I was casually eating my breakfast and reading The Arizona Republic last Wednesday when I spotted a familiar face in the obituaries.

Actually there were two photos shown of William Hammontree, my eighth grade teacher. That is, Mister Hammontree, sir.

In the photos, he looked more like the young version when I had him as a teacher in 1960 and ’61 at Clarendon School in central Phoenix. The older version, after he grew a mustache, wouldn’t have caught my eye.

The obituary said he was 90 and his wife of 66 years, Marjory, was still living. It also said he was in education for 43 years as a teacher, administrator and coach at Clarendon and Encanto schools.

He coached basketball which he starred in at Phoenix College. He also played at Arizona State University from which he was graduated with a master’s degree in education. He served in the Navy at the end of World War II.

Earlier in this column, I made a reference to “Mister Hammontree, sir.”

He always left little doubt about who was in charge. The first day of class, he read us the rules of his classroom. Noise would not be tolerated. And you had to address him as “sir.” He was a master of intimidation. Yet, you could always depend on him if you needed help.

He worked for the City of Phoenix in the summer months overseeing the swimming pool system.

After graduation from high school I was faced with not having a summer job.

My buddy, Rob, said “Why don’t you go see Hammontree? I just got hired as a lifeguard.”

His office was in a building off the 18th hole at the Encanto Park Golf Course.

I got an appointment to see him. I walked in and he said, “Mr. Cruikshank, how was high school? I seem to remember you were pretty fast.”

I told him I finished in the top 10 percent of the class, I was on the track team and didn’t get a whole lot faster than when I tied the eighth grade state record for the 100-yard dash when I was at Clarendon. And I played violin in the orchestra that won the western states regional competition for high school orchestras. “High school, I’d say it went pretty good,” I said.

He turned his chair around facing me. He leaned forward and asked, “What can I do for you?”

When I told him that I was looking for a summer job, he leaned back in his chair and told me they had held interviews in March and hired the people to staff those positions in April.

Apparently, I looked disappointed.

But then he leaned forward and looked me in the eye and said, “If you can start tomorrow, I just had a recreational aide position open up in Sunnyslope.” He said I could have it if I promised I would not quit on him any time soon.

I ended up working the next five summers there. I went to ASU and took a Water Safety Instructor course. The second year I worked as a lifeguard. I was later promoted to head guard, then assistant manager. My last year with the city was as the night manager at Sunnyslope Pool.

Outside of my father and my mentor for The Fountain Hills Times, Arthur Hewitt, I’d say Mr. Hammontree was the next biggest influence on my life.

Thank you, sir.