William E. Hammonds

I grew up on a ranch in rural California. My forebears were pioneers, arriving after the Gold Rush, and settling some of the most remote parts of Central California. I am a graduate of Reed College, The University of San Francisco School of Law, and the OPM and FIB programs at HBS. I spent several years as a trial lawyer in Monterey, and a decade or more as general counsel and then president of a financial institution, and the last 30 or so as head of a 100 year old legacy business. I am addicted to my family, 10 grandchildren, my wife and to golf. This book was written to tell the story of the Broderick Terry Duel, and all that it wrought in California history. I came across the story because the duel was fought nearby and the events that led up to it and followed after should be much better known than they are, and the story is amazing. This is my first book.