A GREAT man has passed on...

[Rick Myers]

My very dear friend, Don L. Hanni, Jr. passed away today at the age of 82. I last saw The Don in the Cleveland Clinic just days after my father passed away in mid-May.

You might not know the name, but The BullMoose was a defense lawyer, a judge, and Democratic Party Chair in Youngstown, Ohio for 26 years...

He drank shots with Harry Truman in the Ohio Hotel bar.

He rode down Federal Street in a convertible if John F. Kennedy.

He was a good friend of mine...

At 82, only a few months ago, he was calling me at 1am, "Myers... We need to buy a radio station... And you're gonna run it."

He suffered a stroke. I did get to see him and he smiled...

Please, watch the video at this link, it's a TV station I worked at years ago, and they have a GREAT tribute to my Patron, Don Hanni.

BTW: In the story they show a car Mr. Hanni drove into a Post Office. That VERY car will be right behind the hearse at the funeral, driven by his son, my old talk radio comrade, Don Hanni III.




http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/25521214.html


Godspeed my good friend...

[Captain Hilts]

1. Way to live, Don!

Isn't Youngstown Tim Hagen country?

[Rick Myers]

7. Bob Hagen... Tim is in Cleveland area

[Captain Hilts]

10. No matter where, Don sounds like a cool guy.

My sympathy for your loss.

All Hail Don!

[Olney Blue]

2. I'm sorry for your and our loss, Rick.

[NMDemDist2]

3. that's the hell of getting old, all your heroes die, one by one.

we need some new heroes but the horizon looks pretty bare....

[samplegirl]

4. Good Post

Don Hanni will be missed. He was a good leader. I am a local.

[Rick Myers]

6. In the video where they talk to Judge Krtichbaum...

That is the parking lot of the Acme Club, where the BullMoose held 'court' every Wednesday at noon. Judges, cops, bookies, it was something to look forward to every week.

They serve ONLY spagetti, 2 meatballs, salad, bread and butter and HOT PEPPERS. And the wine...

Compobasso. Made locally, it was just a gallon jug of homemade red wine at about 20%!!!

The stories I can tell about this man.... They don't make people like this anymore...

[madmax]

5. Sorry for your loss

You sound like a very good friend and the same for Mr. Hanni.

[pagandem4justice]

8. OMG

I only clicked on this thread because I was curious from the title. But I gasped when I saw the name of Don Hanni. I grew up in the Youngstown area (Girard, specifically), and my dad worked first for a private contracting landscape company that revamped all of downtown Y-Town in the 70s, then for YSU in the late 70s to the mid 80s when he moved to FL (long story). But he always had nothing but kind word for Don Hanni, and I seem to recall though it was long ago, that they had a personal friendship of some sort. Too bad Dad's not around any more to fill me in.

Condolences to the family. He will be missed. :(

(And Rick Myers, I think your name is familiar to me too!)

[Rick Myers]

11. I did alot of radio on Youngstown over the years

All the way back to WHOT in 1975. But, talk radio in 2000 and 2004.

Mr. Hanni was loved and hated, but always respected. I once told him I count my fingers every time I shake hands with him...

But he shared his cabin at Lake Chautauqua with me when I needed a quick respite from my parent's medical care... Allowed me to stay overnight and get in some jet-ski time, then back to care for my ailing parents...

One of the things Don and I discussed was 'telling his story,' but at first he was aloof, fearing if he did a bio, well, he might... But more recently he'd begun to tell me stories and share photos. He suggested any book or documentary be called "M*****F*****S I've Known!"

[pagandem4justice]

14. Write that book!

Your personal memories of Mr. Hanni are a legitimate part of local history. Even if it doesn't get "professionally" (i.e., commercially) published, it's valuable to historians. I recently led my 6th grade G.T. History class (I'm in TX now) in a local history project, and our primary source was a 350+ page book that a local amateur historian had written and posted online as a pdf. Damn good information and anecdotes. It's NOT a waste of your time, or disrespectful in any way.

As for personal connections, I left the Mahoning Valley for the Rio Grande Valley in 1991, but one of my classmates' father worked at WHOT (last name Boyd) in those years. I also have fond memories of listening to "A.C. in the Morning" in my high school years. And in a corollary note, I dated a DJ from a "rival" station waaay back then (stone age, lol!)...so great to "meet" you here on DU!!

And as a "P.P.S.," I LOVE Mr. Hanni's title! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[1Hippiechick]

9. "I don't have a modest bone in my body." Great line, and very telling - sounded genuine. Sorry

for your loss. :cry:

[Rick Myers]

12. The Bull Moose was the kindest B****** you'd ever meet...

He is the model of a true DEMOCRAT.

[Straight Shooter]

13. He sounds like the kind of guy who would be the main character in a legal thriller.

Very colorful and yet a man of definite integrity, "not scared to try any case."

We should all be so blessed as to have such a friend. :hug:

[Maestro]

15. My condolences to you and his family

He will be sorely missed but he certainly led a full life.

[JNelson6563]

16. These dear old souls are so precious

I try my best to fully appreciate them while they are here. May everyone who reads your inspirational OP be reminded to do so as it's evident you did with Don. We're always all the richer for having known them.

Hugs and encouragement to you as you mourn the (world's) loss of this dear soul. :hug:

Julie

[EbenezerMcIntosh]

17. I wish we had more people like that great man around today.

!

[WCGreen]

18. Legendary figure in the rough andtumble Muhoning Valley...

[DFW]

19. He sounds like he was a very special guy

My grandfather used to bemoan the isolation of getting old.

I used to call him and ask if he was free for me to come visit him
on a certain day, and he would answer, "of course, I'm free. Everyone
else is dead!" Of course, he was 101 years old when he said that.

I know four very special people who are 80 or older, and each of them is
still very active (health permitting) in their fields. Like your late
friend, I think it is a key to maintaining health and sanity when you
reach that age--IF you reach that age. Neither of my parents did, so my
chances aren't too good.