George W. Hanna was born in Jasker County, Iowa, July 20, 1872. He was graduated from Des Moines University in 1894 with a B.A. Degree. He taught and was a superintendent of schools at Lennox, South Dakota from 1895 to 1898. He received his Master's Degree from his alma mater and then took post graduate work at the University of California.
On July 20, 1897 he married Mable Finette Way, who was born at LaMaille, Illinois, on February 20, 1873. She was a graduate of Woodbine Normal of Western Iowa and taught for a short time before her marriage to George Hanna.
Mr. Hanna assumed the superintendency of the Valley City Public School in 1899. He served in this capacity until 1946 - 47 years of outstanding service to Valley City and to North Dakota. A long list of first are included in his achievements. He organized the first Boy Scout troop in Valley City. He organized the Barnes County Play Day; the Barnes County Principal's Association; the Barnes County Athletic Assoc.; the State High School League; the plan for the State Basketball Tournament and the State Football Championship, as well as the Siouxland Football Conference. - Firsts in the Valley City Schools included a commerce department; physical education; manual training and home economics departments and the State's first High School gymnasium as well as the first tax supported kindergarten in the State.
He was a member of and served as president of the North Dakota Education Association. Upon retirement in 1946 the George Hannas moved to Albany, California, where he managed his son Warren's publishing firm. Mrs. Hanna passed away June 7, 1953 and George Hanna died July 29, 1967.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 90