In 1995, Hamer was forced to take a leave from officiating when doctors discovered that he had a heart murmur.
[3] Further tests revealed that Hamer had stenosis and calcification of his aortic heart valve, and it would need to be replaced.
In July 1995, Dale received a pericardial tissue heart valve.
He returned to the head linesman position in 1998 and worked on the crews of Larry Nemmers and Bernie Kukar.
Hamer, who wore uniform number 104, was a past president of the National Football League Referees Association.