Thanks

Bar President Ray Hanna and work by Lon McGargy

President Ray Hanna presided over his last meeting of the Board of Governors, and ended that meeting by thanking his colleagues.

He began by thanking Immediate Past President Ed Novak. Hanna said, “Because Ed came before me, it was a far easier stone to roll up the mountain than if had he not done so much work.”

Novak spoke briefly about his years on the Board.

“On any great board, we learn to agree despite our disagreements. I’ve had many opportunities over the years to have disagreements with many of you, but we’ve never taken it personally, and I think the Bar benefits from those disagreements.”

He ended by saying, “I applaud all of you for helping all of the members for the 11 years I’ve been on the board.”

President Hanna also praised Roger Contreras, who leaves the Board after a failed re-election bid. Contreras’ words of advice were few: “Be kind to each other.” He also spoke highly of State Bar staff.

Also thanked by Hanna were outgoing YLD President Sam Saks and public member Emily Johnston.

Johnston recalled last year, when she saw a cell from an animated movie that contained a small mouse pulling a large elephant up a hill. “That mouse is sometimes like life,” she said, “and like life on the Board of Governors. Every one of you has inspired me.”

Finally, soon-to-be Bar President Alan Bayham Jr. thanked Ray Hanna for his service.

Of Hanna Bayham said, “I have never met anyone as able to appreciate hard issues and to do it with great humor and perspective. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

Among the gifts presented to Ray Hanna was a print of an old-west work by artist Lon McGargy, considered by some as the father of Arizona Western art (and the “Lon” of “Lon’s at the Hermosa”).

L to R: Ray Hanna, Ed Novak
Ed Novak