Virginia Hanson

Terry Hanson, born in 1947, is a retired American radio personality best known for his involvement with 'The John Boy and Billy Big Show.' His career spans various leadership positions in the sports industry, including being the initial head of Turner Broadcasting Sports and holding executive roles with multiple North American Soccer League teams. Hanson also served as Vice President for the PGA Tour, overseeing communications and broadcasting, and later led the events division for Raycom Sports.

Beyond his executive roles, Hanson has a background as a college coach, earning National Soccer Coach of the Year honors. He has also been involved in sports media consulting, executive search, and contract negotiation for talent and content. His family's company, Hanson Enterprises, founded in 1995, has continued to operate in these areas. Hanson's career has been marked by significant achievements, such as his role in broadcasting "The Game of the Decade" on TNT and executive producing an Emmy-winning documentary. He was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 for Sports Administration.

Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Terry Hanson pursued higher education, earning degrees in education from St. Benedict's College and Southeast Missouri State University. During his time at St. Benedict's College, he served as head coach for both soccer and baseball, receiving the NAIA National Soccer Coach of the Year award in 1974. His coaching experience also included a stint as an assistant baseball coach at Southeast Missouri State. Hanson further broadened his sports involvement by working as an associate scout for the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, and held senior executive positions with three North American Soccer League teams between 1976 and 1981.

Hanson played a pivotal role in the early days of sports broadcasting on cable television. As Vice President at Turner Broadcasting from 1980 to 1984, he was instrumental in outbidding CBS to air the highly anticipated college basketball game between the University of Virginia and the Georgetown Hoyas, which was broadcast on the newly named Turner Network Television (TNT). His responsibilities at TBS Sports extended to managing various programming, including the Atlanta Braves and Hawks, college football, and entries into NASCAR and the NBA. He later served as Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting for the PGA Tour, and President of PGA Tour Productions, where he managed media contracts and public relations.

Hanson has been associated with Hanson Enterprises, a company involved in executive search, consulting for media and sports startups, and talent representation. He operated this firm from 1994 to 2020, consulting for entities like ESPN and sports leagues. He also collaborated with author John Feinstein to bring the story of Bruce Edwards to the screen, resulting in a documentary for the Golf Channel. Since 2007, Hanson was a regular contributor to 'The John Boy and Billy Big Show,' a syndicated radio program. In 2020, he retired with his wife to Eureka, Missouri. He received a cornea transplant in 2021 and was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.