Jack Hamman

Dr. J. L. Hamman (Jack), age 92, long-time surgeon at Trover Clinic, Trover Health, and Baptist Health, died on March 10, 2026.
He was born on 3/21/1933 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Mary Leona Hollingsworth Hamman and Homer McCuin Hamman, the last of 5 children.
He was educated in the Jonesboro Public Schools, attended Hendrix College in 1951-1954 and graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine, Memphis 1957 with M.D. Degree. Following a one-year internship at City of Memphis Hospital (John Gaston), he completed General Surgery Residency under Dr. Ralph Bowers and Thoracic Surgery Residency (chest) under Dr. Felix Hughes at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis. He was certified by American Board of Surgery, 10/11/1962, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery 11/11/1964 and the American Board of Surgery (Vascular) 6/11/1987 with appropriate recertifications.
He practiced surgery in Kingsport, Tennessee 1964-1965, Roanoke, Virginia 1965-1968 and was elated to be invited by Dr. William Jernigan to become a member of the Trover Clinic Surgical Department. Please remember that Dr. Merle Mahr, Dr. Fred Ferguson, Dr. Harry DeBandi, Dr. William Jernigan, Dr. Joseph Roe, Dr. Joe Milburn, Dr. Lyle Wayne had been trained at the Memphis Veterans Hospital under the guidance of Dr. Ralph Bowers so coming to Madisonville was almost a "homecoming." Dr. William Gardner (University of Michigan) was my dear partner in Thoracic Surgery until his untimely death in 1980.
Dr. Hamman maintained an active surgical practice until early 2000 and ceased operating in 2009. He continued to see office patients until retirement in 2021.
With the assistance of Dr. Loman Trover, Dr. Curtis VanHooser, and Mr. Don Bowles, we obtained certificate of need for open heart surgical service which began in 1980. The first city other than Louisville, Lexington to offer such service in Kentucky.
Dr. Hamman was active in multiple local educational efforts and well beyond retirement. Family Practice residency program began in 1970, Surgical Resident Program from University of Louisville, and in 1975 "surgical project" initial surgical instruction for the 3rd year University of Louisville medical students-a program designed by collaboration of Dr. Hiram Polk (Chairman Department of Surgery, University of Louisville), Dr. Loman Trover, Dr. Dan Martin, and Dr. Merle Mahr. This program has continued to be present under the exceptional direction of Dr. Mohan Rao and now includes students from the University of Louisville Trover Campus.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Eugene (crib death, Genevieve Hamman Jones (Lonnie), Mary Evelyn Hamman Smith (Clynn) Tippen (James) Robert M. Hamman (Carolyn).
He is survived by Beverly, his loving wife of 45 years, children George (Cristina), Dr. Baron Hamman, Virginia Porta (Mike), Dr. Cathy Carnes (Dr. Perri Carnes), Susan Edmonson (Barry), Grandchildren, Ana, John Baron, Mollie, Robert, Ben, Hannah, Olivia, Sam, and Tyler and seven
great grandchildren.
There need be no further celebration of life for his professional life was aptly noted at time of retirement. Life otherwise as celebrated at time of dedication of "Circle of Peace" statues at children's playground at Mahr Park Arboretum.
His final thoughts were always of gratitude to the founders of Trover Clinic, Dr. Loman Trover, Dr. Faull Trover, Dr. John Haynes, Dr. Fred Scott and Dr. Merle Mahr for opportunity to join Trover Clinic. Gratitude to all my Clinical colleagues as well as colleagues who did not practice within the Clinic and finally gratitude to all who generously established a health care scholarship fund at Madisonville Community College and a "bench of honor" at the Children's Playground at Mahr Park Arboretum.
There is no greater honor or sincerely heartfelt compliment that a surgeon can receive than for surgeons with whom you have trained for so many years invite you to join the practice.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mahr Park Arboretum Nature Play, First United Methodist Church, or Jack L. Hamman, M.D. scholarship fund at Madisonville Community College.