Vincent "Vince" Hanson

12/26/1923 - 08/30/2009

HANSON, Vincent G. "Vince" (Age 85) Passed away August 30, 2009. He was born December 26, 1923 in Austin, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virginia; daughter, Ellen Rush of Spokane; son, Paul Hanson of Richmond, VA; sister, DeEtte Nightengale of Tacoma; granddaughters, Naomi York and Rachel Rush; great-grandson, Aaron York; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clair and Cy; and his oldest son, Jeffrey. In 1942 he graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma and that fall enrolled at Washington State University. He lettered for two years in baseball and track but he made his biggest mark in the mid 1940s as a high scorer on the Cougar basketball team. In 1945 he led the nation in total single season scoring with 592 points, setting a new national point total record. For that accomplishment he was named to the Helms Athletic Foundation All American basketball team. Other honors received in later years relating to his basketball career included induction into WSU's Athletic Hall of Fame, Tacoma-Pierce County Hall of Fame, State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame and Pac 10 Basketball Hall of Honor. His campus activities included President of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, membership in Crimson Circle, Secretary-Treasurer of Grey W, and chief of the Big Five which was made up of the outstanding male seniors of his graduating class. Vince coached the basketball and baseball teams at North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, WA for one year and then was drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NBA. However, he chose to play for the Goodyear Wingfoots of the competitive AAU National Industrial League. After training with Goodyear he was granted a transfer to the Spokane's Goodyear sales territory and later to similar positions in Walla Walla and Butte, MT. After several years he returned to Spokane, where he worked in the insurance industry. Following retirement, he and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the United States including Alaska, Hawaii and Panama - plus several tours of Europe. He continued his interest in WSU activities, attending all home Cougar football games and enjoyed weekly get-togethers with the Spokane Cougar Coffee Club. A private memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99202.