Jack Hawker worked in the oil refinery business in Los Angeles County. Prior to that, as a young man, he had performed with a band as a drummer at clubs throughout the Southwest. He had many stories of jamming with Ray Charles and other famous musicians at clubs. He told friends that he was very disappointed as a youth that after being drafted he was deemed unfit due to a slight spinal abnormality. After moving up to Paso Robles, California, he was partners in a local service station. He then operated his own vehicle detailing business at a car wash on 21st Street, Paso Robles, just up the street from the fairgrounds. For a while, he lived near Lake Nacimiento, where he loved to ride his horse. He later moved to a self-service car wash at 9th and Spring Streets where he continued his detailing business for many more years. He was well-known and much respected locally for the diligence and attention to detail in his work. He worked hard, married twice, and had a son. He finally retired in his late 60s, and enjoyed sitting on his patio by the pool with a cold Corona and a bit of Jose Cuervo. He loved cars, riding his horse, going out to swing dance with the ladies at the Paso Robles Inn, and entertaining friends at his home. He would regale friends with stories of his times in Las Vegas, cruising the Caribbean, Clint Eastwood introducing himself and buying him a drink at A.J. Spurs saloon, and many other stories. He was especially proud of his vintage BMW. He helped some years with preparation of the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for lone or needy members of the community at Centennial Park. He was known for his St. Patrick's Day dinners of corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes that he would prepare for friends and neighbors. Said to be the best Irish dinner outside of Dublin, it was based on a recipe handed down from his beloved mother. He lived his later years in Dry Creek Apartments in Paso Robles. He was very proud of his Scotch-Irish heritage (his forebears, McGillivrays, had immigrated to the U.S. from Canada). He passed away peacefully at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton at age 70 after a brief bout with cancer. He was a gregarious, giving and caring person, and left many friends in the Los Angeles, Paso Robles and Atascadero areas.
Jack Hawker worked in the oil refinery business in Los Angeles County. Prior to that, as a young man, he had performed with a band as a drummer at clubs throughout the Southwest. He had many stories of jamming with Ray Charles and other famous musicians at clubs. He told friends that he was very disappointed as a youth that after being drafted he was deemed unfit due to a slight spinal abnormality. After moving up to Paso Robles, California, he was partners in a local service station. He then operated his own vehicle detailing business at a car wash on 21st Street, Paso Robles, just up the street from the fairgrounds. For a while, he lived near Lake Nacimiento, where he loved to ride his horse. He later moved to a self-service car wash at 9th and Spring Streets where he continued his detailing business for many more years. He was well-known and much respected locally for the diligence and attention to detail in his work. He worked hard, married twice, and had a son. He finally retired in his late 60s, and enjoyed sitting on his patio by the pool with a cold Corona and a bit of Jose Cuervo. He loved cars, riding his horse, going out to swing dance with the ladies at the Paso Robles Inn, and entertaining friends at his home. He would regale friends with stories of his times in Las Vegas, cruising the Caribbean, Clint Eastwood introducing himself and buying him a drink at A.J. Spurs saloon, and many other stories. He was especially proud of his vintage BMW. He helped some years with preparation of the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for lone or needy members of the community at Centennial Park. He was known for his St. Patrick's Day dinners of corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes that he would prepare for friends and neighbors. Said to be the best Irish dinner outside of Dublin, it was based on a recipe handed down from his beloved mother. He lived his later years in Dry Creek Apartments in Paso Robles. He was very proud of his Scotch-Irish heritage (his forebears, McGillivrays, had immigrated to the U.S. from Canada). He passed away peacefully at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton at age 70 after a brief bout with cancer. He was a gregarious, giving and caring person, and left many friends in the Los Angeles, Paso Robles and Atascadero areas.
