Note: his tombstone and obituary list his name as Reed, not Andrew Reed

Published in The Enterprise, January 16, 1969

REED O’HANLON, ATTORNEY HERE FOR 50 YEARS, DIED MONDAY

(picture) (veteran)

Reed O’Hanlon, Sr, well-known Blair attorney and lifetime resident of Blair, died at Memorial Community Hospital Monday, January 13th. He had been in failing health for more than a year and had been hospitalized several months.

Mr. O’Hanlon headed what was probably the best known small-town law firm in eastern Nebraska. The O’Hanlon & O’Hanlon firm, at the time of his death, was an accumulation of four generations of legal talent which had been active in the affairs of the city since Blair was a village in its infancy. He, like other members of his family who have been associated with the legal profession, had always had an active interest in the welfare and growth of the community and they have all left their mark on the history of Blair.

Reed O’Hanlon was born at Blair August 17th, 1893. He was a graduate of Blair High School and later the University of Nebraska School of Law.

In the early days of his practice he was associated with his father, the late Clark O’Hanlon, Sr. Later the firm was joined by Reed’s brother, the late Philip O’Hanlon and still later by his son, Clark O’Hanlon, Jr. Currently, John O’Hanlon, a student of Law at the University of Nebraska, is associated with the firm on a part-time basis.

As a young man, Reed was a member of the Armed Forces. He rose to the rank of Major in the Army. In 1915 and 1916 he saw service on the Mexican border and later, in World War I, he served with the Army overseas.

He began his practice of law in Blair fifty years ago in 1919.

He held an active interest in baseball and was President of the Elkhorn Valley Baseball league for a number of years. He was prominent in the formation of a company to build the Blair Bridge across the Missouri River and he was President of the Bridge Corporation until the costs of the venture were retired and the bridge turned over to the states of Nebraska and Iowa several years ago.

During the years, he served as City Attorney for Blair; County Attorney; attorney for the Blair school district; attorney for the Board of Public Works; and was active on numerous civic improvement committees.

He was a charter member of the Blair Rotary Club and was a past President of the organization. In 1940 and ’41 he was Department Commander of the American Legion for the state of Nebraska. At one time he was also Grand Master of the I.O.O.F. of Nebraska.

Mr. O’Hanlon is survived by his wife, Ruth, and by his son, Clark, of Blair; and Robert of LaGrange, Ill. A son, Reed, Jr., preceded him in death in 1961. A daughter, Mrs. Ruth Ann Samson, lives at Falls City, Nebraska. A sister, Miss Frances O’Hanlon lives in Blair.

There are 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Rosary was held at the Campbell Mortuary Wednesday evening and funeral services were held this (Thursday) morning at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Father Patrick Nolan conducted the services and burial was made in Holy Cross cemetery in Blair by the Campbell Mortuary.

Pallbearers were Simon Korshoj, Alfred O. Sick, Stanley Bednar, Louis Murdoch, G. L. Dixon, and Paul Kruger.