Changes

[[Louisiana State University]]​}}​

[[Louisiana State University]]​}}​

​

​

'''William Thomas Hanna, Jr.,''' known as '''Bill Hanna, Jr.''' (September 26, 1930 – December 17, 2016), was a [[Ford]] Motor Company] [[automobile]] dealer who served a single term from 1978 to 1982 as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], the first under the current mayor-council form of government.​

'''William Thomas Hanna, Jr.,''' known as '''Bill Hanna, Jr.''' (September 26, 1930 – December 17, 2016), was a [[Ford]] Motor Company [[automobile]] dealer who served a single term from 1978 to 1982 as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], the first under the current mayor-council form of government.​

==Background==

==Background==

==Public career==

==Public career==

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.

Hanna won the mayoral election by defeating in a runoff contest his fellow 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/>​