Martha Mueller Hannon

Martha Mueller Hannon A well known writer and publicist, Martha Hannon, died at Marin General Hospital on Saturday, July 5th, 2008. She was 92 and had lived in Mill Valley since 1958. Born in 1916 in El Paso, Texas, she graduated from El Paso High School and studied journalism at the College of the Mines in El Paso. At age 17, she was the first female reporter ever hired by the El Paso Times -- the morning daily newspaper. For three years she covered all facets of the newspaper business, including the police beat. In 1939, she moved to Los Angeles where she was publicity director for all thirteen USO clubs in the greater Los Angeles area, and was a staff member of MGM Studios' public relations department in the golden years of such stars as Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and Gary Cooper. As a free-lance writer for 60 years, Mrs. Hannon wrote articles for over 100 newspapers, news syndicates, and magazines in the U.S. and England. In the 1970s and 1980s, she also devoted her life to promoting local artists. She was publicity director for the Mill Valley Arts Guild, the Marin Arts Guild, the Art School in Belvedere, the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, and the Mill Valley Artisans, who, in 1995, presented her the Betsy Broman Achievement Award for her outstanding professional contributions to the Marin County arts community. On October 2, 2005, Mrs. Hannon received the Milley Award, the City of Mill Valley's highest honor, for 50 years of community service and professional writing achievement. She said, "It was the highlight of my life." Mrs. Hannon was married to Martin O'Neill, former senior editor of Time Inc., and later to Francis C. Hannon, a commercial artist with studios in San Francisco. She is survived by her two children: Christopher Hannon of San Jose and Chandler Hannon of Kentfield. The family plans a celebration of Mrs. Hannon's life in a few weeks. (For information, contact Tracy Gillespie, 415-461-6405.) Contributions may be made to the Marin County Humane Society.