Griffin Speaks
A TRIBUTE TO KIRK HATCHER
A few mornings ago I was driving through Cloverdale with my kids, Greg Jr. Alexis and Chris. Greg suddenly out of the clear blue sky asked, Daddy where is Uncle Kirk? Chris and Alexis then asked who is Uncle Kirk? I thought for a few moments because I did not know what to say. I then decided to tell them the truth.
Greg Jr. recalled that Uncle Kirk remembered everyone's birthday. Kirk would always call you on your birthday. He remembered that uncle Kirk's mom, the owner of Custom Creations at 3330 Atlanta Highway made and gave to him the first beautiful yellow suit he would wear. Alexis and Christopher became agitated because they did not have any memories of uncle Kirk so I decided to give them some.
Let me tell you about Kirk Hatcher, your "uncle Kirk". Kirk Hatcher earned a BA, in English/Political Science (Morehouse College); M. Div., Theological Studies (Emory University) M.T.S., Theological Studies-Reflections in American Literature (Harvard University).
I have many fond memories of Kirk Hatcher. Joe Morgan Reed the oldest son of Political kingpin, Dr. Joe L. Reed introduced me to Kirk. Joe Morgan Reed was interning at the Attorney Generals Office in the late eighties. Joe and I became fast friends. He told me that he wanted me to meet one of his closest friends, Lycurgus T. Hatcher. I agreed to meet Kirk and we also became fast friends. We were all Morehouse Men with an agenda.
Kirk was as polished as polish could be. Kirk the son of a prominent Chicago Physician and prominent entrepreneur in Montgomery, Alabama, knew every important person in Montgomery. Kirk knew the News before the Montgomery Advertiser, WSFA or WAKA. It came a time that I believed the media called him for news. If you asked Kirk something that he did not have the scoop on, he would say, "I don't know, but give me 24 hours." That was Kirk Hatcher!
I owe a great deal to Kirk. One day we were having lunch at the Capital City Club in the late eighties. I told Kirk that I did not know many people in Montgomery and would like for him to introduce me to the movers and shakers. He personally knew the most important folks at that time in town: Greg Calhoun, Dr. Joe Reed, W.L. Williams, Senator Charles Langford, Tom Wright, Dr. Stone, Dean Percy Vaughan, Charles Bell, Atty. Tyrone Means, Atty. Solomon Seay, Dr.Pinchback, Dr. Lester, Dr. Barry, Franklin Perry, Jerome Gray, Rep. John Knight, Rep. Alvin Holmes, Rev Al Dixon, Dr. Winston, Dr. Wilson, Atty. Jim Wilson, Rev. Arnell, Rev.Jordan, Rep. Thad McClammy, Cubie Rae Gilmer, Connie Harper, Irene Williams, Edward Stevens, Sadie Penn, Judge Charles Price, Judge Lewis Gillis, Loyld Howard, Prince Howard, "Squirrel", the list of important people goes on and on. Kirk also knew just as many or more important white folks. This guy was the bomb! When people say that Greg Griffin knows everyone its true in part because of Kirk Hatcher!
I knew that I had hit the jackpot when I met Kirk Hatcher. I had attempted several times to get an adjunct teaching job at ASU to no avail. When I told Kirk about my unsuccessful attempts to get hired, he simply picked up the phone and got me hired. He convinced Dean Vaughan to hire me as an Adjunct Instructor. I taught part time for twelve years.
My father and I attended Kirk's trail sermon in Atlanta, Georgia. The sanctuary was filled to capacity. Kirk began his sermon very dignified. He demonstrated all of the knowledge that he had learned at Emory University. My dad looked at me and said, " Kirk needs to get off that Socrates and Plato mess and bring it home." Kirk must have heard my dad, because just after that comment Kirk started hooping and dancing. The roof came off the church. My dad looked at me and said, " Now that's what I call preaching!"
Kirk Hatcher can best be described as a combination of Jesse Jackson, Kwesi Mfume, Luciano Pavorotti and Blair Underwood. He used his talents to organize a group of professional black men called SUCCESS ROUNDTABLE 2001. Kirk Hatcher was able to bring almost every black professional man in Montgomery to the table. The greatest accomplishment of Success Roundtable 2001 was its success in integrating the Boards of Directors of our local lending institutions. Today Black Montgomerians are able to secure financing much easier thanks to the efforts of Lycurgus T. (Kirk) Hatcher. We indeed owe a lot of gratitude to Kirk.
Kirk nicknamed me the Montgomery Yentle. He was impressed by the number of people that I had introduced who married. I offered my Yentle services to Kirk. However, he politely informed me that he was capable of finding his own wife.
"Well Dad where is Uncle Kirk? Greg Jr. asked. I told Greg that
I had neither heard from nor seen Uncle Kirk in over five years. My last
conversation with him was fine. I told Greg Jr. that one of my favorite
songs is "You've Got A Friend" sung by Carole King. The song
goes something like this: "winter, spring, summer or fall-all you've
got to do is call-and I'll be there."… We expect that our friends
will always be there. We expect friendship to last forever. However, our
friendships sometimes end. Everyday some friends part company. Regrettably,
even the closest friendships can end. To this day I do not know why Kirk
disappeared, but I have to admit he was a great and entertaining friend.
If you see my old friend Kirk tell him that the GRIFFINS SAID HELLO!
Greg Griffin is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at www.greggriffin.com
