A man of many skills : Huntsville resident active in community, education
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
Known affectionately as "Doc"by his former students and fellow educators, Kevin Hatfield, is a man few who meet will ever forget.
Born in Kansas, and moving with his family at a time when many families were moving to the area, Kevin along with his parents and siblings, Kenny and Kim, came to Huntsville. Little did they know the impact the family would make on the community, or the lasting effect Kevin would have on the state as a whole.
Hatfield attended Wichita State College in Kansas obtaining a degree in chemistry. Hatfield quipped," I was thinking about medicine, but didn't really care for sick folks. "A decision many a teenager is grateful for after having his chemistry and physics classes.
Hatfield was one of the first Environmental Chemist in a newly blooming field in the 1970 s. According to Hatfield there were no environment protection agency (EPA ) laws until 1974 or 1975. As a chemist in the field during those first few rounds of laws, Hatfield's job took him nationwide, sometimes making him be gone months at a time. Hatfield recalled that he had to drive to all his cross country visits, since flying with the sensitive equipment he used was not possibly.
In the late'70 s Hatfield was offered a position to teach at Huntsville High School. He began his career here in the 78-79 school year.
Hatfield also served as a justice of the peace on the Madison County Quorum Court; serving one term during the county's first year of having a quorum court.
In the 1980 s, Hatfield took another dive into the political arena, running for Mayor of Huntsville. Hatfield lost by only five votes to Charles Coger. When relating the story with a grin, he remarked he often wondered who the five people were he made mad.
In 1983, Jon Fitch decided to run for senate, and David Fox stepped up to run for representative, before long Hatfield said he started getting calls, and sure enough began a race for the office. Not a normal race mind you, as Hatfield explained, he and Fox were known to travel together to events over the large four county district. People asked Hatfield about his opponent and their strange relationship, Hatfield said he often told people that if he wasn't running against Fox he would have voted for him. As it turned out Hatfield didn't need to worry as he was elected in 1983 and took office in 1984, serving three terms or six years as the state representative. During that time he was also working as principal at Eureka Springs High School, a job Hatfield said," Worked him to death."
Hatfield explained the legislature took a toll. "It didn't pay very much," he said, It had he and his wife, Sandy, an elementary teacher, saving for months so he could attend the legislative session.
A man of education, Hatfield is licensed to teach not one but all sciences, Advanced Placement classes and all grades 5-12, administrator-principal for grades 5-12 He holds a bachelor's, degree, and master's degree, an Education Specialist degree and a doctorate. He has worked within the Huntsville, St. Paul and Eureka Springs school districts and taught at the prestigious Bradley University.
Before his tenure at Bradley, Hatfield served as executive director of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board, or The Conference, as it is also known.
According to the groups website, the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB or "The Conference" ) is a not-for-profit voluntary association providing examination services, information and regulatory support to funeral service licensing boards and educators, legislators and other regulatory agencies, and the public at large in various states, districts, provinces, jurisdictions and internationally. The Conference covers all 50 states and Canada.
The Conference creates and administers exams for funeral directors. There are 52 mortuary colleges, according to Hatfield, as well as regulatory boards all of which must mesh curriculums to meet the standard which the Conference tests.
"It was the busiest job I ever had," Hatfield said," And the most high profile."
In the first two years with the Conference, Hatfield said he traveled to all 50 states. The Conference, which was based in Huntsville when Hatfield was executive director, is now based in Fayetteville with Huntsville graduate Dalene Paull at the helm.
Hatfield said that after September 11 th, he no longer enjoyed the job and "didn't want to do that anymore."
After leaving the Conference, Hatfield took the position at Bradley University. He served as a professor at the Graduate School level instructing in educational law and finance. "I loved it," Hatfield beamed explaining the exclusiveness of the private university in Peoria, Illinois.
Fate however had other plans for Hatfield. He and his beloved wife Sandy were in the process of buying, what he describes as a "dream house' when Sandy suddenly passed away on the trip to sign papers on the house. At his families' urging, Hatfield returned to Huntsville, in part to help care for his wife's mother, Gwen, and in part to heal. A process he admits has taken time.
Hatfield only needed a couple of years to receive his teaching retirement so back to school he went, this time as a physics and chemistry teacher at HHS. He again retired in 2006, to "enjoy life."
To most of us enjoying life would be kicking back and doing little, to Hatfield it is continuing his strong desire to serve his community. Hatfield currently serves on the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce as secretary and board member, is a member of the Huntsville Kiwanis where he is president-elect. He is an active member in the Masonic Lodge, having served as Grand Master of the state from 1999-2000. He is a past-president of the Huntsville Jaycees, and serves on the Huntsville Water Commission.
Hatfield practices what he preaches. He has long encouraged his students, and even today encourages those high schoolers who visit the Kiwanis club to be active in their community. He pulls no punches in explaining to the youngsters that members of the clubs have worked hard to give them donations and it will be expected of them in the future to do the same. Some straight talk most kids seem to appreciate. Hatfield discussed the weight of community involvement on scholarship applications. "More and more organizations and colleges are looking to see what young people are giving back to their communities not just their academics," Hatfield said.
"I have a firm belief in community service, a community cannot survive without strong organizations, and it cannot grow without it. Our public officials need to be involved. Everyone needs to be doing some kind of community service," he said.
When asked what of his many positions his favorite was, Hatfield didnít hesitate to say his time teaching graduate students at Bradley University.
"It was the best job in the world. The students were adults, they understood they were paying for their education, they understood how important that degree is. I was amazed by the amount of great respect and support was given to instructors in Illinois," Hatfield said.
The difference in Arkansas and Illinois in how educators were treated was a topic Hatfield still says amazes him. "The level of respect for educators was so different there. Principals were treated like CEOs of large companies, highly respected."
While one would think that being so heavily involved in community, Hatfield had no time for other things, one would be wrong. In addition to building the Kiwanis website, the Chamber of Commerceí's new website, and one for a local business, a self proclaimed amateur at web building, Hatfield is also currently editing eight textbooks for the Arkansas College of Electricity.
Summing up a man like Hatfield is almost impossible. He is as multi-faceted as a diamond, and as they say "a diamond is forever. "Hopefully, Hatfield's dedication and encouragement to others to lead a life of service will be one of his greatest legacies.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online