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LOCK HAVEN -- The Keystone Central Foundation Alumni & Friends Association is pleased to introduce each inductee into the 2024 Class of the Keystone Central Hall of Fame.
Inductees will be honored at a ceremony at Central Mountain High School on Tuesday, April 30, at 5:30 p.m. Tickets, congratulatory messages and ads can be purchased for the event program at www.kcfoundation.com or by calling 570-660-1306. The ceremony will also honor the Keystone Central Foundation's Friends of the Foundation Giving Society and key community partnerships.
Michael K. Hanna, Sr.
Lock Haven High School Class of 1971
Retired PA State Representative Michael K. Hanna, Sr. (Lock Haven High School Class of 1971) has always understood duty and service to Clinton County -- a trait he credits learning from his parents and grandparents who were always active in our community and church, setting a strong foundation of service for generations of the Hanna family. (Hanna ancestry in Clinton County can be traced to 1763).
Politics wasn't always in the cards for Hanna. He received his BA from Lock Haven University in 1977 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and then worked as an attorney and partner in Williamson, Coploff & Hanna and subsequently with the firm of Snowiss, Steinberg and Faulkner. He also worked as solicitor for Woodward Township and Beech Creek Borough. He credits his father's work as a Lock Haven City Councilman and helping with his predecessor, Russell Letterman's campaign, with inspiring him to enter politics. In 1990, Hanna won his first term to the PA State House of Representatives for the 76th district. He represented the district that included Clinton, parts of Centre, Clearfield and Lycoming counties for the next 28 years until his retirement in December 2018.
Although he was a democrat who repeatedly won re-election in a heavily republican district, Mike Hanna had a reputation for working across party lines and valuing bipartisanship among colleagues. This was especially true for those with shared interests in the areas he championed most -- such as education, natural resources, tourism and economics. He has always had the attitude in politics and in life that listening is important and everyone needs to work together to get things done. It's probably because of this philosophy that three pieces of legislation he is most proud of are the 2013 $2.3 billion Infrastructure and Transportation Bill, Dog Law and Food Safety Law -- all of which passed with a bipartisan majority.
During his time in Harrisburg, Hanna served four years as Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the PA State System of Higher Education Governing Board and as a member of the House Bipartisan Management Committee. He also served in the leadership role as the Minority Whip, which is the second highest position in the Democratic Caucus for the State House of Representatives.
Hanna has always worked to sponsor and support key legislation as well as local projects that improve the lives of people living in rural Pa. His campaigns focused heavily on economics and education. He worked tirelessly to bring quality jobs to the area with First Quality and is considered a strong advocate for education in his district which includes Lock Haven University and Penn State. He also understands the unique value our state forests and natural resources play in the area's tourism industry.
Hanna, his wife Susan, children and grandchildren still call Clinton County "Home." Representative Hanna is now retired, but is committed to keeping a pulse on the needs and interests of our local residents by actively participating with Holy Spirit Parish, the local Eagles Club and The Ave 209 Wednesday retirees coffee club.
Full tributes for all inductees can be found at kcfoundation.com. Others honored in the Class of 2024 include: Alison Bechdel, Martha Sykes, Dr. Sue Kodad-Rex and Judith Laubscher Sensenbrenner.