Carl Thor Hanson

HANSON--Carl Thor, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret.), born in Amarillo, Texas May 7, 1928 and raised in Tucson, Arizona, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1950 and subsequently attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. His 36 year Naval Career included many assignments at sea, among them commands of a minesweeper, a destroyer, a Cruiser Destroyer Group and an Attack Carrier Battle Group. His senior shore assignments were as Naval Aide and Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Chief of Naval Mission to Brazil, Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Director Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On retirement from the Navy in 1982, he served as Military Analyst for Cable News Network prior to becoming President and CEO of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He served on several Boards of Directors including the National Association for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression, Research! America, AUSA Life Insurance Company, Tucson Boys Chorus and The Empire Ranch Foundation. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Century Association, the New York Yacht Club and the Orient Yacht Club. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat V, the Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Brazilian Navy Order of Merit. In 2004 Admiral Hanson moved to Arizona. He is survived by his wife Charlotte Edens Hanson and their five children, Inge Pierce-Jones of Cardiff, Wales, Erica Hanson of Los Angeles, CA, Lars Hanson of NYC, NY, Ivor Hanson of the Solomon Islands, Ursula Friedlander of Portland, ME. Donations can be made to Sarver Heart Center, University Medical Center 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724-5037.