USHL Mourns Passing of Ed Hanes

Press Release

Ed Hanes, one of the USHL’s pioneer owners, passed away on Saturday, October 6^th in Mason City, Iowa at the age of 80.  Hanes, along with his wife Billie, were instrumental in reviving the North Iowa Huskies organization in the 1980’s.  The USHL Member Club was located in Mason City from 1983 to 1999 before it moved to become the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

During a time when the USHL was still a young league and the North Iowa Huskies struggled as an organization to survive, Hanes provided critical leadership and funding to the team, in addition to contributing countless hours of his time to make sure the organization remained a part of the community.

“Many times he would be the guy that took care of things for the Huskies, whether it was through his time or financially,” said P.K. O’Handley, Head Coach of the Waterloo Black Hawks who began his USHL coaching career with North Iowa in 1991.  “No one ever knew about it and Ed wanted it that way.  He didn’t want any fanfare as he just wanted to see people succeed.”

O’Handley led the North Iowa Huskies for seven USHL seasons (1991-98), winning 140 games with the organization, including a team record 36 victories during the 1997-98 season.

“Ed and Billie Hanes were very important in my life as a young coach,” said O’Handley.  “No matter if things were going good or bad, Ed always gave me his time and I will forever be indebted for that.”

The Huskies would experience ups and downs throughout their history, but the one constant was Ed and Billie Hanes and their unconditional support of the team.  A crowning moment for the organization was in 1989 when the Huskies captured the Gold Cup, the then national championship played between all USA Hockey-sanctioned junior leagues.  That moment would never have been possible without the efforts of the Hanes family.

Although the North Iowa Huskies would eventually relocate and become the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in 1999, the family’s contributions to hockey and the USHL were not forgotten.  The League would recognize Ed and Billie Hanes with the USHL Distinguished Service Award in 2004.

“Ed in a lot of ways was instrumental to instilling the values of what the USHL is today – developing players and people, doing it the right way, and finding a way to be successful,” said O’Handley.

Hanes was born and raised in Mason City, graduating from Mason City High School in 1950 and later graduating from Mason City Junior College.  He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1954.  He married his high school sweetheart Billie Jackson in 1953 and the couple raised three daughters.  After serving in the Army for two years, he returned home to join the family business, Yelland & Hanes.  He eventually purchased the company alongside his brother and they also began a wholesale stationery business in the basement, Midwest Wholesale which grew to over 50 employees by the time of Ed’s retirement.

Hanes was a pillar of the community, volunteering his time and serving on numerous boards of directors.  He successfully conducted the first oral polio vaccine clinic as President of the Mason City Jaycees, giving out over 70,000 doses, and acquired the first defibrillator for Mercy Hospital.  His service to his local communities of Mason City and Clear Lake earned him induction into the Iowa Volunteers Hall of Fame.
He was an expert sailor and was involved in the Clear Lake Yacht Club for a number of years.  His craftsmanship with handmade wooden boats earned him the opportunity to represent the state of Iowa at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

Hanes was preceded in death by his wife Billie in 2005.  He is survived by his two sisters, three children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Memorial donations for Ed Hanes can be made to the Clear Lake Sailing School, in his name, in care of Nancy Jo Lundeen, 5950 South Shore Court, Clear Lake, IA 50428.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)