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April 2011 Lawrence Oliver "Larry" Hansen March 3, 1920 ~ April 11, 2011 Larry Hansen, 91, died Monday, April 11, 2011 in Denton, Texas. His funeral services will be on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Lawrence "Larry" Oliver Hansen was the eldest child of five born to Fred and Mabel Hansen in Sheldon, IA on March 3, 1920. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle, always putting everyone else's needs before his own. He loved God, his church, his country, the State of Oklahoma, and the city of Stillwater and its citizens. Larry and his family moved to the State of Oklahoma in 1930 when he was 10 years of age. He graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City in 1937, and attended Draughons Business University in Oklahoma City in 1938. He married his wife, Dorothy, in 1939. They had two daughters, Darla Sue and Karen Kay. Larry was a WWII veteran having served in the United States Navy on board the USS Burleigh as a Yeoman, 2nd class from August 25, 1944 to April 3, 1946. He received the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one star [Okinawa invasion]. Larry and Dorothy first moved to Stillwater in August, 1947-1948. They left for a short time, but returned in 1949 to accept employment with the Veterans Agricultural Training Program. They have remained in Stillwater ever since. In 1969 he was selected by Governor Dewey Bartlett to become the director of a newly-formed State Comprehensive Area Manpower Planning System, a state coordinating responsibility required and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. In 1970 he became one of the founding directors of Oklahoma Vocational-Technical Foundation and served several years as its president and as vice-president. He retired in March, 1984, after 35 years of service as an administrator. The last 13 years he was an Assistant State Director for the development and operation of the area vo-tech schools and Manpower training centers. Larry devoted much of his life to the City of Stillwater. He served as City Commissioner from 1962-64 and 1983-88. He served as Mayor from 1964-1970; was a member of the City Planning Commission for 6 years; member of the Board of Directors, Stillwater Industrial Foundation, 9 years; vice chairman, 6 years. He served as a member of Stillwater Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years – 6 years as board member and serving on many committees as member and chairman. He has also held memberships with the American Legion, Stillwater Civic Club, Stillwater Jaycees, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and Stillwater Exchange Club. As mayor, Larry was active in the recruitment of Moore Business Forms and Swan Rubber Company in the mid-1960's, and in the hard-surfacing and development of Perkins Road to serve the industrial area. Other city accomplishments in which he was involved include: waste water treatment plant, original plant, and one addition; new central fire station, airport fire station, and West 19th Street fire station; water treatment plant addition in 1966, and a new water treatment plant in 1985 north of Stillwater to treat Kaw Reservoir water; airport remodeling and runway extensions; construction of Lake McMurtry to serve as both a flood control structure and auxiliary water supply; additional water storage capacity and larger distribution lines for efficient water delivery to businesses and residences; widening of Duck Street, Main Street, East Sixth Avenue, Hall of Fame Avenue, and an aggressive residential street paving program during his 13 years as mayor and commissioner; an urban renewal campaign that resulted in many major improvements in the older residential areas of Stillwater In 1968, with the urging of community leaders and physicians, the city commission voted to begin steps toward building a new hospital. The Stillwater Municipal Hospital Authority was established with Larry Hansen as its chairman – a position he held during the entire planning and construction period. After retirement, he and Dorothy were active volunteers with Stillwater Medical Center Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels program. Larry also served as chairman of the Grand River Dam Authority and was appointed to the Board by Governor Henry Bellmon in May 1987. He was a past member of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, an entity formed by 26 cities and towns of which Stillwater was one and was appointed by city commissioners. He was an original trustee of the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund, created by 24 cities and towns in 1966 to provide a retirement program to municipal and municipal hospital employees. He served as trustee from 1966 to 1970 and from 1986 to 1988. Larry was appointed to the board of Oklahoma Commission for Training Municipal Clerks, Treasurers and Finance officers in 1970, serving 15 years as chairman and vice chairman. In a special election in December 1991, Larry was elected State Representative of District No. 34 [Stillwater] to complete an unexpired term. He served in 1992, but did not seek re-election due to health and hearing problems that developed suddenly in early 1992. Over the years, Larry has received many awards and recognition: Stillwater Jaycees Spark Plug Award, 1956, was editor of the Stillwater Jaycee News in 1955-56 when it was judged the nation's best letterpress newspaper in its population classification; Altrusa Club's Golden Key to Service Award, 1967; presented a television set by a group of Stillwater citizens in recognition of community service, 1967; Stillwater Jaycees Outstanding Boss Award, 1969; Stillwater Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds Award, 1974; Silver Key Award, Oklahoma Vocational Association, 1978; designated Stillwater Mayor Emeritus by Mayor and City Commissioners and at the same time presented a framed "Tribute" by the Vo-Tech family, 1979; Oklahoma FFA VIP recognition for 25 years of support, 1984; inducted into Stillwater Hall of Fame, March 1993; in addition to other miscellaneous certificates of appreciation and recognition. Larry was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Nova C. Vaughan, tree younger brothers and one younger sister. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Karen Kay Vaughan; daughter and son-in-law, Darla Sue and Tom J. Holland; five grandchildren: Debbie Whatley, Jenny Rose, Barry Brisco, Tracy McFadden, and Thomas Holland; and nine great-grandchildren. |
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