Roll Call Tribute

Carnes Funeral Home obituary
3100 Gulf Freeway
Texas City, TX 77591
Phone: 409.986.9900
fax: 409.986.9903
toll free: 1.888.822.7637
e-mail: info@carnes.ws

Lester B. Hatcher
Nov 29, 1944 - Jun 16, 2019

On November 29, 1944, Lester Branch Hatcher Jr. burst onto the scene in Orange, Texas, an unexpected gift to his parents, Lester Sr. and Lucille, and to his 13-year old sister Bettyeann, who thought she’d be an only child. Les grew up in Orange, helping out at his dad’s paint and body shop when he wasn’t cruising in his ’48 Chevy with buddies, checking out girls. He attended Stark High School, earned his Eagle Scout rank, played guard for the Orange Tigers football team and graduated in 1962. Les never had a doubt about where he would attend college. He was an Aggie to the Corps.

At Texas A&M, Fate smiled on Les when he was assigned to Army Company B-2, the Buzzards, along with 40 other fish, some of whom would become his lifelong friends. The highlight of Les’ college career occurred on November 12, 1963, when he, childhood pal Gus Harris and three other intrepid Buzzards stole the Texas Longhorns’ mascot Bevo. For his efforts, he won accolades from his fellow Ags and from the administration, expulsion.

After obtaining his BBA in management, Les served as an assistant football coach at DeKalb High School. He then returned to A&M to earn an MBA in management. Next, he headed to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Officer Basic training, where he was chosen Number One in his class by his peers.

The majority of Les’ 40+ year-career was in management consulting and accounting. He started 3 businesses and commanded a Scuba Diving Unit in the Army Reserve, the only one in the U.S. at the time. He obtained a private pilot’s license and was an inventor, with two patents to his credit. He was an excellent skier, both on water and on snow. A Renaissance Man, Les enjoyed music, art, theatre, reading science fiction, and hiking in the mountains of Colorado. Most of all, Les enjoyed being right.

Les is preceded in death by his parents, Lester Branch Sr. and Lucille Hatcher and by his sister, Bettyeann White. He is survived by his son, Scott Hatcher and his wife Erica, his grandsons Wesley and Ty Hatcher; his niece Julee White; his nephew Glinn White Jr. and his wife Kelley, his great-nephews, Tres and Travis White; and his beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback, Teddy.

In memory of Les, yell for the Ags, pet a big dog, eat a double scoop of Blue Bell, read his favorite poem, “High Flight,” or do all of the above while singing The Aggie War Hymn.