Hamm was born in 1906, to Charles Edward Hamm, a plumber and electrician, and Zilpah Dare Harris Hamm. He was the oldest of five brothers and one sister. Raised in Lonoke, he excelled in sports, especially
track and field. At
Lonoke High School, he won the state long jump for three years straight, 1923 to 1925, setting a state record of his sophomore year. He won the state 220-yard dash all three years and the state 100-yard dash twice, despite attacks of
malaria, which first affected him in his junior year and undoubtedly prevented him from bettering his records. ==References==