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Hanna was born in Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, to Andrew and Elizabeth Hanna. An [[Eagle Scout]] in his youth, Hanna became a lifelong advocate of the [[Boy Scouts]] and received the group's Silver Beaver Award. In 1951, he graduated from Winnsboro High School, since Franklin Parish High School. He then entered [[Louisiana State University]] at [[Baton Rouge]] on a band scholarship, having excelled at the trumpet, which he played in the LSU marching band. He sold advertising and served as the sports editor of the college newspaper, ''The Daily Reveille.'' He received his bachelor's degree in 1955.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url= http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2006/mar/04/obituaries-for-jan-18-2006/|title=Obituary of Sam A. Hanna|publisher=natchezdemocrat.com |accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>​

Hanna was born in Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, to Andrew and Elizabeth Hanna. An [[Eagle Scout]] in his youth, Hanna became a lifelong advocate of the [[Boy Scouts]] and received the group's Silver Beaver Award. In 1951, he graduated from Winnsboro High School, since Franklin Parish High School. He then entered [[Louisiana State University]] at [[Baton Rouge]] on a band scholarship, having excelled at the trumpet, which he played in the LSU marching band. He sold advertising and served as the sports editor of the college newspaper, ''The Daily Reveille.'' He received his bachelor's degree in 1955.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url= http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2006/mar/04/obituaries-for-jan-18-2006/|title=Obituary of Sam A. Hanna|publisher=natchezdemocrat.com |accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>​

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Hanna launched his working career as a reporter at the ''Bastrop Daily Enterprise'' in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish, north of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=lsu>"LSU Loses Two Hall of Fame Members," 2006, lsu.edu​.</ref> In 1956, hired by managing editor [[Bert Hatten]], later the [[mayor]] of West Monroe, Hanna became the outdoors writer for the Monroe newspapers, now consolidated as the ''The Monroe News Star'' then owned by the John D. Ewing family and since a Gannett publication. He soon became the ''News-Star'' political editor, through which capacity he covered the [[Louisiana State Legislature]] and school [[Racial segregation in the United States|desegregation]].<ref name=lsu/>​

Hanna launched his working career as a reporter at the ''Bastrop Daily Enterprise'' in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish, north of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=lsu>"LSU Loses Two Hall of Fame Members," 2006, lsu.edu​.</ref> In 1956, hired by managing editor [[Bert Hatten]], later the [[mayor]] of West Monroe, Hanna became the outdoors writer for the Monroe newspapers, now consolidated as the ''The Monroe News Star'' then owned by the John D. Ewing family and since a Gannett publication. He soon became the ''News-Star'' political editor, through which capacity he covered the state legislature and school [[Segregation|desegregation]].<ref name=lsu/>​

==Newspaper career==

==Newspaper career==

Hanna was also a columnist, whose ''One Man’s Opinion'' appeared in numerous newspapers across the state.<ref name=obit/> He was on friendly terms with virtually all Louisiana governors beginning with [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], whose last term extended from 1956 to 1960. He appeared in numerous documentaries, particularly on the Public Broadcasting Service, and was considered an expert on the [[Huey Long|Long]] faction of the dominant [[Democratic Party]].<ref name=obit/> Among Hanna’s most acclaimed columns were among his last ones in 2005: (1) a study of Elliot D. Coleman, the [[sheriff]] of Tensas Parish from 1936 to 1960,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/tensas/court/elec0001.txt|title= Public Elected Officials, Tensas Parish, Louisiana|publisher=usgwarchives.org|accessdate=December 30, 2009}}</ref> and a state police bodyguard present at the assassination of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]] and (2) another on the premature death from the after effects of a household fall of Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005), which tells of Hanna's friendship with McKeithen’s father, [[John J. McKeithen]], the governor from 1964 to 1972 and a native of nearby Columbia in Caldwell Parish in northeast Louisiana.<ref name=lpa>{{cite web|url= http://www.ouachitacitizen.com/news.php?id=73|title=Press Association honors the late Sam Hanna, Sr.|date=May 18, 2006|publisher=ouachitacitizen.com|accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>

Hanna was also a columnist, whose ''One Man’s Opinion'' appeared in numerous weekly newspapers across the state.<ref name=obit/> He was on friendly terms with virtually all Louisiana governors beginning with [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], whose last term extended from 1956 to 1960. He appeared in numerous documentaries, particularly on the Public Broadcasting Service, and was considered an expert on the [[Huey Long|Long]] faction of the dominant [[Democratic Party]].<ref name=obit/> Among Hanna’s most acclaimed columns were among his last ones in 2005: (1) a study of Elliot D. Coleman, the [[sheriff]] of Tensas Parish from 1936 to 1960,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/tensas/court/elec0001.txt|title= Public Elected Officials, Tensas Parish, Louisiana|publisher=usgwarchives.org|accessdate=December 30, 2009}}</ref> and a state police bodyguard present at the assassination of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]] and (2) another on the premature death from the after effects of a household fall of Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005), which tells of Hanna's friendship with McKeithen’s father, [[John J. McKeithen]], the governor from 1964 to 1972 and a native of nearby Columbia in Caldwell Parish in northeast Louisiana.<ref name=lpa>{{cite web|url= http://www.ouachitacitizen.com/news.php?id=73|title=Press Association honors the late Sam Hanna, Sr.|date=May 18, 2006|publisher=ouachitacitizen.com|accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>

In 1965, at the age of thirty-two, Hanna purchased his first newspaper, ''The Concordia Sentinel.'' He also owned tfrom 1967 to 1988 the ''Jonesville News-Booster'' in Jonesville in Catahoula Parish. In 1974, he bought the Winnsboro paper. In 1996, he and his son, Sam Hanna, Jr. (born 1969),​

In 1965, at the age of thirty-two, Hanna purchased his first newspaper, ''The Concordia Sentinel.'' He also owned tfrom 1967 to 1988 the ''Jonesville News-Booster'' in Jonesville in Catahoula Parish. In 1974, he bought the Winnsboro paper. In 1996, he and his son, Sam Hanna, Jr. (born 1969),​