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Dane Hansen

Businessman and philanthropist. Born: 1883. Died: 1965.

Dane Hansen spent his life in Phillips County managing various businesses: a ranch, a lumber yard, a construction company and oil wells. He became one of the largest independent oil operators in Kansas. Hansen did not believe in "early to bed, early to rise."  He generally stayed in bed until 10 or 11 a.m. and then went to work at noon and worked until 2 or 3 a.m. It worked very well for him.

Hansen used his wealth to support many philanthropic efforts. He left $9 million in a foundation to continue that work. The foundation built an attractive museum in Logan and distributes a substantial amount of money each year in grants and scholarships to organizations and students in northwest Kansas. Hansen was elected to the Kansas Business Hall of Fame in 1990.

Entry: Hansen, Dane

Author: G. Joseph Pierron

Author information: Judge Pierron serves on the Kansas Court of Appeals and has an interest in Kansas history.

Date Created: November 2012

Date Modified: November 2012

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.