Mel Hancock

Who was Mel Hancock?

Melton D. "Mel" Hancock was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th congressional district.

Hancock was born in Cape Fair, Stone County, Missouri and in 1936 started school in Carthage, Missouri. From 1936 to 1941 he attended school in Springfield, Missouri. During World War II from 1941 to 1945, he attended school in Amarillo, Texas, Topeka, Kansas and Sioux City, Iowa. From 1945 to 1947, he attended high school in Springfield, Missouri, graduating in 1947. He received his B.S. from Southwest Missouri State in 1951. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in August, 1951. In basic training he was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal. He attended the United States Air Force Officer Candidate School and earned the rank of second lieutenant in March, 1953. Hancock was relieved from active duty in 1953, but continued to serve in the United States Air Force Inactive Reserve until 1965 and was discharged at the rank of first lieutenant.

Hancock worked full and part-time from 1947 to 1951 for International Harvester Company during college and from 1953 to 1959, when he resigned and returned to Springfield, Missouri to enter the insurance business, where he worked from 1959 to 1969. In 1969, he co-founded Federal Protection, Inc., a bank security equipment leasing company.