From Tenino, WA, Donald Hansen proudly served in the miliary before taking a job as a Bus Operator in 1958 for the Tacoma Transit Company, joining our Local 758-Tacoma, WA. In 1964, he was elected as the Local's Recording Secretary and the moved up to be the Business Agent/Financial Secretary in 1973. Hansen was elected to the top post at the Local as President/Business Agent in 1980.
Hansen also served as Chair and Secretary-Treasurer of the ATU Washington State Legislative Conference Board and Secretary-Treasurer of the Northwest Joint
Conference. For years he was an Executive Board Member of the Pierce County Central Labor Council and was an official at the Washington State Labor Council.
In 1987, International President Jim La Sala appointed Hansen as an International Vice President, and he was elected to that position at each convention until his retirement in 2010.
"An ATU member for more than 50 years, Don served with an unwavering commitment and dedication, fighting for the rights and dignity of our members across our Union. His devotion to our Union was so deep, he named his dog ATU," said International President John Costa. "We send our deepest condolences to Don's wife, Wilma, his daughters, Dawn Mortenson, Deborah Hehr, his sons, Donald Hansen Jr., and Daniel Hansen, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Rest in Power, Don!"