Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 May 1967 — Page 3
Saturday, May 13. 1967
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
Poge Three
Dedicated, determined candidate
Hatcher: lofty perch after lowly start?
The first Negro mayor of an industrial city of some 180,000 population would be a lofty height for the 34-year-old son of an “economy-minded,” but poor, boxcar builder. And Richard G. Hatcher is in position to achieve such heights. He is the Democratic nominee for mayor in predominantly Democratic Gary.
His present challenging perch must be credited to the same virtues that got the candidate through college, into a successful law practice and on to a focal point in the public spotlight. The virtues: determination, dedication, hard work. They stand out, as Hatcher says: “When I graduated from high school, there was no money to talk about going to college. But I told my father I was going.” Usually modest, Hatcher is the same in talking about his achievements. • In his political career, he refers to Negro businessman Henry Coleman, also his campaign manager, as the “real stabilizing influence.” “My family has always stood by me,” he says as he relates that brothers and sisters pitched in with small contributions to help him through college. And his political inspiration here comes from “a group of guys I met when I first came to Gary.” That group would be the persons who, with Hatcher, formed
Muigwithania, a social and civil club instrumental in the mayoralty canddate’s success. “Those guys,” Hatcher says, “are very sincere persons with a great deal of integrity. They have provided a kind of support and sincerity that have been a great deal of inspiration to me. They represent a kind of a new breed — young fellows who want a better community.” Hatcher’s road to his present heights began July 10, 1933 in Michigan City, when he was born the 12th of Carlton and Catherine Hatcher’s 13 children. His mother died when he was 14. “But my step-mother (Mrs. Georgia Hatcher) has always been like a mother to me.” Hatcher says during conversation that indicates a close knit family where respect, love and frugality have molded the lives of the seven children still living. Gary’s candidate for mayor relates that his father worked 36 years for Pullman’s boxcar building plant in Michigan City before retiring. But we had a very dfficult time of it, throughout my childhood,” he adds, then continues about his father’s job which was usaually only for six months out of a year because of layoffs. Graduation from Isaac C. Elston High School in Michigan City cast an ambitious, but moneyless young man into his “crossroads” of life. Despite his having no money to talk about college, Hatcher
got his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, then his law degree from Valparaiso University. Undergraduate studies were made possible through a small chaurch grant, a small athletic grant and a lot of waiting tables by Hatcher. Through short and slight, he played football and ran track in high school. “College,” Hatcher emphasizes today, “did for me what it has done for so many Negro youths. Up to that time, I had lived a sheltered and limited life. At college I had a chance to meet people from all over the country, talk to them and get their different viewpoints. “This expanded my personal horizons and made me aware that there was opportunity for me to do something other than what I was.” Continuing on his background, Hatcher said there were many people who had an impact on him during these important years. Another of the persons he mentioned in this category was Henry Walker, the late Rev. James Hunter worked his real estate business from that office. It was these two men who encouraged Hatcher to get into politics. “I didn’t need much encouragement. I was interested (in politics) any way,” the mayoral aspirant recalled. Ironically, his first offer for political support came from a group of Negroes, several of
whom were his bitterest enemies in the Democratic primary elections just past. Hatcher recalls. Hatcher bowed into politics in 1963 when he resigned his job as deputy Lake County prosecutor to run for one of Gary’s three councilman - at-large posts. He won handily. It was his activities in the City Council and with civil rights groups that got him branded as something of a racial militant and possibly radical. About this Hatcher says: “My record in the Council shows that I stood up and fought on all kinds of issues. But, prior to going to the Council, I was active in several civil rights activities. Consequently, my civil rights positions on the Counci were blown up—sometimes out of proportion.” On his political beliefs, the mayoral candidate declares that he has always stood for honesty and integrity in government and believes in a city administration free of corruption. “I, like others in the city of Gary, am personally getting tired of going some places and having people say, ‘you’re from Gary, Ind. ' Anything goes there.’ ” Hatcher comments. His stated desire is to “prove city government to all its citizens.” “These were the primary
factors in my deciding to run for mayor,” the candidate added. Some of the other things Hatcher would like for Gary are expanding of the business districts, city and county hospital emergency centers, a fieldhouse, cultural and civic center complex, the solving of water pollution problems, a small boat harbor, re-organization of the police department and a merit system for city employes.
