SLS 171ES-28 ORIGINAL
2017 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 9
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences on the passing of Shreveport businessman,
William "Billy" Thomas Hanna Jr.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 passing of businessman and former mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, the Honorable
4 William "Billy" Thomas Hanna Jr.
5 WHEREAS, it is with great remorse that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
6 the death of William T. Hanna Jr. on December 17, 2016, at the age of eighty-six; and
7 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna was a true southern gentleman, a vibrant man of many
8 talents, an exceptional businessman, and an outstanding public servant who envisioned lofty
9 economic advancements for the city of Shreveport and region of Northwest Louisiana that
10 came to fruition during his lifetime; and
11 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna was a gracious servant of the community who expressed
12 gratitude for his good fortune by his participation in all manner of civic issues and social
13 activities; and
14 WHEREAS, born in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 26, 1930, to parents
15 William Thomas Hanna Sr. and Irma Belle Adams; his family moved to Shreveport when
16 Billy was an infant and he grew into the All-American boy; he excelled in sports and
17 academics; and
18 WHEREAS, as a stellar athlete at C. E. Byrd High School, he was an outstanding
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1 athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and softball; after graduation, he played collegiate
2 baseball for four years at Louisiana State University; a three-year letterman from 1949
3 through 1951, he scored the most runs and made the most hits of the season during his senior
4 year; and
5 WHEREAS, he considered a career in professional baseball and played the position
6 of shortstop in the minor leagues, however, that dream was interrupted by a call to military
7 duty in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict; and
8 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna began his business career in automobile sales in 1953 when
9 he returned home from military service to join his father at the family dealership of
10 Andress-Hanna Lincoln-Mercury, later to evolve into Bill Hanna Ford; and
11 WHEREAS, his astute business acumen garnered recognition from his peers and
12 inclusion in many prestigious, professional associations, such as, the Shreveport-Bossier
13 New Car Dealers Association, Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, the Sales and
14 Marketing Association, and National Ford Dealer Council; and
15 WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies benefitted from his guidance and
16 leadership that included the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau,
17 Holiday in Dixie, the Ambassadors Club, the Shreveport Country Club, the Committee of
18 100-Shreveport, the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, the LSU Board of
19 Supervisors, the LSU Alumni Association, and the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation; and
20 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna was rewarded by the automobile industry with receipt of
21 numerous accolades that included Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award and Louisiana
22 Automobile Dealer of the Year; and
23 WHEREAS, Billy maintained his avid interest in athletics and the sports industry and
24 was essential in the formation of the University Club, the Shreveport Captains Baseball
25 Team, and the Shreveport Steamers franchise of the World Football League; and
26 WHEREAS, in 1977, Billy Hanna considered contributing more to the community
27 and ran a successful campaign for the office of mayor with the motto, "The Citizen Mayor -
28 The Choice for Change"; and
29 WHEREAS, during his single term from 1978 to 1982, an escalation of economic
30 development projects brought about the construction of the Expo Hall, continued I-49
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1 highway expansion to North Louisiana, and a General Motors facility; and
2 WHEREAS, in 1994, Bill Hanna joined parish government and served as its director
3 of buildings and grounds, and later as director of operations and assistant administrator; and
4 WHEREAS, he continued to further his public service in local government with the
5 appointment as administrator and Chief Executive Officer of Caddo Parish and remained in
6 that position until his retirement in 2006; and
7 WHEREAS, during his service as parish administrator, he was responsible for the
8 successful settlement of the boundary dispute between Caddo and Bossier parishes, which
9 affected revenue collections from riverboat gaming; and
10 WHEREAS, he also consolidated major governmental headquarters at Government
11 Plaza, established an emergency cell phone program for the elderly and handicapped, and
12 assisted in establishment of the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery; and
13 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna is survived by his wife, Marvelle, their four daughters,
14 Stephanie Chaffee, Shelley Prothro, Dorothy Kristin Hanna, and Cynthia Morgan Hanna;
15 two stepsons, Jeff and Greg Deyo; grandchildren, extended family, and many close friends;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, for eight decades, Billy Hanna left an indelible mark on Caddo Parish
18 and whether the economic times were "boom or bust," he readily performed his civic duty
19 whenever and wherever possible; and
20 WHEREAS, Billy was a generous man who possessed an abundance of interests and
21 skills; and
22 WHEREAS, Billy Hanna wore the mantle of public service proudly and willingly
23 while extending courtesy to all.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
25 express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of the Honorable William
26 "Billy" Thomas Hanna Jr., businessman, public servant, and former mayor of Shreveport,
27 Louisiana.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
29 acknowledge a lifetime of tremendous contributions that William Thomas Hanna Jr. made
30 to his community, state, and nation.
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1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
2 widow, Mrs. Marvelle W. Hanna.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 9 Original 2017 First Extraordinary Session Peacock
Expresses condolences upon the death of Shreveport businessman and former mayor, the
Honorable William "Billy" Hanna.
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