Don Hanna

Don Hanna
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 40th district
In office
January 4, 1949 – January 2, 1951
Preceded byJoe Leedom
Succeeded byJay Cole
In office
January 7, 1941 – January 7, 1947
Preceded byGeorge Gross
Succeeded byJoe Leedom
Personal details
Born(1887-03-03)March 3, 1887
Blaine County, Nebraska
DiedFebruary 10, 1954(1954-02-10) (aged 66)
Lincoln, Nebraska
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Wynona Severance
​
(m. 1911)​
Children3 (including Don Jr.)
OccupationCattle rancher

Don E. Hanna Sr. (March 3, 1887 – February 10, 1954) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 40th district from 1941 to 1947 and again from 1949 to 1951.

Early life

Hanna was born in Blaine County, Nebraska, in 1887, and grew up in Cherry County,[1] graduating from Mullen High School.[2] He operated a ranch with his father beginning in 1908, and started his own ranch in 1915,[2] and worked a bronc rider.[3]

In 1930, Hanna ran for the Cherry County Commission from the 2nd district.[4] He won the Republican primary unopposed, and faced incumbent Democratic Commissioner F. L. Boyer in the general election.[5] Hanna defeated Boyer by a wide margin.[6] He ran for re-election in 1934,[7] and defeated J. M. McIntosh in the Republican primary. In the general election, he faced a rematch with Boyer,[8] and ultimately won re-election.[9] Hanna declined to seek re-election in 1938.[10]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1940, State Senator George Gross declined to seek re-election to a second term,[11] and Hanna ran to succeed him in the 40th district, which included Brown, Cherry, and Sheridan counties.[12] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former State Representative H. C. Sorensen, former State Senator Allen Strong, and druggist George Strelow.[13][14][15] Hanna narrowly placed first in the primary, winning 33 percent of the vote to Strong's 31 percent, Strelow's 21 percent, and Sorensen's 15 percent.[16] Hanna and Strong advanced to the general election.[17] However, several weeks prior to the election, Strong dropped out of the race, citing "circumstances that have arisen since the Primary" that would make it impossible for him to serve.[18] Strong's name remained on the ballot, and Hanna won the election in a landslide, receiving 66 percent of the vote.[16]

Hanna was re-elected without opposition in 1942[19] and 1944.[20] In 1946, Hanna declined to seek re-election, observing, "It is my belief that officials, both state and national, who seek to perpetuate themselves in office are the greatest menace to democracy[.]"[21] He was succeeded by Joe Leedom.[22]

In 1948, after he retired from managing his ranch, Hanna filed to run for the legislature again.[23] Hanna was originally set to face Leedom, as well as rancher Thomas Quinn, in the nonpartisan primary,[24] but prior to the primary, Leedom announced his "complete withdrawal from politics" and dropped out of the race.[25] Hanna placed first in the primary over Quinn by a large margin, winning 60 percent of the vote to Quinn's 40 percent.[26] In the general election, Hanna defeated Quinn by a narrow margin, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Quinn's 49 percent.[26] Prior to tabulating mail ballots, Hanna led Quinn by 113 votes, and Quinn indicated that he would contest the election if Hanna's lead was reduced.[27] Hanna ultimately won over Quinn by 191 votes, and Quinn did not contest the result.[28] Hanna did not seek re-election in 1950.

Post-legislative career

In 1953, Hanna was appointed to the Nebraska Highway Commission by Governor Robert B. Crosby.[29]

Death

Hanna died on February 10, 1954, in Lincoln, Nebraska, while attending a meeting of the Nebraska Highway Commission.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Nebraska Blue Book 1950 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1951. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Don Hanna Dies At 67". Lincoln Star. February 11, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Beel, Marianne (January 2, 1997). "Historic Hannas are a truly grand family". North Platte Telegraph. p. 4. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Don Hanna Files". The Republican. Valentine, Nebraska. March 28, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Close Races for Most County Offices". Cherry County News. Valentine, Nebraska. August 14, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Electors Decree New Faces to Be in Court House". Cherry County News. Valentine, Nebraska. November 6, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Hanna Files for Re-Election". Cherry County News. Valentine, Nebraska. May 31, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "No Speculation Regarding County Candidates". Cherry County News. Valentine, Nebraska. August 16, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Winners In Cherry County". Hooker County Tribune. Mullen, Nebraska. November 15, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Just Two More Primary Filings". The Republican. Valentine, Nebraska. April 8, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "George Gross Does Not Choose To Run". Gordon Journal. February 22, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Don E. Hanna Seeks Legislative Office". Lincoln Star. February 8, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Four Candidates File". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. January 9, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Allen Strong to File for the Legislature". Hay Springs News. February 8, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Strelow Files for Legislature". Brown County Democrat. Ainsworth, Nebraska. March 1, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 Swanson, Harry R. (1940). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, Held April 9, 1940, General Election, Held November 5, 1940 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Strong, Hanna Win In District 40". Hay Springs News. April 11, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Allen A. Strong Quits Senate Race". Hay Springs News. October 24, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "24 Legislators Re-Elected". Lincoln Star. November 6, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Results in 43 unicameral races". Lincoln Evening State Journal. November 6, 1942. p. 3. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Hanna will not seek re-election". Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. January 22, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Legislative Faces Change". Sunday World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. November 10, 1946. p. 16A. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Stockman at Valentine Files for Unicameral". Scottsbluff Daily Star-Herald. January 25, 1948. p. 10. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Hyannis Rancher Files". Lincoln Evening Journal. January 23, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Joe Leedom Quits Politics". Morning World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. February 25, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. 1 2 Marsh, Frank (1948). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, April 13, 1948, General Election, November 2, 1948 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Unicameral Vote May Be Contested". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 11, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Hanna Wins Over Quinn". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 13, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ Thomas, Clarke (October 13, 1953). "Highway Group Is Named". Lincoln Evening Journal. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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