Laverne Tornow
the logical choice
Biography
Wilson L. Hammock and Margaret Eliza Garrett's daughter, Margaret "Laverne" Hammock Tornow, was born in Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida. Touting herself as a "sixth generation Florida Cracker with four generations rooted in Hernando County." Laverne enlisted in the USAF immeidately after graduating and was an Active Duty USAF, Medical Corpsman, attended NCO School, and was a Training Instructor for recruits. She has been in the USAF Reserves and the Florida National Guard.
Laverne married Stanley William Tornow of Walnut, Bureau County, Illinois. At this time, she and her husband live with their dogs Bubba and Cletus and Fred R. Byrd in Rural Hernando county.
In 1988 Laverne was responsible for the USMC 5th Division Reserve Unit actually entering into a Toys for Tots contract. This required many conference calls with various government officials in DC including the Secretary of the Navy and the Joint Chief's. It was the most successful fundaising event of its type in the Columbus, Ohio area at that time. The Northland JayCees were a co sponsor of the event.
A love for history and early American culture is what Laverne believes created her interest in genealogy. "Reading about the things your ancestors owned and having a working knowledge of life in that time period can really bring your family history to life right before your eyes. It really is true what they say about forgetting the past; 'Those who choose to forget their past are doomed to repeat its mistakes.'"
Besides what she does for genealogy, Laverne has done a lot to spread her knowledge and love of history, happiness, and laughter. For ten years, she worked as a booking agent for the International All Star Circus and The Great American Circus in Sarasota, Florida. The shows were used as fund raising ventures for non profit organizations in 27 states east of the Mississippi. After that, Laverne and her husband traveled the East Coast as a First Person Living History Interpreter and Historical Costumer.
Since the Tornow's Living History travels have ceased, Laverne has delved wholeheartedly into volunteerism. She was the Membership Director and founding member of the Hernando High School Alumni Association, FLGenWeb Director of Operations, County Coordinator for seven counties, temporary coordinator for many more and Webmaster for several web sites just to name a few of her endeavors.
When asked why she does so much, Laverne cheerfully replies, "I am working in my small corner of the world to keep information of a genealogical and historical nature available and free to everyone. "
Adapted from a biography written by Amy Lyles for the Pinellas FLGenWeb site
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© 2009 Laverne Tornow | Original design by Andreas Viklund.