HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of longtime Midland resident Bernold M.
1-2 "Bruno" Hanson on April 13, 2000, at the age of 71, has brought a
1-3 great loss to the family and friends of this highly esteemed
1-4 gentleman; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born on May 7, 1928, Mr. Hanson graduated from the
1-6 University of North Dakota with a bachelor of science degree in
1-7 engineering geology and earned a master of science degree in
1-8 geology from the University of Wyoming; he also served two years in
1-9 the United States Army as a topographer; and
1-10 WHEREAS, In 1951 Mr. Hanson moved to Midland to work for
1-11 Magnolia Petroleum Company and then Humble Oil & Refining; he
1-12 later created the Hanson Corporation, establishing himself as a
1-13 successful independent oil operator and prominent consulting
1-14 geologist; during this period he made several important field
1-15 discoveries in the Permian Basin, while his consulting work took
1-16 him to 18 foreign countries; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Over the course of his career Mr. Hanson authored 17
1-18 geological abstracts; he held virtually every office in the
1-19 American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), including that
1-20 of president, and maintained affiliations with numerous other
1-21 geological and petroleum organizations; and
1-22 WHEREAS, The many awards he received are emblematic of the
1-23 great contributions he made to the oil industry; these honors
1-24 included the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, the highest accolade a
2-1 petroleum geologist can receive, and the Distinguished Service
2-2 Award, both from the AAPG; the North Dakota Governor's Award for
2-3 National Leadership of Excellence; the Arthur Gray Leonard Award
2-4 from the University of North Dakota; Distinguished Alumnus awards
2-5 from both of his alma maters; and an honorary doctorate in geology
2-6 from the University of Wyoming; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Hanson was a lifelong conservationist, serving
2-8 as the first president of the AAPG's Division of Environmental
2-9 Geoscientists and the presenter of the Bruno Hanson/Midland College
2-10 Award for environmental excellence in the oil industry; his
2-11 expertise and environmental activism were further recognized by
2-12 Governor George W. Bush, who appointed him to the Texas Low-Level
2-13 Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority; and
2-14 WHEREAS, In addition to his professional contributions, this
2-15 accomplished individual gave significant time and energy to
2-16 academic and civic undertakings in his community; geology students
2-17 at Midland College benefited from his efforts as chairman of the
2-18 school's Petroleum Tech Advisory Council and from the help he
2-19 rendered in obtaining various grants for the geoscience computer
2-20 program; and
2-21 WHEREAS, He was also an ardent supporter of the Boy Scouts of
2-22 America; a Distinguished Eagle Scout, Mr. Hanson received the
2-23 Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards and served as Buffalo
2-24 Trail Council president, national camping chairman, and regional
2-25 vice president, as well as co-author of the 1979 edition of The Boy
2-26 Scout Handbook; and
2-27 WHEREAS, Mr. Hanson will long be remembered for his many
3-1 contributions to the oil industry, his community, and the State of
3-2 Texas, and his spirit will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of the
3-3 many people whose lives he so deeply touched; now, therefore, be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-5 hereby pay tribute to the life of Bernold M. "Bruno" Hanson and
3-6 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
3-7 Marilyn M. Hanson; to his son, Eric K. Hanson; to his daughters,
3-8 Karen E. Hanson Flowers and Gretchen H. Bakke; to his eight
3-9 grandchildren; to his sister, Marcella Melsted; and to his many
3-10 other relatives and friends; and, be it further
3-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-12 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-13 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
3-14 memory of Bernold M. "Bruno" Hanson.
Craddick
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 45 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 5, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 45 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the Senate on May 7, 2001.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor