Bill Hanna, spokesman for Tarrant County and former Star-Telegram reporter, dies
Bill Hanna, the public information officer for Tarrant County government and a former senior reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has died.
He was 62.
Hanna died “peacefully and unexpectedly” earlier this week while on vacation with his family in Mexico, his family said.
Hanna served as the chief spokesman for Tarrant County since 2019. Before that, he was a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 29 years, covering some of the biggest stories in North Texas. His work included an award-winning series on rural doctors, coverage of the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff in Waco and a 2008 raid of a polygamist compound in West Texas.
County Judge Tim O’Hare called Hanna “a true gentleman.”
“Always pleasant, kind, and easy-going, he loved his family dearly,” O’Hare said in a statement. “Tarrant County has lost a good man. We are praying for his family and friends.”
County Commissioner Manny Ramirez posted on X that Hanna was a “well-respected journalist, who followed a great career in media with a career in public service. He was a tremendous member of the Tarrant County team.”
‘Bill made things better for people’
Jack Douglas Jr., an investigative producer at NBC 5 who worked with Hanna at the Star-Telegram, recalled when they were sent to New York City to cover the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“Bill was just easy to be around. He was a fun guy, but when it came down to getting the story and reporting it, Bill was accurate and factual,” Douglas said.
“When there was a person in need, Bill was there,” he said. “Tarrant County has lost a tremendous advocate. Bill made things better for people.”
Kathy Vetter, a former managing editor who is now senior vice president for news and audience at the Star-Telegram’s parent company, described Hanna as a dedicated journalist who never complained and was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to cover a tornado or other breaking news.
“He really cared about Texas and the people he was covering,” Vetter said. “He was the nicest guy you would ever want to meet.”
A TCU graduate, Hanna covered his share of disasters but always built relationships with the people he was covering, said John Gravois, a former politics editor at the Star-Telegram. The 51-day Waco siege was a good example of Hanna’s dedication.
“Bill was a very solid, capable journalist who you could count on and dispatch to almost anywhere, any disaster, any breaking story,” Gravois said. “We could send him anywhere anytime and had the faith and trust that he was going to deliver.”
Funeral services are pending. Greenwood Funeral Homes in Fort Worth are handling the arrangements.
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 9:28 AM.