Arthur T. Hannett

Arthur T. Hannett
7th Governor of New Mexico
In office January 1, 1925 – January 1, 1927
Lieutenant	Edward F. Sargent
Preceded by	James F. Hinkle
Succeeded by	Richard C. Dillon
Personal details
Born	February 17, 1884 Lyons, New York
Died	March 18, 1966 (aged 82) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Louise Westfall
Residence	Gallup
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Episcopalianism

Arthur Thomas Hannett (February 17, 1884 – March 18, 1966) was an American politician who rose to become the seventh Governor of New Mexico.

He was born in Lyons, New York, the son of William and Mary McCarthy Hannett. After completing high school he entered Syracuse University, where he was graduated in 1910. Hannett came to Gallup, New Mexico in 1911, where he began to practice law. His first public office was City Attorney and he also served as Mayor of Gallup for four years. Hannett married Louise Westfall, daughter of William and Estella Westfall, at Clyde, New York on August 13, 1913. He was an alternate delegate from New Mexico to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1912, and chairman of the New Mexico delegation at the Democratic National Convention at San Francisco in 1920.

After serving as a member of the State Highway Commission from March 1923, until December 1924, Hannett was elected Governor of New Mexico and served from January 1, 1925 until January 1, 1927.

During his tenure U.S. Route 66 was rerouted to avoid Santa Fe and instead passed through Albuquerque, New Mexico. The rerouting saves drivers traveling across the state nearly four hours. Legend says Hannett did the rerouting to punish the Republican Santa Fe Ring which had controlled New Mexico politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.^[1]

References

1. New Mexico Route 66, New Mexico mother road, old Route 66