2015 February PASO Magazine

2014 Roblans of the Year
Marjorie and John Hamon
By Meagan Friberg
Whether volunteering at a charity
event, serving their local church, or
running their family-owned business,
Marjorie and John Hamon
have held many titles. Now, this vivacious
and hard-working couple
has earned the title of 2014 Roblans
of the Year.
“It is very humbling to be honored
in this way,” says Marjorie. “There are
many deserving individuals in our
community; to be chosen as Roblans
of the Year certainly came as a surprise
and we are more than grateful.”
The Roblan of the Year award, according
to Paso Robles Chamber of
Commerce President & CEO Sunni
Mullinax, is presented to members
of the Chamber who have made
a significant contribution through
community service, action and donations
over the years. Marjorie and
John were officially honored at the
Chamber’s 94th Annual Dinner and
Awards Gala on January 24.
“The Roblan of the Year tradition is
the highest honor in our community,”
said Sunni. “This year, I had the honor
of calling both John and Marjorie to
let them know of their award. To this
day, I can’t recall a more memorable
phone conversation as they were simply
humbled and so gracious.”
Longtime friend Wade Taylor
referred to John and Marjorie as
“pillars of the community” who are
involved in “numerous activities that
promote the City of Paso Robles locally
as well as internationally. They
are givers, not takers...who have unselfishly
donated their time, efforts,
and financial contributions towards
the betterment of their community.”
Marjorie moved to Paso Robles
with her parents, Tom and Betty
Triol, and sisters Ginny, Judy, and
Barbara when she was ten. At Paso
Robles High School, she was involved
with the Starlighters Choir,
California Scholarship Federation,
and the Bearcats Drill Team.
John and his younger siblings –
Mark, Greg and Linda – were raised
in Lompoc by parents Eva and John
Hamon I. John earned his Eagle
Scout Award and participated in
swimming and water polo as a Lompoc
High Braves athlete.
Marjorie and John met in 1974
while attending Cal Poly SLO and
married one year later. John graduated
with a BA in Industrial Arts
and a minor in education, Marjorie
with a BS in Industrial Engineering
and they settled in Paso Robles.
“People often ask me where we’ll
live when we retire,” says Marjorie.
“I wouldn’t live anywhere except
Paso Robles – it’s our home. We
love living here and being part of
the community.”
Marjorie, pictured with daughter
Jessica and granddaughter Maddie
J and Shiloh Hamon are pictured with
their children, Jack and Selah, outside
the Chamber office.
John with grandkids Jack, Soren,
and Selah
They were active in various organizations
including Paso Robles
AYSO and Boy Scouts of America
Pack 65 and Troop 60 while raising
daughter Jessica and son John III ( J).
John and Marjorie are devoted to
their grandchildren, Jessica’s daughter,
Madalyn (17) and the children of
J and his wife, Shiloh – John Reuben
Hamon IV ( Jack, 7), Selah (3) and
Soren (now resting in heaven).
“Being parents and grandparents
is a wonderful adventure that we
share together,” says John.
Marjorie’s father started a garage
door company – known then as Overhead
Door of Paso Robles – back in
1966. John starting working there after
graduating from Cal Poly, the second
of two employees at the time. He
also learned the construction trade,
became a general contractor, and built
homes the couple has lived in over the
course of their 40-year marriage.
John and Marjorie purchased
her father’s business in
1978, let go of the franchise
distributorship in 1992, and renamed
it to Hamon Overhead
Door Co., Inc. The business now includes
16 employees and serves SLO
and Santa Barbara counties out of its
corporate office in Paso Robles and
their Santa Maria office.
Marjorie worked part time while
raising their children, and now enjoys
working full time alongside
John. In 1980, John’s brother Mark
joined the company in the commercial
division; in 1998, son J started
working there full time, and in 2006,
John’s brother Greg, a retired union
pipefitter, started managing the
Santa Maria office.
John served 19 years with the
Volunteer Fire Department and
attained the rank of
Captain; was a Paso
Robles Planning Commissioner;
served on
the Paso Robles Airport
Advisory Committee; is
a Chamber Board member,
and has twice been
named Roblan of the
Month. He has served
on the Industrial Technology
Advisory Board
at Cal Poly SLO, is a member of Boy
Scouts of America and continues to
volunteer with Troop 60. He is one
of the original board members of the
Paso Robles Children’s Museum and
Past President of Rotary Club of Paso
Robles. Originally elected to the Paso
Robles City Council in 2006, John
was recently reelected to his third
term and has served on numerous city
committees and county agencies.
“When I first met John, he was very
shy,” says Marjorie. “It has been amazing
to see him grow into so many leadership
roles. He is level-headed, which
is a great characteristic, and he never
gets flustered. As a grandfather,
John and his grandson, Jack, are
pictured with Jennifer Smith, Paso
Robles Children’s Museum CEO,
on the museum’s fire engine.
well, he is simply adored!”
Marjorie has been a member of
the Chamber for 36 years and has
been named Roblan of the Month.
A 20-year member of the Paso Robles
Speakeasy Toastmaster Club (she will
soon earn her Distinguished Toastmaster
award), she has served as past
president and governor of the district.
She volunteers at the Pioneer
Day dinner and dance, decorates
the Pioneer Day Bean Feed Line
annually, and serves on the Board
of the Paderewski Festival as the
Treasurer and
Youth Travel
Coordinator.
Marjorie is pictured with some of her fellow
Paderewski Festival volunteers – Krysta Close, Cri Cri
Solak-Eastin, Barbara Partridge, and Norma Moye.
Marjorie and John have served
as Eucharistic Ministers and Music
Ministers at St. Rose
of Lima Catholic
Church for 28 years.
A singer and guitar
player, Marjorie is
passionate about bringing music to
others and unselfishly shares her talents
at weddings, with the sick bedside,
at funerals, and other gatherings.
“Music is a passion of mine, and
sharing a special song with someone
brings me tremendous joy,” she says. ​
“In giving, you receive – and bringing
music to others is a blessing.”
Marjorie and John often entertain
friends, family, and acquaintances
in their home and offer their
Paso Robles home as well as their
McCall, Idaho vacation home for
community fundraising events.
In their spare time, they enjoy snow
and water skiing, traveling, camping,
and flying; John is a private pilot and
Marjorie says she is “more like the
Chief Pray-er, rather than the co-pilot.”
John rides motorcycles and builds
and flies radio-controlled airplanes –
he’s also considered a “cool” grandpa!
Please see HAMON page 12
10 Paso Robles Magazine, February 2015