Eastern Oregon lawmaker Hansell might have family page record
Published 6:19 pm Thursday, March 7, 2024
- Photo taken at the Oregon Legislature probably in 1961 shows Bill Hansell, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, standing looking over Uncle Stafford Hansell’s shoulder. To the left are Bill’s brothers Tyler and Woody and sister Kathi.
An Eastern Oregon family might have one of the longest histories of honorary page service in the Legislature – three generations of youth from Oregon and now California.
“The honorary page program is unique. The young people actually participate in the floor session,” said Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena.
This year brought Hansell’s last legislative session before retiring. Eleven youthful relatives, including grandchildren and great-nephews/nieces, were pages at the Oregon Capitol in Salem during the five-week session.
While growing up, Hansell and his four siblings were pages. Then his children were pages when Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Pendleton, was in the Legislature.
The six oldest of Hansell’s 11 grandchildren have done so. The other five are too young. The Senate’s Honorary Page Program is for students age 12 and older.
“The biggest reason my grandkids paged was their moms paged and wanted them to have the same experience, especially with Grandpa Bill,” he said.
When the Capitol is not undergoing construction, pages post the American and Oregon flags and staff the chamber gates. Just before a Senate vote, they go into the halls and shout, “Vote.” Pages also tour the Capitol and receive a certificate.
“Above all it is educational,” Hansell said. “They see and experience how their government operates.”
Hansell’s wife, Margaret, was a page during the tenure of Rep. Bob Packwood, R-Portland. Hansell was a page when his uncle, Stafford Hansell, was in the House. Sixty-three years later, Sen. Hansell posted the colors with Stafford’s great-grandson, Griffin Johnston.
On another day, the senator carried the flags with grandson Ezra Hayes.
“History may have been made! Because Ezra was joined by his grandpa, and together we posted both flags,” Hansell wrote on Facebook. “We have no way of verifying, but it probably is the first time a sitting senator and grandfather, along with one of his grandsons posted the colors together. Regardless, it was one very special time for both of us.”
When his Senate term ends in January, Hansell will conclude 42 years in public office – 12 as a state senator and 30 as a Umatilla County commissioner.
