A life of service. A story still unfolding.
A living legacy.
Celebrating wisdom, family, faith, service, and the powerful story of a man whose influence continues to shine.
A living story on film
Watch a celebration of Mr. Hatter’s life, service, and continuing influence.
A life of consequence
Mr. Henry Hatter represents a generation of strength, dignity, faith, and family leadership. His story is one of perseverance, wisdom, and quiet power, the kind of life that shapes children, grandchildren, community, and history. Through his guidance and example, his family continues to walk into rooms of service, leadership, and purpose. This tribute celebrates him while he is here to receive every flower, every word, and every note of love.
Education
A Flint public schools graduate and Flint Central distinguished alumnus, Mr. Hatter earned a B.S. in Chemistry with a Mathematics minor from Saginaw Valley State University in 1965 and a master’s in Ecology and Industrial Hygiene from Eastern Michigan University in 1972.
Engineering
As a Senior Environmental Engineer for Buick Division in Flint, he worked where industry, environmental stewardship, federal regulation, industrial water balance, and hazardous-waste management met.
Institution building
In 1984, he helped found Hamilton Community Health Network, advancing a model built on strategic investment, disciplined governance, community ownership, and long-term sustainability.
Public education
Elected to the Clio Board of Education in 1990, he served for thirty years and four terms as president. In 1999, he received the Michigan Association of School Boards President’s Award and highest Boardsmanship distinction.
Public history
Beginning in 2010, he helped lead the coalition to designate all 387 miles of Michigan’s I-75 in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen. The measure passed both legislative chambers unanimously and was signed into law in 2016.
Constitutional service
He served as a presidential elector in 1976 and 2016. In 2016, he and his daughter Kelly Mitchell participated together in a rare father-daughter moment in Electoral College history.
A steady foundation of love, standards, and generational strength.
A life guided by belief, discernment, and lessons shared with grace.
A trusted presence whose dignity has earned admiration across generations.
His influence is present, growing, and visible in the lives around him today.
An example that inspires family to enter rooms of leadership and purpose.
Read the original publication
How Henry Hatter applied the laws of engineering to build self-reliant communities, institutions, and schools. Turn through one fitted page at a time without stretching or dragging the document.
Rooted in Henry
Family branches and friends of the legacy remain clearly distinguished. Select a leaf to meet an approved connection.
The civic story in conversation
Molly and Frank trace the civic effort behind Michigan’s Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway and the leadership that helped carry the recognition from coalition to law.
The Hatter tribute collection
A soulful hip-hop celebration of foundation, pride, and the generations Mr. Hatter helped raise.
A warm R&B tribute to his wisdom, presence, and the love that still gathers around him.
A gospel testimony of faith, grace, long life, and gratitude.
Gather in celebration
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Words he can receive today
Approved messages will appear here.
“Give him his flowers while he can smell them. Celebrate the man, the wisdom, and the legacy while the story is still being written.”