In the early 1930s, Bill Ham Sr. attended Auburn University and owned his own dry cleaning business, Bill Ham Cleaners. Ham also served on the Auburn City Council.
Little did he know, in 1986 his son Bill Ham Jr. would follow in his father’s footsteps by being elected to City Council.
After serving three four-year terms on City Council, he was then elected mayor of Auburn, where he is currently in his fifth four-year term.
Ham said he did not always dream of becoming mayor of Auburn, but owning and running his own marina. However, when he graduated from Auburn with a degree in recreation management, interest rates were too high to start his own business.
One day in 1985, Ham was approached in line at a bank by the mayor of the time, mayor Jan Dempsey. Dempsey suggested he run for City Council, but he was unsure at the time.
After returning to his office and receiving a few more calls suggesting the same thing, Ham decided he would run for City Council.
“I said if I get elected for City Council that I would do it for one term, and that was 28 years ago,” Ham said.
Ham said once he became involved in City Council, he realized he was making a positive difference, so he stayed on board, which eventually led him to run for mayor of Auburn.
“I believe in trying to leave everything better than you found it” Ham said.
As mayor, Ham stresses the importance and the value of students in the community.
“I have a strong belief that Auburn University and the city of Auburn are really one together,” Ham said. “I think that one without the other, or a division of the two, is detrimental.”
Ham said growing up with an involved dad helped him realize the importance of the students to the city of Auburn.
City Councilmember Beth Witten said Ham always keeps students in mind when he is making decisions.
“The guy in charge is aware of how things will impact students,” Witten said.
Charlie Duggan, City Manager of Auburn, agreed, and said Ham considers the students not only students, but also important citizens of Auburn.
As mayor, Ham said he cannot always please everyone, and that is his least favorite part of his job.
“Somebody told me many years ago that the one of the hardest parts about this job is realizing that every time you vote, you’re going to make somebody happy and somebody mad,” Ham said.
However, according to Duggan he has a way of talking to people that is very comforting, even if it concerns a difficult issue.
Ham’s wife Carol, son Forrest and daughter Ashley all graduated from Auburn University and share his deep love for the city and the school.
“Anyone who says anything bad about (Ham) is either mistaken or lying,” Duggan said.
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