
He umpired his first game at 12 years old. Now 60 years later, he’s called his last strike
Roger Hammond credits his love of and respect for the game with helping him defy the trend in sports officiating.
Rebecca Svec grew up in Gage County and now enjoys life on a farm near
Milligan. A former journalist, she spent almost 10 years writing for
daily newspapers, including the Hastings Tribune and Lincoln Journal
Star. Svec worked as Doane University's director of communications
before taking a marketing role with Fortify Group of Shickley, Geneva,
and North Platte.
Roger Hammond credits his love of and respect for the game with helping him defy the trend in sports officiating.
Gary Barker seemed like one of the lucky ones. At 21, he survived a surprise attack by North Vietnamese forces that filled his back and shoulder with shrapnel.…
He knew Kenya. He knew people there who struggled to eke out a living from a few acres of coffee trees. And he knew Nebraska, this place that welcomed and adopted him.