[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING JAMES AND JOANNE HANSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2002

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor James and Joanne Hanson for their many years of devotion to each 
other as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They were 
married the same year that they met each other, in 1951, and have lived 
a wonderful and very fruitful life together.
  James and Joanne met while both working at Ryan Aeronautical in San 
Diego, California. James was a test pilot and Joanne was a draftswoman. 
During the Korean War, James returned to the Navy as a flight 
instructor in Florida and then relocated to St. Louis, Missouri to take 
a job working for McDonnell Aircraft. This gave the Hanson family the 
difficult task of trying to start and raise a family while being moved 
between California and Missouri several times. As a result of the 
moves, Joanne attended many different schools focusing her studies in a 
number of different areas.
  Joanne opted against her potential career in journalism to pursue her 
passion for art. Painting and drawing proved to be very fulfilling for 
Joanne. She also stayed very involved in the lives of the their three 
daughters: Kate, Christine, and Carrie. Following James' retirement, 
the loving couple was able to spend more time pursuing mutual goals and 
hobbies. Together, they became substitute teachers and raced their 
Arabian horses, eventually breeding and raising other Arabian horses.
  The late 1980's and 1990's sparked civic involvement for the Hanson 
family. Joanne was elected as the Committee Woman for her county's 
Republican Party in Missouri, and later ran for State Representative. 
Upon moving to Chimney Rock, Colorado, James, along with his friend 
Wayne Bergman, founded the OPHOP organization. OPHOP, ``Old People 
Helping Old People,'' provides services for elderly members of the 
community. More recently, James and Joanne have aided in state and 
local political campaigns.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a wonderful privilege and honor to salute the 50th 
anniversary of James and Joanne Hanson and recognize the exceptional 
life they have led together. It is with excitement and admiration that 
I wish them many more great years of happiness.

                          ____________________