Biography

04/28/1934 - 06/27/2024

Henry George “Merc” Hager, III (R23) Bradford (Part) Clinton (Part) Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga Counties, 1973-1982 (R23) Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union (Part) Counties 1983-1984

Early Life: 

Henry George Hager, III,  born, April 28, 1934, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; son of Doctor Henry G. and Eleanor Watt Hager; Wesleyan University, BA, 1956; University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1959; married, Sallie Ann Parrish, 1958 (d. 2017), daughters, Hannah Hager Davis, Eleanor Hager Temelini; special deputy, attorney general, 1962-1963; Lycoming County District Attorney, 1964-1968; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1972- resigned November 30, 1984, Minority Leader, 1977-1980, president pro tem, 1981-1984; unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, 1978; president, Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, 1984-1998; died, June 27, 2024, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida. 

Early Career:

Chair, Pennsylvania Cancer Society; master, John F. Laedlein Mason Lodge, Number707; member, Williamsport Consistory; senior warden, Trinity Episcopal Church. 

President, Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, 1984-1998. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Special deputy, attorney general, 1962-1963. 

Lycoming County District Attorney, 1964-1968. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Bradford (Part) Clinton (Part) Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga Counties, 1973-1982, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union (Part) Counties, 1983-1984, Minority Leader, Republican Caucus, 1977, succeeded, deceased, Richard Frame (R-Venango), president pro tempore, 1981-1984, member ex-officio all standing committees; resigned, November 30, 1984.

Enacted Senate Bill 1380 Wednesday, April 10, 1974, P.L. 247, No. 59, selecting, designating and adopting the firefly as the official insect of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1974 Act 59 (state.pa.us)

Unsuccessful Republican primary campaign (Dick Thornburgh), Governor, 1978. Pennsylvania’s first open primary.   

Legacy: 

Nicknamed “Merc,” derived from the chemical symbol indicated by his initials, HGH (mercury). 

Named in his honor is, The Hager Lifelong Education Center, Pennsylvania College of Technology.  

Cited:  

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1982-1983). Ackley, G. (Editor). Avery, K. (Assistant Editor). (Volume 106) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 66.