Sam Hanna

Samuel Andrew Hanna, Sr., known as Sam Hanna (August 13, 1933 – January 15, 2006), was a Louisiana journalist who owned and published three newspapers: The Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday, the Franklin Sun in Winnsboro, and The Ouachita Citizen in West Monroe.

Early years and education

Hanna was born in Winnsboro, the seat of Franklin Parish, to Andrew and Elizabeth Hanna. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Hanna became a lifelong advocate of the Boy Scouts and later received the group's Silver Beaver Award. In 1951, he graduated from Winnsboro High School, since Franklin Parish High School. He then entered Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge on a band scholarshi], having excelled at the trumpet, which he played in the LSU marching band. He sold advertising and served as the sports editor of the college newspaper, The Daily Reveille. He received his bachelor's degree in 1955.

Hanna launched his working career as a reporter at the Bastrop Daily Enterprise in Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish north of Monroe. In 1956, hired by managing editor Bert Hatten, Hanna became the outdoors writer for the Monroe newspapers, now consolidated as the Monroe News Star then owned by the Ewing family and now a Gannett publication. He soon became the News-Star political editor, through which capacity he covered the Louisiana State Legislature and school desegregation.