Dr. Hannie, R.I.P.

One of the best damn pediatricians Baton Rouge has ever seen died last week. Went to Dr. Hannie when he was in that office across the street from what was women's hospital on Goodwood, then when he moved over by Independence Park with Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Raborn. Great guy and was ALWAYS booked. Here is part of his obit.

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Jim Hannie died at 1:00AM August 18, 2018 at the Baton Rouge General Hospital. He had three loves in his life: his God, his family, and his beloved Catholic High School. He lived a long and active life raising five children while active in his community. He graduated from St. Agnes Elementary School, Catholic High School, LSU and LSU Medical School. He married Patricia Anne Copponex on June 14, 1957 while he was attending LSU Medical School. The marriage would last fifty-nine (59) years.

After completing his residency in pediatrics, he joined the United States Air Force Medical Corps. He completed his service in 1964 with a terminal rank of Captain. In 1964, Jim moved to Baton Rouge, the city of his birth, and began private practice.

He practiced pediatrics from 1964 to 2000 and always had a great love of his little patients. He would always remember the name of the child while completely forgetting the name of the parents. Dr. Hannie lived by Matthew 9:14: 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. . .'' The patients and staff loved his famous coin magic.

Jim loved Catholic High School. He became the CHS team doctor immediately upon his return to Baton Rouge. He was an innovator in sports medicine. Dr. Hannie was a founding member of the Baton Rouge Sports Medicine Society. He initiated the use of physical therapy in the treatment of football injuries and started the practice of three (3) days of training without pads at the beginning of football season. He was instrumental in establishing water breaks every hour of football practice as well as incorporating electrolyte replacement during those breaks. Dr. Hannie was one of the first physicians to provide complimentary physicals for players before practice began. All of these innovations are commonplace today, but they were radical departures of the standards at the time.

When the family lived in New Orleans, Jim would travel to Baton Rouge weekly to see the Bears play. Once, he forced the hospital to adjust the television antennae to receive the Baton Rouge news broadcast to get the score of a game he could not attend. He was a member of the Catholic High Lay Advisory Board, the CHS Men's Club, and the CHS executive committee. He was the first person to be a member of both the CHS Hall of Fame and the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame known as The Grizzly Greats. Dr. Hannie was very active in the church as a longtime member of Our Lady of Mercy parish. He served as a member of an Advisory Committee for the establishment of St. Louis King of France parish and was a member of the League of St. Michael, the Archangel. Jim was a founder of the Catholic Education Development Fund that raised money for Catholic education and was a member of the Diocesan Finance Board, a member of the Diocesan Budget and Review Committee, and a member of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Dr. Hannie did many charitable works out of the public eye. He treated many, many patients free of charge, treated the children in Mother Theresa's shelter, and let Mother's kids swim in the pool at his residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Catholic High School of Baton Rouge.

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