Charles Hanlon

His coal miner father volunteered to join a rescue mission at the Kinloch Mine (Parnassus, PA) disaster on March 21, 1929 but perished in the attempt.

He served in the United States Army in World War II, and subsequently moved to Ventura, California, where he was an executive for a sand and gravel company.

He chaired committees including revenue, rules, transportation, and agriculture,[4] and served a term as president pro tempore in 1985.

Hanlon, who had been a registered Democrat two decades prior, said the Senate presidency issue prompted his decision to rejoin the party, though he had been considering it for some time.

He denied that his move was motivated by political gamesmanship, stating that his desire to be appointed chair of a committee was unrelated to joining the party; and he asserted his intention to remain independent, and critical of the two-party system.