Homer Lee Hanna

A well-known South Texas pioneer and educator, Homer Lee Hanna, Sr., passed away on December 8, 2004 at his home in Calallen, Texas.Mr. Hanna is survived by his wife of 71 years, Isabel Cowan Hanna; and two children, Jo Ann Stovall and her husband, William M. "Bud" Stovall of Calallen, and his son, Homer Lee Hanna, Jr. and his wife Marilyn of Beeville. Surviving siblings include two sisters, Aileene Brittain and her husband, Jim, of Brownsville, Texas, Billie Wills of Florida; sisters-in-law, Katy Cowan of Brownsville, and Ruby Nell Hanna of Kentucky; grandchildren include, Shannon Cantu and her husband, Rick, Sara Stovall, Will Stovall and his wife, Teri, Melinda Wheat and her husband, John, Christi Haag, and her husband, Jerry, Ben Hanna, and his wife, Meredith; great grandchildren include, Curtis Miller and his wife, Kara, Kevin Miller, Cameron and Spencer Cantu, Lauren and Hannah Fairley, Amanda and Amy Wheat, Benjamin and Brady Haag, Mary Kate, Jake, Caleb and Sara Hanna. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Bessie Hanna of Brownsville; two brothers, Harold and George Hanna; and a sister, Mildred Whitetree; brother-in-law, James Cowan and sisters-in-law Mabel Coulter and Ruth Stegman.Mr. Hanna was born in Avery, Texas, on January 19, 1912 and moved to Brownsville, Texas in 1915. At the age of six, he was enrolled in the Palm Grove School. Because he was the only child in the school who spoke English, he quickly learned to speak fluently in Spanish. He later transferred to Indiana School, now known as El Jardin School. At the age of 14 he was driving the school bus. In 1928 he graduated from El Jardin School as salutatorian. He often smiled as he recalled that there were only two people in that graduating class. Mr. Hanna and Isabel Cowan were married on October 6, 1933 and spent their life together in Brownsville. They were active members of the First Baptist Church, Brownsville, where Mr. Hanna served as chairman of the deacons and Sunday School teacher. They have been members of River Hills Baptist Church since moving to Calallen. Mr. Hanna received his master's degree from Texas A & I in Kingsville and worked with the Brownsville Independent School District for 44 years. He served as math and physical education teacher at Grammar School, better known as Clearwater School, and at the high school. He also served as assistant principal at the Grammar School, principal at Annie S. Putegnat School and principal of Brownsville High School for 14 years. In 1957 he was named assistant superintendent and assumed responsibilities including curriculum, business manager, tax assessor, transportation, maintenance and purchasing for the entire district. He became deputy superintendent in 1972 where he served until he retired. May 16, 1974 was proclaimed "Homer Hanna Day" in Brownsville, and he received the Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education by the Citizen's Committee for Texas Public Schools Week. Perhaps one of Mr. Hanna's greatest honors came in 1974 with the naming of the new high school, "Homer Hanna High". This school would house 4,500, making it the largest high school in the United States at that time.Visitation will be held on Friday, December 10, 2004 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Sawyer-George Funeral Home in Calallen.There will be a celebration of Mr. Hanna's life at the First Baptist Church in Brownsville at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 11, 2004.Serving as pallbearers will be Will Stovall, Ben Hanna, Bud Stovall, Rick Cantu, Jerry Haag and John Wheat. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Keller, Dr. Lee Dale Jones, Harry Faulk, Adolph Dittman, Ronnie Johnson, Bob Hessling, Doyle Lambert, Ronnal Johnston, Larry Herrera and Pat Pace.Memorials may be given in honor of Homer Hanna, Sr. to The South Texas Childrens' Home, Box 1210, Beeville, TX 78104, The Gideons Bible Society, or The Homer Hanna Memorial Fund at Hanna High School, % the Principal's Office.