Lonnie Hammargren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lonnie Hammargren
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|---|---|
| 31st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada | |
| In office January 2, 1995 – January 4, 1999 |
|
| Governor | Bob Miller |
| Preceded by | Sue Wagner |
| Succeeded by | Lorraine Hunt |
| Member of the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education | |
| In office 1988–1994 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lonnie Lee Hammargren
December 25, 1937 Harris, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | June 13, 2023 (aged 85) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sandy
(m. 1989) |
| Profession | Neurosurgeon |
Lonnie Lee Hammargren (born December 25, 1937 – died June 13, 2023) was an American politician and a special doctor called a neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons are doctors who perform operations on the brain and nervous system.
He was known for his amazing collection of items. These included old signs from casinos and even a part of an Apollo space capsule.
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Lonnie Hammargren's Career
Becoming a Neurosurgeon
Lonnie Hammargren became a neurosurgeon in 1971. He was the very first neurosurgeon to practice in the state of Nevada.
For several years, he worked as a NASA flight surgeon. This means he was a doctor who looked after the health of astronauts and others involved in space flights.
He also performed surgery on boxer Duk Koo Kim in 1982.
Serving in Politics
From 1988 to 1994, Lonnie Hammargren was a member of the board of regents. This board helps to manage the Nevada System of Higher Education, which includes colleges and universities in Nevada.
Later, he became the 31st lieutenant governor of Nevada. He served in this important role from 1995 to 1999. He was a member of the Republican Party.
He was the most recent lieutenant governor in Nevada to work with a governor from a different political party. He served with Democrat Bob Miller.
In 2008, Hammargren also served as an honorary consul for Belize. A consul is like a representative for a country in another country.
Lonnie Hammargren's Personal Life
Lonnie Hammargren built his unique house, called Castillo del Sol, in 1969. He filled it with many different items related to the history of Las Vegas. He often opened his home for public tours.
Among his many collected items was a part of the High Roller roller coaster from the Stratosphere hotel. His home and its collections were even shown on TV shows like Vegas VIP Homes. Over time, his collections grew so much that they filled two more houses next door.
In 2016, his collections were featured on the TV show Hoarders. It was mentioned that he had spent a lot of money collecting these items.
Lonnie Hammargren married his wife, Sandy, in 1989. Their wedding was even filmed for the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
On March 31, 2007, Hammargren held a special event he called an "Awake Wake" for himself. This was a mock funeral service where he pretended to be buried in a sarcophagus (a stone coffin) in an Egyptian-style tomb in his garage. He then emerged an hour later. In 2008, he started building a copy of an Orion spacecraft to add to his collection.
Lonnie Hammargren passed away on June 13, 2023, at the age of 85.
