Woody Hanson's family arrived in this part of Florida in 1866...that’s basically when Fort Myers came to be. His roots go back to Manuel A. Gonzalez - the first civilian resident here after the fort.

He owned and operated a real estate firm for 40 years before closing it a couple of years ago to move to Dublin, Ireland to get a PhD from Trinity College - which he’s still working toward. 

He’s also maintained a close relationship with Florida’s Seminole and Miccosukee Indians - his family’s connection with the tribes dates back to his grandfather W. Stanley Hanson, who was known as “the White Medicine Man.”