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Alan Hanshaw as a
third-year law student.
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For many of our students, Arizona Law is a family affair. Today, we celebrate a father and son who are part of a broader Wildcat family.
Many of you are part of families with cherished UA and Arizona Law connections. The father in this story never knew about his son's eventual turn to the law, but his career helped inspire it. In the spirit of Homecoming, I hope this story will remind you of your own Wildcat family.
The Hanshaw story starts with A. Alan Hanshaw, who was born in Kankakee, Illinois in 1926. He moved to Tucson as an undergraduate, receiving his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in 1951. He met his wife Emma in Tucson at St. Mary's Hospital, where Emma was a student nurse, and they married in the fall of 1951. Alan went on to attend the law school and graduated in 1955.
Alan began his legal career as a clerk in the Arizona Supreme Court. He was an assistant attorney for the City of Tucson from 1956 to 1958. He practiced law as a partner in the firm of Goddard, Gin, Hanshaw and Gianas for several years before setting off on an adventure as General Counsel for the U.S. Virgin Islands in St. Croix from 1964 to 1965.
He then returned to Tucson as a founder and partner in the firm of Waterfall, Economidas, Caldwell, Hanshaw and Villamana.
Alan was an involved community member, participating in the Episcopal Church and many community organizations in southern Arizona, including as Board President of La Frontera Center, a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Arizona, and Board Member of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
Alan retired from the firm in 1995. He passed away in 2004.
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UA law school fraternity, with Alan front row in bow tie.
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Alan and Emma had five children: Mark, John, David, Andy, and Debbie.
Mark Hanshaw, the oldest writes,
"We are a Wildcat family. Dad, me (both degrees), 4 of 5 siblings, my wife, a couple of her siblings, 2 of our 3 children, and our daughter in law (multiple degrees) are all proud U of A graduates."
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Mark Hanshaw
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Mark earned his undergraduate degree from the UA (B.S. '75) and has had a long career in engineering and construction. In 2014, he decided to apply to law school to pursue the MLS degree. He says he was influenced by the impact that the great recession had on his industry, and wanted to approach his business from a different angle:
"I knew there were a lot of technical consulting firms that needed a lot of help on the business and risk management side. I felt I could combine my technical knowledge with the business and business development skills that I'd acquired in leadership roles with different firms, and further combine it with a legal foundation. The intent was to go on the market as a consultant to the firms needing help. I think my dad would have understood that, but probably would have tried to talk me into a JD."
When he was alive, Mark says, his father never pushed the children toward the study of law. What he did instill in them was a desire to "be bold!" (with fist to table) and be curious about the world. Mark's dad became a big fan of his career in engineering and construction, and his parents visited him at jobsites as far away as Korea.
When Mark moved back to Tucson in the mid 80s he became a land development engineer. At the time, his father was working on land use and zoning cases. They eventually started crossing paths and,
"Without exception mutual clients would tell me how much they respected my father and how he dealt with problems with integrity and humor. For me, that is his legacy and his gift to me and it set the pattern for my life."
Mark says that he thoroughly enjoyed his own law school experience in the MLS program:
"It was challenging, especially after being out of school for 40 years. I interfaced with JD students, other MLS students, and undergrads in their program. The diversity of experience and outlook made it rewarding."
U
pon graduation from the program in 2015, Mark received the Dean's Achievement Award for MLS students.
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Alan with classmate
Paul G. Rees
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Now, Mark is working for a small solar and energy solutions company. He applies his entire knowledge base, including legal risk management processes and corporate compliance he studied at Arizona Law, to improve the company and position it for growth.
One afternoon, Alan's classmate and longtime family friend Paul G. Rees ('55) called to congratulate Mark on his graduation and the Dean's award. Their conversation turned to Alan and, as Mark puts it, felt like another bridge to his dad -- "Life is interesting that way."