MERRILL ‘RED’ FRANCIS HATCH

Colleagues remember “Red” Hatch

‘A person for the city of Welland’

By JANICE WALLS

Tribune Staff Writer

[Welland Tribune, 16 July 1985]

M.F. Hatch, centre, received a plaque last year in recognition of his outstanding service to the community. Mayor Roland Hardy, front left, presented the plaque. Looking on were John Campbell, chairman of Regional Niagara, right; and back row from left, Regional Chairman Loyala Lemelin; Allan Pietz, a regional councillor at the time  and now Welland MP; and Ald. Harry Diffin, a former Welland mayor.

WELLAND-Red Hatch will be remembered for his lasting contributions to this city.

Merrill (Red) F. Hatch, who died yesterday at the age of 77, was active in politics, sports and business.

Hatch was involved in municipal politics for 15 years and was a furniture and appliance dealer in Welland for many more years.

“I’ve known Red for over 50 years and I’ve done business with him even during the early Depression years,” said Regional Coun. Loyola Lemelin, who served with Hatch on city council for five years and on Regional council for several terms.

“Red was one of the sharpest fellows I’ve ever seen in politics,” said Lemelin. “While he was chairman of the Region’s finance committee, the fellow knew the value of a dollar and he practiced very good judgement. At a meeting you always knew that Red was there. “

Lemelin and Regional Chairman John Campbell both said one issue about which Hatch felt strongly was the need for universal water and sewer rates across the region.

“It was a very controversial subject,” said Campbell. Council finally brought in universal rates, he said, and Hatch “had an awful lot to do with it.”

Campbell said Hatch was “a person for the city of Welland.”

“He was a real friend and a real colleague,” said Welland Mayor Roland Hardy. Hardy recalls that one of Hatch’s greatest achievements for the city was getting a second underpass (the Townline Tunnel) when the new canal was built. Hatch was also among those who campaigned successfully to have dredging plans changed so the new canal banks would have more park and recreational possibilities immediately.

Welland MP Allan Pietz said Hatch retained his interest in politics right to the very end.

“I saw him last week in hospital. I went in with Mayor Hardy and he (Hatch) was still talking about the community and politics and the forth coming municipal election.”

When Pietz first ran for mayor in 1964, Hatch ran as an alderman. The two men served on city council until 1970, and then went to regional council together. They were both members of the Niagara district committee which advised on the formation and organization of regional council.

Although they were on opposite sides of the political fence –Pietz as a Tory and Hatch as a Liberal-they always worked closely together, said Pietz.

“We were able to build a rapport which was certainly good for me and I think it was good for him, and hopefully it was good for the community.”

Dr. Don McMillan, Mayor of Thorold, knew hatch for many years. McMillan’s father was federal MP for Welland from 1950 to 1965, and Hatch was the elder McMillan’s campaign manager through six elections.

“I remember he was an outstanding campaign manager,” said McMillan. Hatch was himself an accomplished politician, he said, who was missed at Regional Niagara when he retired from council in 1980. “Whenever he stood up to talk everybody listened.”

As finance chairman, Hatch “was always trying to keep from spending (public) money if he could,” said McMillan.

Former MP Vic Railton remembers Hatch as someone who did a great deal of work for the Liberal party.

“He was a good friend of mine and helped me a great deal,” said Railton, who also spoke of Hatch’s contribution to the development of the seaway area.

“He did a great deal for the city of Welland and this area.”

Port Colborne lawyer Bev Davies served with Hatch on the police commission for several years and described his contribution as “tremendous.”

“Red’s death brings to a close a distinguished career both in business and on the political scene,” said Davies.

Many Wellanders will remember Hatch for his work on the local sports scene.

One of Hatch’s earliest sports interests was watching boxing, according to Tommy Morrison, former managing editor of The Tribune. Hatch later became an avid fan of baseball. He was asked to join the executive of the Welland Senior Baseball club when baseball was in its heyday in the region.

In 1940, hatch became business manager for the Welland team and in 1943 he began a seven year stint as field manager.

“Hatch “was so skillful in coaching and building a top-quality team,” said Morrison, that he guided the Welland team to three Ontario championships. Pitcher Sal Maglie of the New York Giants was one of the top-notch imports Hatch attracted to the team.

Hatch played a role in getting a second arena for Welland in 1967. It was the city’s big project for Canada’s centennial year.

Another of his contributions to sports, and perhaps the one which is most visible to Wellanders, was the illumination of Burgar Park.

“He gave Welland the first illuminated park in the Niagara district,’ said Morrison, adding that Hatch “bankrolled the lights,” at a time when the park’s board could not afford it. Although Hatch undertook the project during the Second World War.it was allowed by the chairman of Ontario Hydro, who felt people needed recreation in wartime. The park used off peak power, and attendance was so good that Hatch regained his investment within the first three seasons.

Attendance was particularly high at one game because of some tough action by Hatch. Morrison remembers that before an important playoff encounter with a Niagara Falls club, Hatch “warned the league that if Niagara Falls empires were stationed at every base. He would yank his team from the field. And he did.”

The Welland team didn’t play that day, but the return game at Burgar Park attracted a record crowd. Over 4,000 people came because of the excitement of the controversy. Hatch’s interest in baseball continued all his life, said Morrison.