H. Wayne Hanks

H. Wayne was born on August 18, 1926 in Van Wert, IA and grew up in Sioux Falls, SD. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Los Angeles State College where he lettered in basketball. After a career in aerospace and manufacturing sales, Wayne and family eventually settled in Grand Prairie in 1968. He purchased Control Products Corporation and established himself as a significant contributor to the aerospace lighting industry. He was still Chairman of the Board and involved in the day to day operations of the company until his death.

H. Wayne was a tireless volunteer for many organizations in Grand Prairie. He served on the boards of the Grand Prairie YMCA, Grand Prairie Chamber, Grand Prairie Rodeo Club “Wranglers”, City of Grand Prairie Planning & Zoning Commission, Grand Prairie Medical Center, Grand Prairie Rodeo Club and recently retired after twenty years of service on the Grand Prairie Sports Development Corporation board. He frequently cited his co-chairmanship of the Grand Prairie Breeders’ Cup Host Committee as one of his proudest moments, bringing that prestigious race and festival to the South for the only time in its history. Considered one of Grand Prairie’s most ardent supporters, he will be missed by the hundreds of colleagues, friends and family who worked with him.

H. Wayne was the recipient of many awards, including an Honorary Texas PTA Life Membership, GP Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year, John Justin National Rodeo Committeeman of the Year, Lifetime Wrangler Membership Award, Grand Prairie Chamber Chairman’s Award, Grand Prairie Chamber Citizen of the Year and Aerospace Lighting Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2004, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie named the paddock in his honor.

H. Wayne is survived by his wife of 56 years and love of his life, Virginia; son Gregory Hanks and wife Tammy of Bakersfield, CA; daughter Linda Lee and husband Michael of Grand Prairie, TX; daughter Martha Vandeveerdonk and husband Tony of Grapevine, TX; and daughter Jayne Christian of Euless, TX, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Mildred Rich of Long Beach, CA and Mary Brown of Paramount, CA, along with special friends Steve Edes and Blaine Christian.

Visitation will be on Sunday, November 4th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home (South). A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Grand Prairie on Monday, November 5th at 10:30am, followed by interment at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens. The family will receive guests at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Prairie after the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lone Star Park Charitable Foundation for Grand Prairie or the American Cancer Society.