Changes

In 1977, Hanna was named "Automobile Dealer of the Year" by the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, of which he once was the president.<ref name=fullobit/> The company was well known for the popular sales slogan, "You Can Afford a Hanna Ford," which was intended to attract moderate-income buyers.<ref name=fullobit>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=william-thomas-hanna-jr&pid=183143757|title=William Thomas Hanna, Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name=findagrave/> Hanna Ford, however, no longer exists.

In 1977, Hanna was named "Automobile Dealer of the Year" by the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, of which he once was the president.<ref name=fullobit/> The company was well known for the popular sales slogan, "You Can Afford a Hanna Ford," which was intended to attract moderate-income buyers.<ref name=fullobit>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=william-thomas-hanna-jr&pid=183143757|title=William Thomas Hanna, Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name=findagrave/> Hanna Ford, however, no longer exists.

==Public career==​

==Public career==

Hanna won the mayoral election by defeating his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Donald Edgar Hathaway, the outgoing municipal public works commissioner. Two years after the mayoral race,  Hathaway was elected to what became a twenty-year tenure as the [[sheriff]] of Caddo Parish.<ref name=findagrave/> Hanna was the first Shreveport mayor since George Washington Hardy, Jr.  (1900-1967), who had not served in a prior public office at the time of his election. Hardy, at thirty-two, was mayor for a single two-year term from 1932 to 1934. Some questioned Hanna's  enthusiasm for "politics." Such an attitude made it appear that he did not like being mayor because he did not seek a second term in 1982.

Hanna won the mayoral election by defeating in a runoff contest his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Donald Edgar Hathaway, the outgoing municipal public works commissioner. Two years after the mayoral race,  Hathaway was elected to what became a twenty-year tenure as the [[sheriff]] of Caddo Parish.<ref name=findagrave/> Another in the race for mayor in 1978 was the Republican outgoing public utilities commissioner, [[Billy Guin]], who polled few votes in the election.. Hanna was the first Shreveport mayor since George Washington Hardy, Jr.  (1900-1967), who had not served in a prior public office at the time of his election. Hardy, at thirty-two, was mayor for a single two-year term from 1932 to 1934. Some questioned Hanna's  enthusiasm for "politics." Such an attitude made it appear that he did not like being mayor because he did not seek a second term in 1982.

Mayor Hanna promoted the decision to construct Interstate 49 through northwestern Louisiana.  [[General Motors]] located a plant in Shreveport while Hanna was mayor, but the facility since closed. The stadium at the  Louisiana State Fair Grounds, became the renovated Independence Stadium, at which numerous [[football]] teams occasionally played their games.<ref name=fullobit/> Some two weeks after becoming mayor, Hanna presented [[actor]] [[John Wayne]], then in the last year of his life, the second annual "Spirit of Independence" Award at the annual Independence Bowl.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' December 14, 1978.</ref> <ref name=findagrave/>​

Mayor Hanna promoted the decision to construct Interstate 49 through northwestern Louisiana.  [[General Motors]] located a plant in Shreveport while Hanna was mayor, but the facility since closed. The stadium at the  Louisiana State Fair Grounds, became the renovated Independence Stadium, at which numerous [[football]] teams occasionally played their games.<ref name=fullobit/> Some two weeks after becoming mayor, Hanna presented [[actor]] [[John Wayne]], then in the last year of his life, the second annual "Spirit of Independence" Award at the annual Independence Bowl.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' December 14, 1978.</ref> <ref name=findagrave/>​