Former Hendrix College President Joe B. Hatcher died June 1 at 75. Hatcher led the Conway institution from 1981 to 1991.
"The Hendrix College community is deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Joe B. Hatcher," Hendrix President J. Timothy Cloyd said in a statement on the college’s website. "We are grateful for his leadership during a critical period, which saw Hendrix rise in national stature and laid the foundation for the continued progress of this institution. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe’s family."
Hatcher grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Kansas, Missouri, Michigan and, finally, Arkansas.
He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Wichita State University. Hatcher earned his master’s and doctorate from Kansas University. After graduating in 1969, he worked at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, as an English professor and was later promoted chairman of the English Department.
He went on to take a job as vice president of development at Park College in Parkville, Mo. Hatcher then moved to Albion College in Albion, Mich., where he was the vice president of development, leaving there to become Hendrix College president in 1981.
After leaving Hendrix in 1991, Hatcher went to work for First Commercial Bank as vice chairman.
Hatcher later served as headmaster at Pulaski Academy on an interim basis on two occasions.