Col. Jim Hanny to address Southeastern graduates on December 13
November 12, 2008
DURANT, Okla. -- Southeastern Oklahoma State University will hold Fall Commencement in the University's new arena on Saturday, December 13. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.
Col. Jim Hanny, a Southeastern Distinguished Alumnus and the school's first aviation graduate, will be the commencement speaker. This will be the first commencement in the new arena at Southeastern.
The order that the degrees will be conferred is as follows:
- School of Arts and Sciences
- The John Massey School of Business
- School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
- All Masters degrees (Behavioral Studies, Business Administration, Education, Science and Technology)
Jim Hanny is a native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He graduated from Southeastern in 1968 and was recognized as the first student in academic history to earn a B. S. Degree in Aviation and Certification by the FAA as a Flight Engineer. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, was commissioned, graduated from pilot training, and volunteered for duty in Southeast Asia. Hanny flew 77 combat missions in the C-130 Airborne Battlefield Combat Control Center.
In 1972, he was transferred to the active Reserve of the Air Force and flew as an instructor and flight examiner for 20 years. In 1990, Hanny was selected as the commander of the 64th Airlift Squadron at O'Hare Field in Chicago just prior to unit deployment in Operation Desert Shield. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College of the Air University.
Hanny retired from the Air Force in 1993. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In 1973, Hanny was hired by American Airlines as a flight engineer and upgraded to First Officer in 1978 and to Captain in 1986. In 1987, he received a commendation and the "Spirit of American" award for actions during a critical in-flight emergency. In 1988, Captain Hanny was selected to perform duty as an Instructor and Check Airman.
Hanny retired from American Airlines in 2005. Counting his military, airline, and civil aviation, Hanny logged more than 24,000 hours certified flying time.
He was the recipient of Southeastern's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992, and in 2005 Badger High School selected him for the "Wall of Success" Award.
Hanny is a Life Member of the University Alumni Association, has served on the Board of Directors, and was President from 2002-2004. Additionally, Hanny has served as a Director of the Geneva Lake Association, and has been the Association President since 2005.
Jim Hanny has been married 42 years to his high school sweetheart, Grace. She graduated from Southeastern with her husband in 1968 with a B. A. in Sociology, and she is a Life Member of the Alumni Association. The Hannys have three married daughters, four grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren.