Denison Liberal MHA Michael Hodgman sat quietly for more than a hour as each MP, led by his son and Opposition leader Will Hodgman, talked of his years of service and his special attributes.

His immediate family including his partner Lindy Bell and two brothers, former politician Peter and John Hodgman were in the house to hear the valedictory for the man who has served at every level of state and federal politics except in the Senate.

Premier David Bartlett remembered first meeting Mr Hodgman as a boy of seven or eight years at a polling booth at Mt Nelson and taking home a handful of his trademark yellow and blue stickers which he dutifully stuck all over his bedroom door.

His furious father made him remove them but after telling Mr Hodgman the story years later, Mr Bartlett arrived to work at Parliament House for the first time to find a pile of the same blue and yellow stickers on his desk to welcome him.

Mr Hodgman told Parliament that he would miss politics after 34 years of parliamentary service.

He has seen 12 premiers and 10 prime ministers as an MP.