A Celebrated Athlete

Tragedy strikes the Senior Games with mysterious fatal cycling crash

Champion bike racer Elton Hammond Jr. was one mile from the finish line of the Summer Senior Games 10K time trial on Tuesday when he suddenly crashed. Within hours, the 86-year-old athlete was pronounced dead by paramedics who had immediately taken him to a hospital near the cycling race in Fulshear.

Details of the crash have yet to be released by the Fulshear Police Department, which did not immediately respond to a phone call by CultureMap.

Hammond was a celebrated cyclist, and in Houston events preceding his death, he won the gold medal in the 20-kilometer road race and silver medals in a 40-kilometer road race and 5-kilometer time trial.

Hammond embodied the Games' mission of empowering senior athletes who had discovered the joys of an active lifestyle later in life.

According to an article in a local newspaper of the cyclist's hometown, Lima, Ohio, Hammond was a respected local figure. Mary Lou Paisley of Allen County Senior Citizens Services attests to his willingness to aid aspiring cyclists and senior athletes, stating, "He was always supportive of other cyclists, especially seniors who were getting back into it. He would help them look over bikes and encourage them."

In some respects, Hammond embodied the Games' mission of empowering senior athletes who had discovered the joys of an active lifestyle later in life. According to his son, Elton Hammond III, Hammond Jr. began cycling more than 40 years ago, but didn't enter the field of racing until his 70s. Since then, he immersed himself in bicycling, including jaunts through Europe and New Zealand.

Considering the age range of Senior Games competitors, the possibility of mid-event death is a predictable fear. The Games' oldest competitor, tennis player Roger Gentilhomme, passed away on June 18 at the age 102 shortly before he was scheduled to fly to Houston for the Games.

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Gone Fishin'

State of Texas stocks Houston-area ponds with thousands of trout

Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center in Houston, Texas

tpwd.texas.gov/

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Anglers get ready, because the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be stocking various Houston-area ponds with rainbow trout as part of their annual winter tradition.

"The goal of the rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss) stocking program is to release catchable size rainbow trout into reservoir tail waters, lakes, ponds, and urban ponds in Texas to provide winter fishing opportunities," says TPWD press spokesman Kirk McDonnell. "The rainbow trout stocking program has increased from 10,000 rainbow trout stocked in four sites in 1966 to 359,000 rainbow trout stocked in 200 sites in 2023-24. Over 6,200,000 catchable size rainbow trout have been stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department over the last 20 years."

The Kickerillo-Mischer preserve in Cypress and Tom Bass Park in South Houston were restocked in early December, though they are getting additional fish this month as well. Other Houston-area parks with ponds that will receive rainbow trout in January are Bane, Eisenhower, and Sheldon. Waterways in Friendswood, Conroe, Spring, Katy, Missouri City, Pasadena, and Rosenberg are all participating in the program. For a full list of parks and restocking dates, visit the TPWD website.

Anglers are encouraged to bag the five-fish maximum during the winter months. Rainbow trout do not do well in the warmer seasons and will not survive the summer. Recommended equipment are a light-action rod and reel with small hooks and light line, small bobbers, and small split shot. While rainbow trout can grow to almost 50 pounds., the ones being released into Texas lakes and ponds are generally between 1-5 pounds, so lightweight equipment is fine. Preferred baits are salmon eggs, whole kernel corn, marshmallows, small worms, or prepared trout bait. Bring a cooler if planning to keep catches.

"The Rainbow Trout Program is a very popular program with urban and rural Texans," says McDonnell. "Rainbow Trout are stocked in 18 urban fishing ponds during winter months as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. An additional 190 sites around the state are stocked at the request of District Fisheries Conservation and Management Biologists and at the request of partner cities and local parks departments. Spending time outdoors has been shown to be very beneficial for children and families. Fishing is a great way to connect young people with nature and can be great fun in the process."

For full park hours, restrictions, and other fishing information, contact the park you are planning to visit. Texas anglers do not require a license or stamp to fish within the boundaries of a Texas State Park, but anglers should always confirm whether a particular fishing spot falls under that jurisdiction. Children under 17 do not require licenses. Good luck on the banks this winter.