Richard G. Hatcher

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Richard G. Hatcher
16th Mayor of Gary, Indiana
In office January 1, 1968 – January 1, 1988
Preceded by	A. Martin Katz
Succeeded by	Thomas V. Barnes
38th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office 1980–1981
Preceded by	Richard Carver
Succeeded by	Helen Boosalis
Personal details
Born	Richard Gordon Hatcher (1933-07-10)July 10, 1933 Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.
Died	December 13, 2019(2019-12-13) (aged 86) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	Ragen Hatcher (daughter), Rachelle Hatcher (daughter), Renee Hatcher (daughter)
Education	Indiana University (BS) Valparaiso University (LLB, JD)

Richard Gordon Hatcher (July 10, 1933 – December 13, 2019) was an American attorney and politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Gary, Indiana, for 20 years, from 1968 to 1988. At the time of his first election on November 7, 1967, he and Carl Stokes were the first African Americans to be elected mayors of a U.S. city with more than 100,000 people. Hatcher also served as Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in the early 1980s.