William Richard ‘Dick’ Hanger

Inducted in 2014

Mar 3

Chandler - Maricopa County

Inducted in 2014

William R "Dick" Hangers, Arizona history dates to about 1903 when his great-grandfather, Samuel Hanger, arrived in Phoenix from Anderson, Indiana. Samuel's son Omar bought land and started the first Hanger Dairy on McDowell Road just west of 27th Ave. in Phoenix, Dick's father, Carl, grew up on the dairy.

Sticking with the dairy theme, Carl married Lillian Fossberg, the daughter of a Phoenix area dairyman who had moved to the valley from South Dakota. Dairy farming was in both of their blood. Eventually, the young couple purchased 80 acres at McClintock and Guadalupe south of Phoenix, where they established their home and began building their dairy. Carl hauled rock from the river bottom with a horse and buggy to build a house and barn.

Dick was born on the dairy on December 8, 1929, one of the family's seven children. He grew up in the house he would eventually own, never leaving the farm he loved. He was active in the 4H and Boy Scouts but loved working with his father on the cows and equipment.

Dick remained on the dairy during his time at ASU, earning his degree in Ag Business in 1951. While in college, he met Geraldine "Gerry" McCaw, and according to his son Brian, he had eyes for no one else. They married and moved into a mobile home on the dairy. In 1961 Dick purchased the farm from his parents and began expanding the operations while raising his own four children. His parents move into town, and Dick and Gerry move their family into the house.

In 1973, encroachment caused Hanger Dairy to relocate 260 acres of retired sugarbeet farmland in South Chandler. Sons Brian and Rick remembered the family moved the dairy and the household goods. Their dad's friends rallied around to help move the dairy and equipment. They milked at one barn, drove the cows, and milked at the new barn later in the day. Rick recalls moving day very well. "We were moving a house at the same time. You know, farmers don't generally call people in to move them. They bring out their horse trailer, throw everything in it, and move it themselves."

Dick built a milk barn, quadrupling the size of the one they had used for 30 years. He continued to expand the dairy, growing from 400 to 800. The new farm was a source of pride for Dick, and he wanted people to be aware of his latest operation. He painted his corral a bright turquoise blue that could be seen from half a mile away.

Although he was busy with his agriculture operation, Dick was active in many community and agricultural organizations. He was a Director on the board of Farm Credit Services and served as chairman of the Farm Credit Bank in Sacramento for over 26 years. He was also on the boards and held leadership positions with numerous other organizations, including United Dairymen of Arizona, Roosevelt Water Conservation District, Kyrene Farm Bureau, Boy Scout Commissioner Tempe Rotary, Tempe Diablo's, and Tempe Union High School.

Like his father before, Dick brought his elder son into being an integral part of the business. Rick and his family had moved into town, but in the late 1990s, the father and son swapped houses. Dick and Gerry moved into town, and Rick and his family moved back to the farm, allowing him to be on the property day and night and continue to expand the operation. Not enjoying looking at the 8-foot wall that defined his backyard, Gerry moved to a golf course home in an active documentary in Gilbert.

The Hangers have four children: Sherri, Rick, Bryan, and Holly. All of them share their father's love of agriculture and their community. They were all active in 4H and participated in many activities in the community. Dick's father remembers him as a man who was never negative and believed, and got off the fence to get his hands dirty and everything he did.”