Hatcher denounces any claims of alliance with the Democratic political machines in the past ad says he won’t make any commitments to this machine in his coming campaign.
“There is a Democratic party that is much larger than the Democratic machine, and in the fall the Democratic party will take on the Republican party,” the candidate declares.
Attacks Red Cross recruits
Hatcher sees his successful bid as a “trend toward more political amateurs becoming involved in city government on a volunteer basis,” such as his own primary election campaign. “I think this will inspire other good candidates to run for office and seek volunteer help. “It’s a healthy trend,” he concluded.
CAMPAIGN HELP: Richard G. Hatcher, right, got help in his drive for the Democratic nomination for mayor from one of the nation's top entertainers, Harry Belafonte.
VIRGIL TWINES
Funeral services for Virgil C. Twines, 75, 2428 N. Capitol were held in Barnes Methodist Church Tthursday, May 4. He died Monday, May 1 in a local nursing home.
He was a veteran of World War I and was employed as a custodian by the Rough Notes Co., 1142 N. Meridian St.
Headstart aides Tt*e Attacks High School Red Cros^ C\vi k is recruiting volunteers to work with the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross this summer. Volunteers, age 16 or older, are needed to assist with operation Headstart. Operation Headstart is a program for preschool children, ages 3 and 4. High school pupils volunteering service will be assigned to assist a pre-school teacher in one of 25 centers, located throughout Indianapolis. The volunteers will work as a part of a team. There will be field trips scheduled during which volunteers will assist the teacher in handling the children. This program offers an opportunity for rich experience for high school students. Volunteers may work by the month, week, day, or even halfday, giving service in the morning and afternoon. The Red Cross provides a uniform while the volunteers are working in the center. Interested students should see the school nurse to sign up and obtain more information. Miss June Moss, our nurse, has her office in Room 145.
The only immediate survivor is the widow, Mrs. Frances Twines.
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HUMBLE'S NEW PROGRAM: Help is what Humble Oil calls its new Earn and Learn Program. The first class of 15 young women attended typing (above) and shorthand courses while they worked at temporary jobs such as filing, coding and operating copying machines. At least seven members of the
class were hired by Humble or other firms at the first period. The company started its program when it had several vacancies for stenographers in Houston, its headquarters, but couldn't find enough young women who qualified for the jobs.
Job Corps / students workers
repair eastside home
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. — Airman Danny S. homas, son of Mrs. Goldena M. Holder, 1700 Mass. Ave., Gary, Ind. has been selected for technical training at Chanute AFB, 111. as a U.S. Air Force fire pro-
tection specialist.
He recently completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Tex. His new school is part of the Air Training Command which conducts hundreds of nation’s
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Airman Thomas is graduate of Pontiac Central High School.
a 1965 (Mich.)
mission to work on the house. She will return after the improvements have been completed.
A project, part of the home improvement course offered at School 26, under a federal program, more than a score of students, corpsmen, from Camp Atterbury and adults began a home repair project last Satur-
day.
The five Atterbury corpsmen, ten students in the Planner House, Inc. workshop and twelve adults attending a home improvement course grubbed in the dirt at 1614 Martindale Ave. last Saturday. The project is part of the improvement course offered under a federal grant at School
26. The adults participating in the project have proposed to renovate the house to show their friends and neighbors what can be done if people work together. T. Roosevelt Mumford, home improvement supervisor, Martindale Area Citizens Service said the improvement will be limited to yard work. MACS is the neighbor agency of Community Action Against Poverty, Inc. It is responsible for helping residents of the community to help themselves.
The class, directed by Crowell Shelton, consultant in industrial arts, Industrial Public Schools, was initiated with a slow start in April. Only two persons showed up for the opening day.
school principal: and Raymond E. Hill, president of the Eastside Neighborhood Assn, and a building contractor.
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Dennis W. Short, director of the Work Camp for Flanner House, Inc. pointed out that this is the fifth time corpsmen have taken part in the v/eekend work camp. Although the work camp has been operating on a weekend basis, it will be in session this year during the month of August, Mr. Short stated. Mr. Short said, the house is one of a widow who is unable to make necessary improvements. She moved out and gave the students the necessary per-
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