murder, please call Deputy Chief John Ercul at the Pueblo Police Department, 719-240-2329. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at (719) 542-7867.