KYW vet Tony Hanson bids farewell

EMMY AWARD-winning local author and former TV reporter Lu Ann Cahn emceed the Women's Resource Center's ninth annual Leadership Luncheon on Friday afternoon.

The Ohio native, breast-cancer survivor and familiar face, formerly of NBC10, helped the Women's Resource Center celebrate 40 years of serving women in the region, with the sold-out event "The Art of Negotiating Throughout Life."

More than 650 attendees converged on the Hyatt at the Bellevue (200 S. Broad St.) for the three-hour networking lunch, aimed at helping women transition through divorce, unemployment, legal problems, counseling and other issues.

Tony Hanson, a longtime fixture at KYW Newsradio, worked his last day at the mic on Friday.

He's retiring after a storied, nearly four-decade-long career with the CBS affiliate.

"I worked 37 years doing a job I love and I am grateful for KYW Newsradio for the privilege," Hanson told me.

I've worked many a news assignment next to Hanson, both in the federal courthouse and at the Criminal Justice Center, and I'll miss his presence. When I asked him what's next on his calendar, he said, "A tee time Saturday morning."

Asked what story touched him the most over the past 40 years, Hanson pointed to Sept. 11, 2001. KYW sent him from Philly to NYC that day to talk with victims and their family members.

"The attacks of 9/11 changed our way of life," he told me.

"The next day I toured near Ground Zero, and, later in the day, I witnessed the resilient human spirit as people came out along the West Side Highway and applauded police, firefighters, volunteers - everyone to and from Ground Zero. It brought tears to my eyes, and I knew, even as I was reporting, I was witnessing one of the great moments in American history."

A Main Line artist beat out four other graphic-design firms in a contest to create the logo for the World Meeting of Families - coming to Philly in the fall.

William Milnazik, of Bryn Mawr's AXIS Visual, was awarded the contract to design the trademark brand for the international event, to be held on the Ben Franklin Parkway. It's expected to draw as many as 2 million people from around the globe, as well as Pope Francis (ergo, the 2 million).

"This is a very high-profile piece and it's an honor to have my work used for such an important event that will do good for so many," Milnazik said.

A graduate of the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Milnazik opened his design firm in 1997. Ultimately, it was his pitch that was approved by the Vatican. His logo will be displayed in several media, including on T-shirts and official documents, and on the World Meeting of Families website.

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