It's time to highlight another member of the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame. Each and every Friday through early August, in partnership with Legends Casino, Wildcatsports.com will highlight legends from CWU's past. This is the second installment of Hall of Fame Fridays.

Richard "Handshake" Hanson came to Central Washington - State College at the time - in 1970 and played his way to three All-America selections under legendary head coach Dean Nicholson.

His first selection came in 1970-71, when he earned third team honors. In 1971-72, Hanson claimed second team honors. His highest selection, however, came in 1971-72, when he earned first team accolades.

The Blaine, Washington product followed a stellar two-time all-state career at Blaine High School where he set numerous state tournament records including the State A Tournament scoring record with 241 points, a record which stood until 1993, by amassing 1,506 points and 764 rebounds at Central Washington. Hanson also set single tournament records for points (135), free throw attempts (70), free throws made (59), and rebounds (98).

According to Dick Walsh, a Blaine, Washington resident who attended the State A Tournament in 1964, "Richard Hanson had been the star and he was really worth watching. Basketball was his form of art. It was like he saw more possibilities than everyone else. He made everyone around him look better."

Handshake averaged 17.6 points per game and shot 76.4 percent from the free throw line for the Wildcats. In 1973, Hanson scored 20.3 points per game, totaling a team-high 590 points on the season. His total points places him 11th all-time in a single season, while his 20.3 PPG currently sits at 10th. He is seventh in career points and field goals made, 10th in points per game, fifth in free throws made (390), sixth in rebounds, and seventh in rebounds per game (8.7).

Hanson earned his nickname while playing for the Blaine Borderites. Just prior to tip-off, as both teams took their positions on the court, Hanson would shake hands with everyone around him to rattle opponents. His nicknamed earned him a mention in a Sunday edition of The Palm Beach Post on March 21, 1974.

Handshake was inducted into the Blaine High School Hall of Fame in 2019 and the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.