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Christian Hansen Jr.

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Christian Hansen Jr.
United States Marshal for the District of Vermont
In office
1982–1994
Preceded byEarle B. McLaughlin
Succeeded byJohn E. Rouille
In office
1969–1977
Preceded byThomas W. Sorrell
Succeeded byEarle B. McLaughlin
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Windham 4–3 district
In office
January 7, 1981 – April 22, 1982
Preceded byTimothy J. O'Connor
Succeeded byDart W. Everett
Personal details
Born(1931-10-06)October 6, 1931
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 2023(2023-05-14) (aged 91)
Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Cemetery, Castleton, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNancy C. Fletcher (m. 1955–2021, her death)
Children3
EducationFitchburg State University (attended)
Stevens Business College (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) (attended)
OccupationLaw enforcement officer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1951-1955
Rank Staff Sergeant

Christian Hansen Jr. (October 16, 1931 – May 14, 2023) was an American businessman and government official from Vermont. A Republican, he was best known for his service as United States Marshal for the District of Vermont from 1969 to 1977 and again from 1982 to 1994.

Early life

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Christian Hansen Jr. was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on October 16, 1931, a son of Christian Hansen Sr. and Margaret Hansen.[1] He attended the schools of Fitchburg, and graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1949.[2] Hansen attended Fitchburg State University and Stevens Business College of Fitchburg.[3][4]

Hansen served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 and attained the rank of staff sergeant.[1][5][6] He completed basic training at Sampson Air Force Base, New York, then carried out assignments at Lake City Air Force Station, Tennessee, and Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina.[7][8][9]

Start of career

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After his military service, Hansen resided in Leominster and was employed by New England Telephone and Telegraph Company (NET&T); beginning as a business office representative in the company's Fitchburg office in 1955, he became a sales representative in 1957, then a corporate communications consultant, followed in February 1965 by promotion to business office manager in St. Albans, Vermont.[10] In December 1965, Hansen was transferred to the business office manager's position at NET&T's office in Brattleboro.[11] While residing in St. Albans, Hansen served as a deputy sheriff for Franklin County, and after moving to Brattleboro, he was a Windham County deputy sheriff.[12]

Interested in politics as a Republican, in 1968 Hansen was active in the gubernatorial campaign of James L. Oakes.[13] Oakes lost the Republican nomination to Deane C. Davis, after which Hansen was active in the successful Davis campaign.[13] In March 1969, Hansen and his wife purchased a Brattleboro flower shop, Taylor for Flowers.[14]

United States Marshal

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As a result of Hansen's connections to the Republican Party, when Republican Richard Nixon assumed the presidency in January 1969, Hansen was considered for appointment as Vermont's United States Marshal.[13] Vermont's senior U.S. Senator, Republican George Aiken, considered Hansen and Howard P. Lunderville, a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Williston, and decided to recommend Hansen.[13] Nixon nominated Hansen in May 1969,[15] and he was confirmed in June.[16] After Nixon was reelected in 1972, he nominated Hansen for a second term, which was confirmed in October 1973.[17] He served until August 1977, when President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, nominated Earle B. McLaughlin, the sheriff of Chittenden County, to succeed Hansen.[18]

Later career

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After leaving the Marshal's office, Hansen was the owner and operator of Avenue Grocery Store in Brattleboro.[1] In 1978, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Windham County assistant judge.[19] In 1980, he was the successful Republican nominee to succeed Timothy J. O'Connor as the Windham 4-3 district member in the Vermont House of Representatives.[20] Hansen served in the House from January 7, 1981 to April 22, 1982, and was succeeded by Dart W. Everett.[21]

Return to Marshal's office

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In 1980, Republican Ronald Reagan won the presidency and in December 1981 he appointed Hansen to succeed Earle McLaughlin as Vermont's U.S. Marshal.[22] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 1982[23] and was sworn in on April 26.[24]

During his second tenure as Marshal, Hansen relocated from Brattleboro to South Burlington.[25] Hansen continued to serve until September 1994.[3] President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, took office in January 1993, and in October 1994 he appointed John E. Rouille as Hansen's successor.[26] In retirement, Hansen became a resident of Rutland and spent winters in Florida.[27]

Personal life and death

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In 1955, Hansen married Nancy C. Fletcher (1934–2021).[27] They were the parents of three children— Susan, Cindy, and Mark.[27]

Hansen died in Bradenton, Florida, on May 14, 2023.[28] Hansen was buried at Hillside Cemetery in Castleton, Vermont.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives (1985). Witness Protection Act: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties and the Administration of Justice. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 122 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "83d Graduation of FHS Thursday Numbers 242". Fitchburg Sentinel. First page available at Newspapers.com/clip/27802616/high-school-graduation/. Fitchburg, MA. June 17, 1949. pp. 1, 10 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ a b Donoghue, Mike (September 26, 1994). "Marshal Hansen rides into sunset". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "FHS Hoop Five Open Season Against Alumni". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. December 23, 1949. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Local News: Mr and Mrs. Christian Hansen". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. August 4, 1951. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Douglas, Jim (1989). Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 714 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hansen". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. August 4, 1951. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Scouts Return from Convention". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. August 4, 1951. p. 3 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  9. ^ "Hansens to Mark 25th Anniversary". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. July 15, 1954. p. 2 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  10. ^ "NET&T Promotes Hansen". Fitchburg Sentinel. Fitchburg, MA. February 22, 1965. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Hansen New Tel. Co. Mgr". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. December 24, 1965. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ McLaughlin, Helen (June 24, 1969). "State's New Marshal Is One of Youngest". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c d "Sen. Aiken backs Brattleboro Man as Vt. Marshal". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, VT. February 13, 1969. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "New Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hansen". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. March 4, 1969. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "New Marshal". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. May 23, 1969. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Confirmed — Christian Hansen Jr". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. June 19, 1969. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Second Term". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. October 30, 1973. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Coffin, Howard (June 26, 1977). "County Sheriff Race Started". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "1978 Vermont Primary Election: Windham County Results". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. September 13, 1978. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "The 1981 Legislature". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, VT. January 4, 1981. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Replacement Is Everett". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. May 13, 1982. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Hansen Nominated for Marshal's Job". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, VT. December 17, 1981. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Pfeffer, Judith (March 17, 1982). "Hansen Named Marshal Again". Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro, VT. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Former Rep. Hansen Sworn In as Marshal". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Associated Press. April 27, 1982. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Did You Know? — U.S. Marshal Christian Hansen". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 4, 1984. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Vermonter is appointed acting marshal". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 2, 1994. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b c d Durfee Funeral Home (August 2, 2021). "Obituary, Nancy C. Hansen". Tribute Archive.com.
  28. ^ "Obituary, Christian Hansen, Jr". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. May 18, 2023.
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