Lonnie Hammargren
Encyclopedia
Lonnie Lee Hammargren is an American
politician
. He is the former 31st Lieutenant Governor
of the U.S. State of Nevada
, serving from 1995 to 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
including the attending physician to work on Deuk Koo Kim as he battled for his life after fighting Ray Mancini
. Lonnie spent several years as a NASA
flight surgeon
. Following Roy Horn's near-fatal Tiger Attack in 2003, Dr. Hammargren spoke up to correct misinformation in the press about the procedure Horn had received.
.
Hammargren was Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
from 1995–1999. He lost his election bid in the primaries for that office again in 2006.
As of 2008, Hammargren was the honorary consul
for Belize
.
to Vegas' past. The house is usually open for tours on Nevada Day
. Among his latest acquisitions is the High Roller
roller coaster
from the Stratosphere
. His home has been featured on the Travel Channel
's show Vegas VIP Homes. In 2008, he began building a replica Orion spacecraft
to add to the collection.
On March 31, 2007, Hammargren held an "Awake Wake
" for himself, in which he had a mock funeral service, a New Orleans style Jazz Funeral
March back to his house, and buried himself in a sarcophagus
in the Egyptian
tomb
in his garage
. He emerged an hour later.
Hammargren has appeared in several films directed by fellow Las Vegas resident Ted V. Mikels
, usually in small cameo
roles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the former 31st Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the U.S. State of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, serving from 1995 to 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Medical career
Hammargren, first licensed in 1971, is a neurosurgeon who is known for operating on several notable boxers injured in boxing matches in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
including the attending physician to work on Deuk Koo Kim as he battled for his life after fighting Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
. Lonnie spent several years as a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
flight surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
. Following Roy Horn's near-fatal Tiger Attack in 2003, Dr. Hammargren spoke up to correct misinformation in the press about the procedure Horn had received.
Political career
Hammargren was a university regentRegent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
.
Hammargren was Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is based in Carson City, Nevada and elected for 4 year terms. The 33rd and current Lt. Governor for the 2007-2011 term is Brian Krolicki....
from 1995–1999. He lost his election bid in the primaries for that office again in 2006.
As of 2008, Hammargren was the honorary consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
for Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
.
The eccentric side
Hammargren built his house, Castillo del Sol, in 1969. Since then it has become a museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
to Vegas' past. The house is usually open for tours on Nevada Day
Nevada Day
Nevada Day commemorates the admission of the state of Nevada into the union on October 31, 1864. The first known observance of Nevada Day was by the Pacific Coast Pioneer society during the 1870s...
. Among his latest acquisitions is the High Roller
High Roller (Stratosphere)
The High Roller, at , was the highest roller coaster in the world. It was located at the Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States and manufactured by S&MC....
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
from the Stratosphere
Stratosphere
The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. It is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. This is in contrast to the troposphere near the Earth's surface, which is cooler...
. His home has been featured on the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
's show Vegas VIP Homes. In 2008, he began building a replica Orion spacecraft
Orion (spacecraft)
Orion is a spacecraft designed by Lockheed Martin for NASA, the space agency of the United States. Orion development began in 2005 as part of the Constellation program, where Orion would fulfill the function of a Crew Exploration Vehicle....
to add to the collection.
On March 31, 2007, Hammargren held an "Awake Wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
" for himself, in which he had a mock funeral service, a New Orleans style Jazz Funeral
Jazz funeral
Jazz funeral is a common name for a funeral tradition with music which developed in New Orleans, Louisiana.The term "jazz funeral" was long in use by observers from elsewhere, but was generally disdained as inappropriate by most New Orleans musicians and practitioners of the tradition...
March back to his house, and buried himself in a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
in the Egyptian
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
in his garage
Garage (house)
A residential garage is part of a home, or an associated building, designed or used for storing a vehicle or vehicles. In some places the term is used synonymously with "carport", though that term normally describes a structure that is not completely enclosed.- British residential garages:Those...
. He emerged an hour later.
Hammargren has appeared in several films directed by fellow Las Vegas resident Ted V. Mikels
Ted V. Mikels
Ted V. Mikels is an American filmmaker of independent cult films. Mikels was also known for his home life, as he once lived with a harem in a Glendale, California castle that contained secret passageways....
, usually in small cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
roles.