Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) Aransas Pass Progress (on) August 24, 2014

Richard David (Dick) Hatch

Beloved father and grandfather Richard David (Dick) Hatch, 101, of Aransas Pass, passed away on Aug. 23, 2014. He was born on Nov. 10, 1912 in Big Spring, Texas to Robert and Dora Hatch.

Dick graduated from Big Spring High School in 1928, and went to work in the oil field. He graduated in 1933 from Texas A&M University with an engineering degree and worked for several oil companies. In 1937 he married Katherine Vines. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went to war on July 4, 1942. He retired active duty as a Lieutenant Junior grade, he and remained in the Navy Reserve for 20 years. In May of 1949 he graduated Cum Laude from Baylor University with a law degree.

Dick and Katherine, with their four children, moved to Aransas Pass in May of 1949 and went into law practice with William E. Nicholas. He was the general chairman in 1949 and 1950, when the Shrimp-o-ree was called “Democracy beats Communism.” In 1949, County Judge Bill Schmidt asked him to fill out a term as city attorney, which gained him statewide recognition. He was active in the Texas City Attorney's Association from 1950-1970 and was its president in 1958 and 1959. While practicing law in Aransas Pass, he was city attorney for Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Rockport, Taft, Gregory, Portland, and Port Aransas. He was appointed San Patricio County Attorney in 1970 and held that position until his retirement in December of 1984. After retirement he went back into private practice in Aransas Pass. In 1978, he was president of the Texas City Attorney's Association, and also president of the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and first president of the Rotary Club. He was on the Aransas Pass Independent School Board and worked hard to get a bond issue passed for a new high school.

While San Patricio County Attorney, he worked hard against discrimination against Hispanics. He took his secretary, Silvia Olivarez, to work in the San Patricio Courthouse and she was the first Hispanic employee at the courthouse besides the janitors. He was selected as the outstanding senior citizen in 1986 for Aransas Pass. In 1998 the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce honored him as citizen of the year. He was also a member of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Aransas Pass since 1949.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, two sisters, and his wife, Katherine Evalena Vines Hatch; and two grandchildren, Katherine Louise Shedd and Christopher Ladewig.

He is survived by sons Richard David Hatch III (Nancy) of Aransas Pass and George Charles Hatch (Dr. Patrizia Gentile) of Corpus Christi; daughters, Dora Ann Hatch Ortego (Brent) of Victoria, and Kay Hatch Durrett (James) of Florence, Ala.; 18 grandchildren, Kimberlee Smith, James Darrell Hatch, Sue Ann Rose, Howard Hatch, Richelle Steirer, Jean Tiedeman, Stacy Hatch, Gerald M. Shedd Jr., Bucky Shedd, Terry Ann Willemin, Jackie Christine Serio, Phyllis Kay Salazar, Judy Dianne Broderick, Leslie Lynn Cavellero, Holly Denise Hartman, Joseph David Ladewig, Joel Edwards Durrett and Katherine Lillian Graham; 44 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

Expressions of sympathy may be made by donations to St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, the Aransas Pass Library or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug. 28 from 6-9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass. A funeral service will be held Friday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Aransas Pass. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery with full military honors.

Arrangements are entrusted to Charlie Marshall Funeral Home, located at 2003 W. Wheeler in Aransas Pass. Call 361-758-3221.