Last week the city of Youngstown, The Valley of Mahoning, and the entire Nation lost one of the greatest legal minds and political characters in history. Don L. Hanni, Jr., aka ‘The Bullmoose,’ passed away after a prolonged illness, at age 82. He was a friend of mine…
I last saw The Don when I was in Youngstown for my own father’s funeral in May. Don and my Dad grew up on the same street of the East Side of Y-town, and they were about the same age. A few years ago, my Mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and Dad was well into 2nd stage Alzheimer’s, so I returned to Youngstown for an extended stay. The one bright spot every week was the regular Wednesday spaghetti lunch at the old Acme Club, where The Bullmoose held court at noon. I started taking my Dad along, and in the presence of another old-timer from the East Side, my Dad could recall stories from high school. He couldn’t tell you who I was or what he had for breakfast, but the long-term memories came rushing back…
The Don would tell stories and my Dad would recall details like it was yesterday. And, of course, the Moose always bought my Dad a glass of red wine! My Dad’s connection with The Bullmoose is a priceless memory…
In April of this year, my phone would frequently ring at midnight (CDT) and it was Don Hanni… “Myers, we’re gonna buy a radio station! You’re gonna run it!” Shortly thereafter, he experienced a stroke and wound up in the Cleveland Clinic.
My Dad broke a hip, and while I was on the way to the airport, he passed away at Hospice House. My Dad had a wonderful wake…
Following Dad’s funeral, I went to Cleveland to visit The Bullmoose. He was very ill, but fighting like only he could… Actually, he looked like he wasn’t a day over 60…
We walked in and he looked up at me… I said, “Hey, Patron…”
He smiled, raised his hand and said “My man…”
He was a legend. A great defense attorney, a judge, and Democratic Party Chairman.
He drank shots with Harry Truman.
He rode down Federal Street in Youngstown, OH in a convertable with JFK and Jackie.
He maintained a relationship with Ted Kennedy till the end…
He entertained my Dad.
In 2000, I did a talk show with his son, Don Hanni III, and he was a frequent caller. Occasionally he’d just show up at the studio… One day he walked in while Don and I were talking, and, in his best lawyer voice, asked, “What the Hell are you 2 assholes talking about?” Live… On-air.
He lived large. He loved life. And he spoke his mind.
And he acknowledged that his critics had every right to speak THEIR minds.
He loved to spar with the local newspaper, The Youngstown Vindicator, and he always said “It’s tough to argue with an opponent that buys ink by the barrel.”
Over the years, I tried to get The Don interested in doing a biography, hopefully a video documentary. For several years, he had NO interest what-so-ever. But, in 2006, he called me out of the blue to come down to his office, Hanni World HQ, just to talk…
He was always a master of law, politics and history, and that EDGE never disipated. He was always sharp as a tack. His life is legend…
If we could have videotaped some of those conversations, we would have a history of the Democratic Party from WWII till now… He was a player, he was a master of his domain… He lived LARGE!
Today, Don L. Hanni, Jr. is lying ‘in state’ in the rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse. He thought that was a funny idea. But, for a man who WALKED HARD on this Earth, he deserves the honor. I’m sure he’s smiling right now…
Godspeed, Patron…
See ya,
”Myers”
