Orval Hansen, 3-term Idaho congressman, dies at 91

Former three-term Idaho congressman Orval Hansen has died at the age of 91.

A Republican, he was noted for helping establish the Idaho National Laboratory and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and for working with colleagues from both parties on major initiatives. A World War II veteran, he served in both houses of the state Legislature and counted among his accomplishments a constitutional amendment to remove language barring Americans of Asian heritage from voting.

“Orval Hansen was an important member of a generation of Idaho leaders who didn’t let partisanship or ideology stand in the way of crafting reasonable, responsible and practical public policy,” Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said Friday. “He faithfully represented the people of Idaho in the Legislature, in Congress and in the way he lived his life.”

Idaho’s current senior U.S. senator, Mike Crapo, said he interned with Hansen as a college student in the 1970s. “It helped spur my interest in the political process and public service,” Crapo said Friday.

“He was a strong leader and represented Idaho well during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, whether it was helping shape the growth of what became the Idaho National Laboratory or preserving our heritage and work on our public lands,” Crapo said. “His legacy will be fondly remembered here in Idaho.”

Hansen, a native of Firth, earned a bachelor’s degree in speech from the University of Idaho in 1950 and a law degree from George Washington University in 1954. After studying at the London School of Economics, he entered private law practice in Idaho Falls and was elected to the Idaho state House in 1956. There, he served four terms and was house majority leader in 1961.

He championed moving from biennial to annual legislative sessions, helped form the Idaho State Parks Department and worked to dramatically improve funding for education. Hansen moved from the House to the Senate for one term before being elected to Idaho’s 2nd District congressional seat, representing Southern Idaho.

After his three terms in Congress, Hansen practiced law in Washington, D.C., and earned a doctorate in political science from George Washington University. He was the founder and president of the Columbia Institute for Political Research, which organized 250 policy and economic conferences in all 50 states over 25 years, and, with the late Bethine Church and Cecil Andrus, helped found the Sawtooth Society.

Hansen also was a marathoner and a mountain climber who climbed mountains in Nepal, Mexico and Ecuador. Last year, he published his memoir, “Climb the Mountains.”

He and his wife, June, a professional actress, had seven children. The couple were married for 61 years.

Hansen came from a political family. His brothers, Reed and John, both served as Republicans in the state Legislature. His son Jim served three terms in the state House as a Democrat from Boise, challenged Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson and is a former executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party.

Simpson said Friday that he was saddened to hear of Hansen’s passing. “He saw the potential that existed in our state for world-class nuclear energy research, and because of that vision, Idaho National Laboratory is a respected leader in energy research,” he said. “We are greatly indebted to Congressman Hansen for his service to Idaho and our nation.”

Hansen died Thursday evening at his Boise home, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, June, seven children and 12 grandchildren.