William George Hatcher, Sr.

William George Hatcher Sr.
MAU,Inc

Bill was born in Birmingham, Alabama on August 26, 1925. He was the son of the late Willie Taylor Cash and James McCord Hatcher, and was predeceased by his first wife Marion Harris Hatcher, and siblings, Catherine Amelia Hatcher, James Posey Hatcher, Anne Hatcher Carter, and Gordon Taylor Hatcher.
Bill grew up during the depression and that experience had a life changing effect on him; establishing in him a wholesome work ethic that made him appreciative of everything he had. Consequently, this made it very difficult for him to ever throw anything away. Those who knew him well often referred to him as the other “Mr. Haney”. Bill was always looking for, and could spot a "deal" from miles away, especially if it was at Thad Woods Auction.
Bill was a classic entrepreneur the roots of which were evidenced in his first childhood job walking the streets of Birmingham, Alabama selling ice cream from a freezer box slung over his shoulder. He also had a paper route in addition to his home and school responsibilities. At age 13, Bill secured a job as a “printer’s devil” cleaning ink off printing presses. His mother instilled in him the deep spiritual need for a savior, Jesus Christ, as well as the idea that he could be anything he put his mind to. He credits her as the person most responsible for giving him the foundation and inspiration that led to his later successes in life and business.
After graduation from Ramsey High School, in Birmingham, Bill joined the United States Navy and served from 1941-46 as a Radio Gunner on a SB2C Douglas Helldiver during WWII. He said he used up one of his lives during the war when the plane on which he had been scheduled to fly, crashed on take off right before his eyes. He never knew the reason for the last minute flight crew schedule change, but this made a lasting impression on him that God had a plan for his life beyond that day.
Bill married Marion Margaret Harris on February 28, 1947 and they were married for 52 years. They shared three children, Pamela, Billy and Randy, ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
Bill graduated from The University of Alabama in 1949 with a major in Business Administration, and attended law school at the University of Alabama for two years, where his ultimate hope of attaining a law degree was cut short when the GI bill ran out. He was particularly proud that all three of his children and grandchildren were college graduates.
During his freshman year at The University of Alabama, he and his wife, Marion, opened Hatcher’s Rent-A-Bike Shop in Tuscaloosa. He also owned and operated an ice cream and corn dog business on campus. Following graduation, he took a job as a wage and salary analyst for the Army, a position that taught him the aspects of labor relations, safety training and employment.
In 1956 Bill accepted a job with Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, a division of PPG Industries, as a human resources professional and was moved to Baton Rouge, LA. He was later transferred to another PPG plant in Pensacola, FL for seven years, and, finally to Augusta, GA in 1963 for the plant start up as the Industrial Relations Director for the formerly named Columbia Nitrogen Corporation.
Along with his brother-in law, Lloyd Johns, he founded Mid States Screw and Bolt Company, Augusta, Georgia, which was sold during the recession of 1973 to what eventually became Vincent Screw and Bolt.
In 1973, along with his wife Marion, Bill founded MAU Inc., today known as MAU Workforce Solutions, where he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He and his wife started on a hope, a prayer and a dream with $500.00 in capital in a two room office in the former Georgia Railroad Bank Building.
Bill’s philosophy was that no job seeker should ever have to pay a fee to get a job. Having an employer pay the fee to hire someone was unheard of at the time. Based on that belief he started Augusta’s first employer-fee-paid employment agency.
Bill was later joined by his sons, Billy and Randy Hatcher, and his daughter, Pam, who managed another of his ventures, Executive Suites. Under Bill's leadership several divisions of the company were launched including Ms. Power and Mr./Ms./ Temps, Total Staff, and Applied Solutions.
From these humble beginnings, MAU Workforce Solutions has blossomed into one of the country's largest, independently owned, staffing companies providing services internationally to its exclusive list of the world's premier employers.
Bill was proud of his Native American heritage, and he proudly promoted his heritage in the business world. He would give you more than an earful while showing you his Native American artifacts displayed in his executive offices.
MAU has received local, regional and national recognition, but Bill was proudest of being recognized in 1998 by Kennesaw State University as the “Georgia Family Business of the Year” for a medium sized company. Family is what meant the most to Bill, and today when you work for MAU, you are welcomed as part of the MAU Family.
In 1970 Bill was named “Boss of the Year” by the Golf Capital Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. He was Past President of the Boys and Girls Club of Augusta where he was honored with the Keystone Award for Exemplary Service, past board member of The Salvation Army, thirty-seven year member of The Downtown Kiwanis Club, Habitat for Humanity. He was a past Board Member of Junior Achievement, the American Red Cross, First Bank of Augusta.
Bill has been a member of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he served both a Deacon and a Elder.
Bill was well remembered for the impact he had on many people as he lovingly cared for his wife, Marion, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. They were married for 52 years. In 1993 he bought the Phinizy House on Greene Street in Augusta, Ga., and later restored and renamed it as The Marion Hatcher Center in memory of his late wife.
Bill’s love for the outdoors led him to purchase land in Burke County where he enjoyed hunting and farming. Here he formed many close relationships with other hunters and their families and especially those members of the Shell Bluff Hunt Club. In addition to hunting, Bill also grew corn, rye, wheat, soybeans, peanuts and raised Angus beef cattle. Even in a country setting like Burke County, Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit manifested itself as he also founded and operated Shell Bluff Country Store.
In 2002 Bill married JoAnn Priest Smith. He introduced her to the world of hunting, and they traveled the world extensively on exotic hunting trips. Together, they brought home many trophies from the United States, Europe, Africa, and New Zealand.
In addition to his loving wife, JoAnn Priest Hatcher, he is survived by his three children: Pamela Hatcher Stuart (David), William (Billy) George Hatcher, Jr. (Debra), and Randall Wayne Hatcher (Marilee).
Grandchildren: Kiersten Buckner Bohannon (Chuck), Ashli Buckner Morris (Tom), Bethany Buckner Smith (Preston), Haley Hatcher Krouse (Brian), Joanna Hatcher Miller (Tony), Sarah Abigail Hatcher, Lauren Taylor Hatcher, Adam Harris Hatcher (Courtney), Baker Edwards Hatcher (Katherine), Anne Randall Hatcher.
Great Grandchildren: Cassidy Marion Smith, Hamilton Preston Smith, Liam Matthew Bohannon, Bray Roland Bohannon, Alexandra Jolee Morris, Brenna Renee Morris, Isabelle Elizabeth Morris, William Granville Krouse, Wyatt Glenn Krouse, James David Hatcher, Andrew Fitzgerald Hatcher, David George Miller. He is also survived by his sister- in -law: Betty Harris Johns.
He loved and cared for JoAnn’s children: Brooke Smith Sheehan (Jim) and Barclay Gerald Smith; and two grandchildren James Patrick Sheehan and Conner Ira Sheehan.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 15, 2013 at 11 am at Reid Memorial Presbyterian with the Dr. Matt Rich. Burial will follow at Westover Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6-8 pm at the Marion Hatcher Center, 519 Greene St., Augusta, GA 30901.
Pallbearers are Adam Hatcher, Baker Hatcher, Hank Johns, Marc Johns, Rick Perry, Jimmy Harris, Robert Harris.
Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Shell Bluff Hunting Club and Downtown Kiwanis Club.
Surrounded by his family at his home, Bill was released into the loving hands of Jesus Christ. He will be deeply missed, yet remembered well. Roll Tide!
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com