William Claud Hatcher

WILLIAM CLAUD HATCHER SEPTEMBER 26, 1922 – June 17, 2015 Born September 26, 1922, in Bleecker, Alabama to Claud and Cleo Adams Hatcher, Mr. Hatcher was raised in Juliette, Georgia. After graduating in 1940 from Mary Persons High School in Forsythe, Georgia, he moved to Atlanta where he enrolled in Georgia Evening College (now Georgia State University) and began his long career with Genuine Parts Company. In 1942, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps, receiving his wings in Marfa, Texas in April of 1945. That same month he married Margaret Brown of Atlanta, who died of cancer in 1975. Following his discharge from the Air Corps in 1945, Mr. Hatcher returned to work in Atlanta before being transferred to Birmingham and New Orleans with Genuine Parts. He returned to Atlanta in 1961 as President of the Atlanta operations. In 1964, he was elected to the Genuine Parts board of directors and named Vice President of Operations for the entire company. Elected President and COO in 1974, he retired as Vice Chairman of the Board in 1987. Mr. Hatcher was active in the business and civic communities. He served as President and Chairman of the board of NAPA (National Automotive Parts Association). He served on the boards of directors for Echlin, Inc., National Services Industries, Munich American Reinsurance Company, Atlantic Steel Company, and the Canadian-American Society of the Southeast. Mr. Hatcher served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Northside United Methodist Church. He previously had served as chairman of the finance committee at Peachtree Road Methodist Church. He was chairman of the finance committee at Young Harris College and was a charter member of the Morehouse College School of Medicine Board of Trustees. He was on the advisory board of Georgia State University’s Board of Visitors. Mr. Hatcher was a board member at Young Harris College and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Schenck School. Past president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Mr. Hatcher was also active in Junior Achievement and the annual United Way fundraising campaigns for many years. A past member of the board of directors for the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hatcher also served as a trustee of Wesley Woods and as a board member for the Shepherd Center. Mr. Hatcher was honored as the distinguished alumnus for the Georgia State University College of Business in 1982. In 1991, he received the distinguished service award from the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit. In 2004, Mr. Hatcher was awarded the President’s Medallion for outstanding service to Young Harris College. In 2006, Mr. Hatcher was awarded an honorary doctorate from Georgia State University. And in 2010, Mr. Hatcher was honored by Day One as the Methodist civic leader of the year. Mr. Hatcher served on the boards of Peachtree Golf Club, the Capital City Club, and the Georgian Club. He was also a member of the Piedmont Driving Club and the Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia. Mr. Hatcher was predeceased by his sisters Helen Hudgens, Rose Littleton and Jeanne Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher is survived by his wife of 40 years, Betty (Bebe) Sims Hatcher; his daughter, Peggy Hatcher; stepson and daughter-in-law, Ric and Debbie Weeks Felker; stepdaughter and son-in-law Betty Felker King and Rob King; grandchildren Lucy Hunt Hatcher; Allison Felker Hedgecoth and her husband, Charlie; Reeves Felker; Sarah Felker; Wilson King and his wife, Holly; Abbie King Finlayson and her husband, Ryan; Carter King and his wife, Katie; and Parker King and his wife, Jenny. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren.The family wishes to acknowledge Mr. Hatcher's special friendship with Sabrena Rena Blakeney. The memorial service will be held Saturday, June 20 at 2pm at Northside United Methodist Church with a reception to follow at the church