Don Hanna

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]

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.

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

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