Catching up with Phil Hanes
Q. How long did you live in Marion, and what year did you graduate?
A. I graduated in 1989.
My parents and I lived in Marion off and on for a couple years when I was in high school, but mostly I'm from Florence.
I was born at the hospital in Marion, then lived in Florence until first grade, then again in second and third grade, then moved back again in eighth grade and lived there and in Marion all the way through high school.
I moved back to Florence in 1998 and lived there for two more years.
Q. What is your best memory of Marion High School and Marion in general?
A. My best memories of Marion are the neighborhood around the courthouse and elevators.
My best friend used to live right in that area, and we would hang out at his place.
When I was in high school the teen center in the old depot was operating, so we spent a lot of nights there.
Regarding high school itself, I'm sure my teachers won't be too happy with this but I'd have to say my best memories are always around extracurricular activities.
Whether it was bus rides to basketball and football games, quiz bowl meets, forensics tournaments, or the German students who visited from Berlin, it seemed like the best times were usually away from school.
Q. What have you done education-wise since you left MHS?
A. Well, first I went to K-State.
I started out majoring in agricultural economics, but when I got into the advanced economics classes I didn't like them much. I wanted to find something I could do that would use all my economics credits, so I ended up majoring in social science.
When I found out a general social science degree wasn't much help in the job market, I went to Washburn University and got a law degree.
However, I didn't like law either, so I went back for my master's degree in public administration.
I originally enrolled at the University of Arizona in Tucson, but I dropped out before the first week of classes.
I took a year off, then re-enrolled at KU and got my degree there.
Along the way, I spent one summer in Cambridge, England, doing undergraduate classes at Gonville & Caius College through the University of New Hampshire, and another summer in Cuernavaca, Mexico, studying comparative law through Loyola University New Orleans.
Q. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
A. My first response is, "What's spare time?" I guess I tend to be a workaholic. To balance it out, I really enjoy traveling.
I set a goal for myself to visit all 50 states before I turned 35, and I achieved it. I don't think I'm going to make all seven continents before age 40, though.
Q. What job(s) have you had since leaving MHS?
A. How many column inches do you have for this?
I taught a study skills class for freshmen at K-State.
During break, I waited tables at the Town & Country in Florence.
I did painting and construction work for my cousin in Newton.
I had a law clerkship for a judge in Concordia. That was unpaid, so I made money by being the "fry guy" at McDonalds.
I was a research assistant for a law professor.
While living in Tucson during my year off, I did a whole bunch of odd jobs including sales clerk at Montgomery Ward, receptionist for a mortgage company, and map folder for the U.S. Census Bureau.
I worked nights doing data entry of student loan forms in Lawrence.
I was an intern for the League of Kansas Municipalities in Topeka.
I worked for Sedgwick County as an intern, a principal planner, a cash manager, and a budget analyst.
I was a management analyst for the Public Works Department in San Bruno, Calif.
Now I am the Assistant County Administrator for Humboldt County, Calif.
Q. What are some of your favorite movies or TV shows?
A. I am a complete "American Idol" addict.
Q. Where have you lived since leaving MHS, and where are you currently living?
A. Manhattan, Topeka, Tucson, Ariz., Lawrence, Wichita, Florence, San Bruno, Calif., San Francisco, San Mateo, Calif., Eureka, Calif. (current).
Q. Do you ever make it back to Marion or Florence?
A. My parents still live in Florence, so I go back there several times a year. Seems like I hardly ever make it to Marion, though.
Q. What activities or sports were you involved in at MHS?
A. Basketball as a freshman, football as a sophomore and junior. Debate and forensics.
Math team and quiz bowl team. National Honor Society. Student council as a freshman.
Foreign Language Club. Probably more stuff I don't even remember.
Q. Have you heard anything about the new facilities being built for MHS? If so, what do you think?
A. No, what are they doing?
Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A. That's a great question.
I'll probably still be working in local government in 10 years. I don't know if I'll still be in California, though.
I'd like to live on the East Coast at some point, and maybe in London as well.
Q. If a former teacher of yours saw you today, what would he or she say?
A. No idea.
