James V. Hansen

James Vear "Jim" Hansen (born August 14, 1932) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.

Hansen was born in Salt Lake City, graduating from the city's East High School. From 1951 until 1955 he served in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Utah, receiving a business degree from the school in 1961. The same year that he left college, Hansen was elected to the Farmington City Council. He also worked as an insurance agent.

From 1973 until 1980, Hansen was a member of the Utah House of Representatives and served as speaker of the house from 1979 until 1980. He was elected to Congress in 1980 and represented Utah's 1st congressional district from January 3, 1981.

Hansen retired on January 3, 2003. Hansen served as chairman of the Committee on Resources in his last term in the 107th Congress. Hansen ran for the governorship in 2004, but was defeated at the Republican convention by Jon Huntsman, Jr. who went on to win the election. He was appointed a commissioner on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

When a portion of US-89 in Weber County, Utah was upgraded to freeway standards, it was named the James V. Hansen Highway. The federal building in Ogden, Utah was renamed the James V. Hansen Federal Building in his honor in 2004.