Obituary of C. M. "Hank" Hancock

A lifelong resident of Frankfort, born March 3, 1936, passed away February 16, 2024. Charles McGrath Hancock, known by many as “Hank”, graduated from Good Shepherd High School, attended Bellarmine college for one year and the University of Kentucky for three years before being drafted into the United States Army where he was honored as outstanding cadet at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Outstanding Platoon Leader at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. He has celebrated 65 years of marriage to his college sweetheart, Ann Rupard Helburn of Eminence, Kentucky. They have four wonderful children: Charles “Chuck” (Sherri) Hancock II, Jack (June) Hancock, Catherine (Gerry) Hancock O'Connor, and Kimberly (Richard) Rivera. He has ten amazing grandchildren: Bradley (Shawna) Hancock, Jessica (Jon) Hancock-Silva; Leslie (Tony) Hancock Ayala; Finley and Emerson O'Connor; and Rex, Sydney, Violet, Olivia and Layla Rivera; and three great-grandchildren: Easton and Emmett Hancock and Baylee Ayala. Hank enjoyed his League winning years as an elementary school basketball coach for both boys and girls over a 30-year period, coaching these teams to several championships. He also served as a Scoutmaster and an Explore Scout leader. His work with youth led to his involvement in the Frankfort YMCA. He served as the youngest president of the YMCA board during its fundraising and development activities for the new facility. He was the proud recipient of the Red Triangle and the Service to Youth award, which are two of the highest honors in the YMCA. Hank was a proud member of the Frankfort Jaycees for twelve years for which he credits his successful accomplishments in the community and in business through obtaining lifelong friends. He took on the responsibility of the family plumbing and heating business at age 23 due to the untimely death of his father. Hank was recognized statewide for his contributions to that industry. Again, serving as the youngest ever state President of the Kentucky Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling contractors and in later years as the Executive Director of that organization. He also served many years as an officer of the local PHCC Association. He was a proud recipient of the KAPHCC Contractor of the Year, 1894 Award and President's Award. He received national recognition as the Outstanding Legislator Award recipient and was inducted into the KAPHCC Hall of Fame. Hank was elected to the Kentucky State House of Representatives in 1973 and continued to honorably serve in that position through 1994. During his tenure as a State Representative he served as Speaker Pro Tem, Chairman and Co-chair of many committees, Chairman of the Southern Legislative Transportation Committee and Vice Chair of the National Legislative Transportation Committee resulting in his induction into the Kentucky Transportation Hall of Fame (the only living legislator to have received that distinguished award). His many honors include VFW Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Good Shepherd Alumnus, and Top Ten Outstanding Young Men of Kentucky. Upon his retirement at age seventy-eight, Hank continued to focus his services on community involvement by serving as member and Chairman of the Capital Museum Board, Treasurer of the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee, and member of the Initial Board of the Franklin County Community Fund. Besides his mother and father (Dorothy LeCompte and Charles Wright Hancock), Hank was preceded in death by his sister Sue Bell Hancock Winans and brothers Hartwell Frazier Hancock, George Washington Hancock, and Michael “Mike” David Hancock; brothers-in-law John Winans, William “Buzz” West, and Ray Larson; sister-in-law Susan Hancock; and daughter-in-law Sherri Murphy Hancock. He is survived by brother Joseph Patrick “Pat” Hancock; sisters Elizabeth “Liza” Jane Hancock West and Dorothy “Dottie” (Danny) Hancock Crocker; sister-in-law Betty Helburn Larson; and many wonderful nephews, nieces and cousins. Casket pallbearers will be his nephews David, Jimmy and Nelson Winans; Ray and Chris Armstrong, Sean Crocker; Joe and Jeff Hancock; and David Larson, and nieces Karen Winans Hellard; Lena and Holli West, Georgeanne West Crabtree; and Jennifer Hancock Tedesco. Honorary pallbearers will be members of OFC Lunch Bunch: John Avent, Charlie Geveden, Ronnie Walpert, Don Buchanon, Phil Huddelston, Jerry Deaton and others, as well as members of Poker Club: Simeon Parker, Ted Collins, Phil Hughes, Noel Clayton, Gregg Harper, and Damon Mitchell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 28th, with burial following in the Frankfort Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Rogers Funeral Home from 3:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, February 27th. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm, followed by a time of sharing and celebration of Hank's life. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Hank's memory are suggested to the Amyloidosis Research Consortium (arci.org) or the Capital City Museum, 325 Ann Street, Frankfort, KY 40601.