He attended the Charlotte City Schools and was a 1945 graduate of Central High School. He received an Associate in Arts degree from Mars Hill College in 1947, a Bachelor of Arts in English from UNC Chapel Hill in 1949, a Master of Arts degree in Education from UNC Chapel Hill in 1956 and a Ph.D. from UNC Chapel Hill in 1958.
Dr. Hanes started his teaching career at Wray Junior High School in Gastonia. He subsequently taught and was an administrator in the Winston-Salem City Schools. In 1962 he became the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, a position he held until 1972, where he was a key player in the consolidation and desegregation of schools. He served as Superintendent in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools from 1972 to 1980. The theatre at the high school Performing Arts Center in Chapel Hill was named in his honor. In 1980 he returned to Charlotte as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools, a position he held until he retired in 1990.
Dr. Hanes taught briefly at Wake Forest University and was an adjunct professor of Education at UNC Charlotte for ten years. He served on a number of local, state, and national boards including the National Board of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, two-term President of the NCASCD, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, and the NC Retired Governmental Employees. Locally, he served as president of Senior Scholars and district officer of the NCAE and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Retired School Personnel. He also served on the board of the Community School of Davidson for several years.
Dr. Hanes was also a military veteran. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He enlisted in 1950 as a private and received an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in 1953.
Bob was a devout Christian. He served two terms on the vestry and twice as the Senior Warden at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, as well as being a Sunday School teacher and a lay reader for many years.
Bob married Nancy Root of Raleigh in 1951 who survives him, and they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last June. He is also survived by their daughter, Nancy Hanes Cousar, her husband, Mark R. Cousar, and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth. He is also survived by his sister, Audrey Hanes Roberson, and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bob was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
A memorial service will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte at a later date to be announced soon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to the St. Martin’s Foundation, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 1510 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.
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