Donald J. Hanaway (December 25, 1933 – September 7, 1995) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Republican politician from De Pere, Wisconsin. He was the 40th attorney general of Wisconsin, serving from 1987 to 1991, and subsequently served the last four years of his life as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Brown County. Earlier in his career, he was the 27th mayor of De Pere (1972–1974) and served eight years in the Wisconsin Senate (1979–1987).

The Honorable
Don Hanaway
40th Attorney General of Wisconsin
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 7, 1991
GovernorTommy Thompson
Preceded byBronson La Follette
Succeeded byJim Doyle
Wisconsin Circuit Judge for the Brown Circuit, Branch 4
In office
July 1991 – September 7, 1995
Appointed byTommy Thompson
Preceded byJohn Jaekels
Succeeded byWilliam C. Griesbach
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
July 11, 1979 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byTom Petri
Succeeded byRobert Cowles
27th Mayor of De Pere, Wisconsin
In office
April 1972 – April 1974
Preceded byRoger H. Rebman
Succeeded byRobert P. DeGroot
Personal details
Born(1933-12-25)December 25, 1933
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
DiedSeptember 7, 1995(1995-09-07) (aged 61)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Resting placeAllouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJo Ann
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin Law School
Professionattorney, judge
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1954–1956

Biography

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Hanaway was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Commerce in 1958, and received his juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1961. He had previously served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956.[1]

Before being elected Attorney General, Hanaway served as a Brown County Assistant District Attorney from 1962 to 1964, and later as a special prosecutor in Brown County from 1967 to 1968. He also served concurrently as the De Pere city attorney from 1965 to 1972, and again from 1976 to 1979. In between those stints as city attorney, he served as mayor of De Pere from 1972 to 1974.[2]

Hanaway was elected as a Republican in a special election to the Wisconsin State Senate in July 1979. He was re-elected to the State Senate's 2nd District in 1980, and again in 1984. He served as an assistant minority leader from 1981 to 1982.[3]

In 1986, Hanaway ran for attorney general, defeating incumbent Bronson La Follette. He served one term, being defeated for re-election by Jim Doyle in 1990.[4]

Hanaway went on to serve as a Brown County Circuit Judge from 1991 until his death in 1995.[5] Hanaway died from cancer at a hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Jo Ann, had four children.[6][7]

Electoral history

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  • 1990 Race for state Attorney General
    • Jim Doyle (D), 51%
    • Don Hanaway (R) (inc.), 47%

Notes

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  1. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1989-1990,' Biographical Sketch of Donald Hanaway, pg. 6
  2. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1989-1990,' Biographical Sketch of Donald Hanaway, pg. 6
  3. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1989-1990,' Biographical Sketch of Donald Hanaway, pg. 9
  4. ^ Hanaway, Donald J. 1933
  5. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1991-1992,' Judicial Branch, pg. 960
  6. ^ 'Donald J. Hanaway-obituary,' Wisconsin State Journal, September 9, 1995, pg. 4B
  7. ^ Former attorney general Don Hanaway dies from cancer,' Wisconsin State Journal, September 9, 1995, pg. 3B
Party political offices
Preceded by
Marc Gumz
Republican nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin
1986, 1990
Succeeded by
Jeff Wagner
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 2nd district
July 11, 1979 – January 3, 1987
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Roger H. Rebman
Mayor of De Pere, Wisconsin
April 1972 – April 1974
Succeeded by
Robert P. DeGroot
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Wisconsin
1987–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Jaekels
Wisconsin Circuit Judge for the Brown Circuit, Branch 4
July 1991 – September 7, 1995
Succeeded by