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.

Notable accomplishments included passage of the Agricultural Area Security Law, June 30, 1981; addition of the first Senate computer system, installation and employment of a bipartisan management committee’s service; establishment, Independent Regulatory Review Commission. 

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.