About Martin Hatcher
Martin Hatcher, 96, American politician.
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Full Biography
|E Martin Hatcher (September 19, 1927 – December 27, 2023) was a college professor and Democratic state senator from Colorado, U.S. He served two terms in the state senate, from 1975 to 1983. Born in Ada, Oklahoma, he moved with his family to Denver as a child, then after finishing college he moved to Gunnison, Colorado and began teaching at Western State College (now Western Colorado University), where he taught for 44 years.
Elections
Hatcher first ran for the state senate in 1974. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. In the general election, he initially faced long-term incumbent Republican Harry M. Locke, who had served in the state senate since 1951. However, Locke died in October 1974, a month after winning the Republican primary. A Republican vacancy committee appointed John B. Shawcroft to replace Locke, but the general election ballots had already been printed, forcing Shawcroft to wage a write-in campaign. Hatcher won handily. He was re-elected in 1978.
Senate leadership position
Hatcher served as the Senate Minority Caucus Chair from 1981 to 1982.
Personal life and death
Hatcher's official first name is simply the letter E, without a period. To friends and family, he was known as Marty. He married Maxine Millikin, who predeceased him, in 1948. He held a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctoral degree from the University of Denver. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a cryptographic technician in Fairbanks, Alaska and was honorably discharged in 1946. He died on December 27, 2023, in Gunnison.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Hatcher
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Martin Hatcher's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was Martin Hatcher born?
- A.Ada, Oklahomacorrect
- B.Fairbanks, Alaska
- C.Denver, Colorado
- D.Gunnison, Colorado
Martin Hatcher was born in Ada, Oklahoma.
Source: biography introduction
2.What is the official first name of Martin Hatcher?
- A.Ecorrect
- B.Edward
- C.Everett
- D.Eli
Martin Hatcher's official first name is simply the letter E.
Source: personal life and death section
3.Martin Hatcher served in which branch of the military during World War II?
- A.U.S. Marine Corps
- B.U.S. Navy
- C.U.S. Armycorrect
- D.U.S. Air Force
Martin Hatcher served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Source: personal life and death section
4.How many years did Martin Hatcher teach at Western State College?
- A.25 years
- B.44 yearscorrect
- C.30 years
- D.50 years
Martin Hatcher taught at Western State College for 44 years.
Source: biography introduction
5.In what year did Martin Hatcher first win election to the Colorado state senate?
- A.1980
- B.1974correct
- C.1976
- D.1972
Martin Hatcher first ran for the state senate in 1974 and won the seat.
Source: elections section
6.Who did Martin Hatcher originally face in the 1974 general election before that candidate died?
- A.John B. Shawcroft
- B.Maxine Millikin
- C.An unnamed write-in candidate
- D.Harry M. Lockecorrect
Martin Hatcher initially faced long-term incumbent Republican Harry M. Locke in the 1974 election.
Source: elections section
7.What role did Martin Hatcher hold in the state senate between 1981 and 1982?
- A.Senate Appropriations Chair
- B.Senate Minority Caucus Chaircorrect
- C.Senate Majority Leader
- D.President of the Senate
Martin Hatcher served as the Senate Minority Caucus Chair from 1981 to 1982.
Source: senate leadership position section
8.Which university awarded Martin Hatcher his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees?
- A.University of Denvercorrect
- B.Western State College
- C.University of Colorado
- D.University of Oklahoma
Martin Hatcher held a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree from the University of Denver.
Source: personal life and death section
9.What was Martin Hatcher's specific role while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska?
- A.Supply clerk
- B.Infantry soldier
- C.Cryptographic techniciancorrect
- D.Medical officer
During World War II, Martin Hatcher served as a cryptographic technician in Fairbanks.
Source: personal life and death section
10.Why did John B. Shawcroft have to wage a write-in campaign in 1974?
- A.He missed the filing deadline
- B.General election ballots were already printedcorrect
- C.The Republican Party did not support him
- D.He was a late entry into the primary
Because ballots were printed before Locke died and Shawcroft was appointed, he had to wage a write-in campaign.
Source: elections section
11.What was Martin Hatcher's name among friends and family?
- A.Martycorrect
- B.Hank
- C.Ed
- D.Hatch
To friends and family, Martin Hatcher was known as Marty.
Source: personal life and death section
12.In what year did Martin Hatcher marry Maxine Millikin?
- A.1944
- B.1950
- C.1946
- D.1948correct
Martin Hatcher married Maxine Millikin in 1948.
Source: personal life and death section
13.Where did Martin Hatcher pass away?
- A.Denver
- B.Gunnisoncorrect
- C.Ada
- D.Fairbanks
Martin Hatcher died on December 27, 2023, in Gunnison.
Source: personal life and death section
14.How many terms did Martin Hatcher serve in the Colorado state senate?
- A.Four terms
- B.One term
- C.Three terms
- D.Two termscorrect
Martin Hatcher served two terms in the state senate, from 1975 to 1983.
Source: biography introduction
15.Martin Hatcher moved from Denver to which city after finishing college?
- A.Ada
- B.Boulder
- C.Fairbanks
- D.Gunnisoncorrect
After finishing college, Martin Hatcher moved to Gunnison, Colorado.
Source: biography introduction
16.What is the current name of the institution where Martin Hatcher taught?
- A.University of Northern Colorado
- B.Colorado State College
- C.Denver State University
- D.Western Colorado Universitycorrect
Martin Hatcher taught at Western State College, which is now Western Colorado University.
Source: biography introduction
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