PRINTER'S NO. 1987
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 373
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY K. WARD, YAW, MASTRIANO, TARTAGLIONE, BAKER,
HUGHES, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, ROTHMAN, PITTMAN, DUSH, LAUGHLIN,
CULVER, REGAN, PENNYCUICK, SANTARSIERO, J. WARD, VOGEL,
PHILLIPS-HILL AND COSTA, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the life and celebrating the achievements of the
2 Honorable Henry George Hager III and expressing condolences
3 to his family and friends on his passing.
4 WHEREAS, The Senate of Pennsylvania mourns the loss of the
5 Honorable Henry George Hager III, a dominant figure in
6 Pennsylvania government for several decades; and
7 WHEREAS, Affectionately known as "Merc," Mr. Hager was born
8 April 28, 1934, in Williamsport to Henry G. Hager, Jr., M.D.,
9 and Eleanor (Watt) Hager; and
10 WHEREAS, After graduating from Wesleyan College and the
11 University of Pennsylvania Law School, Mr. Hager's life in
12 public office began as a special deputy Attorney General in 1962
13 and then as the district attorney for Lycoming County; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager was elected to the Senate in 1972 and four
15 years later became the youngest Republican Senate Leader in
16 Pennsylvania history; and
17 WHEREAS, During his years as Leader, Mr. Hager led his caucus
 1 to the majority and, in 1980, was elected by the entire Senate
2 to be President pro tempore; and
3 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager ran for Governor in 1978, losing in a
4 crowded Republican primary to Richard Thornburgh; and
5 WHEREAS, After retiring from the Senate in 1984 at 50 years
6 of age, Mr. Hager was elected president and CEO of the Insurance
7 Federation of Pennsylvania and served for 16 years until his
8 retirement in 1998; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager's achievements, both in the Senate and at
10 the Insurance Federation were considerable and lasting,
11 including the creation of the Independent Regulatory Review
12 Commission and sweeping reforms of Pennsylvania's auto and
13 workers' compensation laws; and
14 WHEREAS, His lasting trademark was one of integrity,
15 intelligence and bipartisanship; and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager was an avid golfer and a member of the
17 Fiddlesticks Country Club, Williamsport Country Club, Merion
18 Golf Club and Pine Valley Golf Club; and
19 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager leaves behind his daughters Hannah Hager
20 Davis (Eric) of Jamesville, New York; Eleanor Hager Temelini
21 (David) of Roslindale, Massachusetts; and his three
22 grandchildren, Ariana, Kaya and Charles Temelini; and
23 WHEREAS, Mr. Hager was predeceased by his wife, the former
24 Sally Ann Parrish; and his sister, Gretchen Telek, wife of
25 Andrew Telek of Traverse City, Michigan; therefore be it
26 RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life and celebrate the
27 achievements of the Honorable Henry George Hager III and express
28 condolences to his family and friends on his passing.
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