Mike Hessel

Mike Hessel grew up in Eugene, Oregon, the son of a doctor and attended Menlo High School. He later attended the University of Oregon, UC Berkeley, and graduated from Oregon State University. At the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, Hessel, along with Olympic teammates Bill Marolt and George Farmer, were arrested for fighting with police after they allegedly stole a car, although they were later acquitted. Although at one time Hessel wanted to join the diplomatic service, he eventually became a commercial fisherman, and in his retirement, a melon farmer.