HANTON, Dan ~ Graceland's Hall of Fame
HANTON, FISHER, ACOSTA, POWELL, ANDERSON, CLINEFELTER, EVERETT, WOODRUFF
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/26/2013 at 07:28:55
HALL of FAME
Dan Hanton
Graceland University, Lamoni, IowaDan HANTON arrived on campus in 1961. During his four years on the "Hill" he was a member of the basketball, football, golf and track teams. He became involved in campus leadership, was a Tower sports reporter and the junior class president, and married his Graceland sweetheart, Suzanne FISHER ('64).
A member of the 1965 graduating class, he spent the next 33 years in Michigan, first as a member of the faculty and coaching staff in Brown City and as manager of the Booth Publishing Company, and completing the last twenty-seven years of his high school teaching and coaching career within the Port Huron Area School District.
Between 1988 and 1994 his Port Huron Northern basketball teams posted a 115-45 record, winning one conference, three district and two regional championships and appearing in back-to-back state quarterfinal games against the nation's #1 and #5 high school teams. During that time he was selected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
In 1999 HANTON returned to Graceland as the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Women's basketball coach. His 2002-2003 team posted the most wins in a season (18) as well as the most conference victories (11); produced the first NAIA All-American in women's basketball (Michelle ACOSTA); and established numerous basketball records.
In 2003, he was selected as Graceland's first full-time Director of Athletics. During his six year tenure, the Yellowjacket teams won a men's soccer national title, qualified for over 25 national team appearances, and won over 15 conference and regional championships. He also helped to supervise the renovation of the baseball, football, softball, and locker room facilities.
In 2007, Dan was selected as the Heart of America Athletic Conference "AD of the Year" and was recognized by the state of Michigan and Gatorade for his 40 years of coaching and athletic administration.
In 2008 he was inducted into the Port Huron, Michigan Sports "Hall of Fame" and in 2009 was elected to the Graceland University Alumni Board of Directors.
In 2007, Dan was named Athletic Director of the Year.
Out of admiration and respect, Dan’s former students at Port Huron Northern requested that he return to provide the 2002 Commencement Address.
Dan and Suzanne have three children, Kelle ('90), Mark ('92), Brian, and four grandchildren, Madison, Max, Cooper and Abby.
Dan HANTON was inducted into Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Heart of America Athletic Conference News, Friday, January 09, 2009
Graceland University Athletics Director Dan Hanton Announces Retirement
HAAC - Since arriving on campus ten years ago from his hometown of Port Huron, Michigan former Yellowjacket women's basketball coach and current Graceland AD Dan HANTON has entirely changed the face of Jacket athletics. .
Unfortunately for the entire Graceland community, HANTON has announced his retirement effective June 1st. Even though he will be leaving us here at Graceland, he has forever left his stamp on Jacket athletics and with the Graceland family.
"Dan HANTON has provided great leadership to Graceland Athletics for the past 10 years," stated Graceland Dean of Students and a personal friend of Hanton, Tom POWELL. "While serving as our women's basketball coach, Dan's teams were always exciting to watch and well coached. As assistant athletic director for four years and athletic director the past six years, Dan led the Yellowjackets through a time of great success in competition and in the classroom. Dan HANTON will be remembered for his caring nature, positive spirit, and his constant promotion of our players, coaches and teams. Dan bleeds blue and gold. He will be missed. All of the Graceland community wishes Dan and Sue HANTON the best in their retirement," stated POWELL.
HANTON'S tenure as both Athletics Director and basketball coach has proven to be a very fruitful one for Graceland. During his time at the helm of Jacket athletics Graceland has made 25 NAIA National Tournament appearances, won 11 HAAC championships and one team (2006 Men's Soccer) won the NAIA National Tournament. HANTON along with his wife Sue HANTON (FISHER) will eventually move back to Port Huron where he will have the luxury of spending time with family, friends and grandchildren as well as one of his favorite past times, golf.
HANTON had plenty to say about his impending retirement and his amazing years spent at Graceland. "In 1999, after thirty-three years of extensive high school teaching experience, President David CLINEFELTER and Vice-President Tom POWELL offered me the opportunity, which had been a life-long dream, to be a collegiate instructor, administrator and coach. Four years later (2003), Provost David ANDERSON and Vice-Provost Tom POWELL presented me with the opportunity to be the first full time Director of Athletics and challenged me to maintain a desired level of exposure for the athletic department," continued a nostalgic HANTON.
"During my ten years at Graceland, I have had the opportunity to renew old and create new friendships and assist in hiring all but two present head coaches as well as many assistant coaches and staff personnel. Hopefully I have accomplished the challenge that was presented to me by Provost ANDERSON and Tom POWELL six years ago. I was taught many years ago by my former Graceland coaches to surround yourself with good people and good things will happen! I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many outstanding staff members, students and student-athletes. Without them, the duties of my position would have been much harder to accomplish. My time here on the HILL has been rewarding but soon it will be time for Suzanne and Dan to experience the life and challenges of being grandparents! I will continue fulfill my responsibilities with the Board of Governors of the HAAC, the NAIA and five Graceland committees until May 31. I want to say thank you Graceland, Lamoni and the Heart of America Athletic Conference communities for playing an important part of our lives. Sue and I will always be Yellowjackets!," concluded HANTON.
There were many people at Graceland that had wonderful words to say about the departure. "Dan has been an integral part in athletics fundraising over the last six years," stated Director of Development at Graceland, Kelly EVERETT. "He has gone out of his way to take part and offer help in any way he could. The impact that he has had in the athletic department will resonate for years to come with the money he has been able to raise to upgrade equipment and facilities," finished EVERETT.
"Dan HANTON has been a tremendous asset to the success of Graceland Athletics," stated former Yellowjacket Sports Information Director Amy WOODRUFF. "His passion for being a Yellowjacket has provided Graceland with the leadership and enthusiasm necessary to lead nationally ranked teams into NAIA Championships. While at Graceland, Coach HANTON motivated student-athletes on the basketball court and as the Director of Athletics, he generated excitement about the Yellowjacket sports teams. He enhanced the spirit of the entire GU family, but he will be especially missed by Yellowjacket athletics," concluded WOODRUFF.
The tangible things that HANTON has done at Graceland will be around for years to come. We will see them, use them and work to achieve them on a daily basis. What he will be admired and missed most for however will be the things that can't be measured by dollar signs and wins. For everything that he has been as an Athletic Director and Coach, he is a better human being and has touched the lives of so many. He embodies everything that is Graceland University, and he will be sorely missed.
The Graceland Athletic Department and the entire Graceland Community wish Dan and Sue the best in their retirement and all of their future endeavors.
SOURCE: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php; phsportshalloffame.com/hanton_dan.html
Transcription and Submission by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2013
Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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