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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Mark James Hanna of Austin on May 23, 2025, at the age of |
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77; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New |
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Mexico, on September 24, 1947, Mark Hanna was the son of Colonel |
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Keith C. Hanna and Bettye Bennett Hanna; he grew up with a sister, |
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Jill, and lived in a number of states before his father's career |
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brought the family to Austin; after graduating from Austin High |
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School, where he formed many lasting friendships, he earned his |
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bachelor's and law degrees from The University of Texas at Austin; |
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answering his nation's call to duty, he served as an airborne combat |
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medic in the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hanna focused his distinguished legal career on |
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public policy; he advocated fiercely and successfully for |
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legislation that advanced such fields as real estate, dentistry, |
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surveying, speech therapy, and audiology, benefiting his clients |
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and their patients alike; for nearly three decades, he represented |
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the Texas Nurses Association, furthering their goals of reducing |
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the nursing shortage and improving practice conditions while |
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helping establish a legal framework on which the Legislature |
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continues to build; a zealous advocate and true statesman, he made |
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friends on both sides of the aisle; he avoided controversy whenever |
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possible, choosing to negotiate a win-win solution for all; always |
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impeccably attired with every hair in place as he roamed the Capitol |
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halls and committee meetings, he was renowned for his warm smile and |
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his calm and professional demeanor that was flavored with a dash of |
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humor and subtle sarcasm; he was always viewed with the highest |
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respect by the individuals he worked with and the organizations he |
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represented; in turn, he loved the camaraderie that brought worthy |
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adversaries together after long days and nights of legislative |
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work, and he relished his memories of boisterous sine die |
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celebrations; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1980, Mr. Hanna married the former Deborah |
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Shelton, and they became the parents of a son, Mark Hanna Jr.; he |
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was also the father of Todd and Trent Hanna, and he eventually knew |
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the joy of welcoming a granddaughter, Catherine, into his treasured |
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family; an Eagle Scout and avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed horseback |
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riding, hiking, boating, fishing, duck hunting, and most of all, |
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working his beloved yellow British labs, Ace, Jock, and Rip, at |
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Aransas Bay; he drove a ski boat skillfully, to the delight of the |
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numerous children he pulled on boards, tubes, and skis, up and down |
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Lake Austin; a loyal Longhorn, he was an especially ardent fan of |
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the football team; and |
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WHEREAS, Thoughtful, kind, and gentlemanly, Mark Hanna |
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brightened the world for innumerable people, and they will forever |
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hold him close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mark James Hanna and |
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extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Debbie Hanna; to his sons, Mark Hanna Jr., Todd Hanna, and |
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Trent Hanna; to his granddaughter, Catherine Quail Hanna; to his |
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niece, Sommer Pruitt; to his close friend and legal assistant of 38 |
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years, Denese Mosley; and to his many other relatives and host of |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mark Hanna. |