Hanson, John oral history interview

John R. Hanson was born in Newark, New Jersey April 5, 1941 to Norma Virginia (Rice) and John W. Hanson. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He attended the Technical High School in Springfield, the American International College of Springfield for one semester, and then enlisted in the Air Force. He did some electrical work after the service and became involved in politics and organized labor. He came to Maine to convince labor to back Curtis for governor in 1966. In 1968 he was offered a job by Ben Dorsky on Maine State Federated Labor Council as editor of the Labor News and as education director. He eventually became Dorsky’s assistant. In 1972 he took a position as Director of Labor Education at the University of Maine, Orono. At the time of the interview in 2000, he still held that position