Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2014

Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2014

Dr. Hanas has been an active and ongoing supporter of Central Schools with his time and talents. He has practiced Family Medicine in our community in both a private solo practice and as a part of Genesis Health Group his entire professional career. In 2006, he received the IFCA Distinguished Service Award for his service to Iowa High School football. He has helped organizing our annual physicals, the addition of an athletic trainer to our schools and helped improve preventative and rehabilitation care with pre-concussion testing. He and his wife Barbara have established the Lyndsey Hanas Endowment for Special Education.

Most Friday nights in the fall, Dr. Steven Hanas will be found on the sidelines of a Central Sabers football game at Birney Field. He stands quietly, watching the action both as a fan and with the eye of a medical professional. As the team’s doctor for the past 28 years, Hanas is ready to help any injured player from either team. His dedication is extraordinary. In all those years, Hanas says he has missed only two home games. He is being honored in the Central Hall of Fame as a friend of the schools. Hanas, who was raised in New Jersey, became a Midwesterner in high school and graduated from Barrington (Ill. ) High School in 1970. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1974 and medical degree in 1977, both from the University of Iowa, he served a two-month externship in De. Witt with Dr. G. W. Marme in 1980 and was recruited by the De. Witt Community Hospital Board to practice full time in De. Witt. Today, he is part of a group practice with Dr. Rose Warhank and Dr. Jennifer Bell at Genesis Health Group. Hanas took over for Dr. Wallace Ash as the varsity football team’s physician in 1986. Dwight Spangler, Central football coach 1971 -2001, was at the helm when Hanas stepped forward to fill Ash’s spot on the sidelines.

“He just volunteered his time. As busy as doctors are, we appreciate all that he has done, ” Spangler said. He added the Hall of Fame honor for Hanas “is very deserving. ” Central coaches felt fortunate to have a team doctor. “We went to a lot of schools that didn’t have a doctor available, ” Spangler said. “Things get kind of crazy on the sidelines sometimes and kids would say they were OK (after a hit on the field), ” Spangler said. “If Dr. Hanas said you couldn’t go back in, it took the pressure off the coaches and the kids. ” Off the field, Hanas organized local doctors to donate their time each year to perform annual athletic physicals for students at Central and St. Joseph schools. During his time, the schools added an athletic trainer, took steps to improve prevention of and therapy for injuries and instituted preconcussion testing, Central activities director and former football coach Kurt Kreiter added. Through the years, Hanas worked with three head football coaches and four athletic directors. Former Central superintendent Dan Roe (1996 -2004), whose son Michael played on the football team, said Hanas “was one of the kinds of guys you want to have on the sidelines. I knew if there was a problem, he

was going to take care of it. ” “He’s always very courteous and polite and professional. ” In 2006, Hanas received the Iowa Football Coaches Association’s Distinguished Service Award for his service. Roe noted Hanas worked with the coaches, athletes and their parents in his quest to keep all students healthy. Longtime friend Al Tubbs, who came to De. Witt about the same time as Hanas, echoes that sentiment. “He has given generously of his time to students, not just athletes. He has a very empathetic concern for the well-being of the students and athletes. ” Steven and Barbara Hanas also are major supporters of Central’s music and arts programs and the Central Community Educational Foundation. Their daughters are Erin and Julia, both Central graduates (1997 and 2001, respectively), and Lyndsey, who also attended Central schools. The family established the Lyndsey Hanas Endowment for Special Education in her memory. Hanas’ professional accomplishments include serving as medical staff president for De. Witt Community Hospital and the current medical staff president of Genesis Medical Center-De. Witt.

Taking time in the community as well, Hanas served on the De. Witt Chamber of Commerce board 1983 -86 and a term as president. “The contributions of the Hanas family have been notable through the years and will continue to be in the future, ” Tubbs said. In his medical practice, on the sports field and in the community, the doctor has interacted with many students, watching them mature to adulthood. “For some, I have even had the opportunity to see them become parents, to care for their children and see those children start their school careers, ” he said.

Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as a Friend Dr. Hanas has roamed the sidelines at Central football games since the departure of Dr. Wallace Ash in 1986, an inaugural Hall of Fame class inductee. For almost 30 years Dr. Hanas has quietly given his support and service to Central Community schools, which goes well beyond his football commitments. Dr. Hanas traveled across country to find his way to De. Witt. Raised in New Jersey, he ended up moving to and graduating from Barrington, IL during high school. He continued his trip west to attend the University of Iowa, earning a BS in 1974 and his MD in 1977. During a residency in Davenport he spent 2 months as an externship in De. Witt. He was later recruited by the De. Witt Community Hospital Board and has practiced Family Medicine in Dewitt in both a private solo practice and group practice as part of Genesis Health Group ever since. During his time here, he has been a great model of service and volunteerism. Spanning the careers of 4 Activity Directors and 3 Head Football Coaches, one thing that has always been constant is that Dr. Hanas would return to the sidelines each season. He has done that in a very quiet and non-assuming manner but his commitments to Central have been well noted. In 2006, Dr. Hanas received the Iowa Football Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award

from the IFCA for his service to Iowa High School football. Dr. Hanas has also been instrumental in organizing local physicians, nurses and physical therapist to donate their time each year, including his own, to perform our annual athletic physicals for Central and St. Joes students. He has been an important supporter of our recent association with Genesis Health Group in providing an athletic trainer to our schools and physical therapy services available to our student-athletes. Those efforts have also helped improved preventative and rehabilitative care with items such as pre-concussion testing. Dr. Hanas has been an active and ongoing supporter of Central Schools with his time, talents and contributions including the establishment of the Lyndsey Hanas Endowment for Special Education. Dr. Hanas was a past De. Witt Chamber Board member and President and has served as Medical Staff President for the De. Witt Community Hospital and is the current Medical Staff President of Genesis Medical Center-De. Witt. He and his wife Barbara are the parents of children Erin, Julia and Lyndsey. If there is one word that sums up what I know about Dr. Hanas is would be: RESPECT. Please help me welcome the newest member of the Central High School Hall of Fame, 2014 inductee… Dr. Steven Hanas.