Samuel Frank Hanson

Sam Hanson was my grandfather and a great influence on my life. He introduced me to the typewriter and his regular gifts of Hardy Boys mysteries created my love of reading. I was born in San Jose and my mother and I spent my first months of life with Grandpa Sam and Grandma Bobbie in Los Gatos. I miss them both dearly.

My mother, Gretchen Ray, worked with Sam at the San Jose Mercury News. My mom liked and respected Sam so well that when my son, Adam, was born in 1972 she asked me if she could choose his middle name. She chose Samuel, in honor of Samuel Hanson, her dear friend. Sam was so proud. He went right out and bought my son a teddy bear. Sam was a good man. We are better for having known him.

It's interesting to see this internet guestbook site since Dad quit the Merc before he had to learn to use the computer. He never did like modern technology.

I am happy that Dad encouraged me to learn to type so that by my junior year in highschool I could compose a news story on a machine. I thank my Dad for pushing me toward writing, even though I haven't done what he thought I would with it.
He was more proud of my PhD than I ever was and I'm glad, for him, that I got...