Richard E. Hatten

Richard Elliott Hatten of Arvada, Colorado, died January 29, 2020, at the age of 88 in Wheatridge. Hatten was the son of George David Hatten and Ora L. (Blanton) Hatten and was born November 1, 1931 on the family farm in Mt. Ayr, Ringold County, Iowa. His parents moved to a farm in the New Hampton, Missouri community in 1936. Hatten graduated from New Hampton High School in 1949 and was a graduate of Pikes Peak College and the US Army War College.

Enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard, Battery B 129th Artillery, Albany, Missouri on April 11, 1949. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 7, 1956. Transferred to the Colorado Army National Guard on May 1, 1961. Mobilized by President John F. Kennedy as an officer with the Colorado Army National Guard in response to the National Declared Berlin Crisis on September 26, 1961. Served at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and Fort Riley, Kansas training for overseas duty. Employed by Westinghouse Electric Corp and Martin-Marietta Corp., holding supervisory positions prior to 1963.

Full time assignments in the Colorado Army National Guard included various commands, State Operations and Training Officer, Logistics Officer, State Mobilization Officer, Director of Military Support for Civil Authorities, Director of Civil Affairs and Director of Personnel.

Military Awards included the following:

• US Army Legion of Merit, 1987

• US Army Meritorious Service Medal, 1984

• US Army Commendation Medal, 1978

• US Army Achievement Medal, 1982

• US Army Humanitarian Service Medal, 1976

• National Guard Bureau Meritorious Service Award, 1978

• National Guard Bureau Minuteman Award, 1978 Colorado Meritorious Service Medal, 1979 and 1985 Colorado Commendation Medal, 1982

• Colorado Emergency Service Ribbon with 21 Devices

Special Recognition includes a personal letter of congratulations upon retirement and thanks for devotion to American Security and Freedom from President Ronald Reagan dated October 19, 1987, and from Governor Roy Romer, Governor, State of Colorado for loyal and commendable service to the State and Nation.

Col. Hatten served as Director of the Division of Disaster Emergency Services (DODES) since June 1, 1989. As Director, he coordinated the development and implementation of the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Program which covers a multiplicity of emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation activities. He was responsible for negotiating and implementing the annual Comprehensive Cooperative Agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides federal funding to the state and local governments for emergency services. Col. Hatten served at the State Coordinating Office for state and federal declared disasters and was responsible for coordinating efforts on behalf of the Governor for State disasters.

He also served as:

Chairman, Colorado Incident Commend System Board

Chairman Governor’s Water Availability Task Force

Chairman, Governor’s Drought Review and Reporting Task Force

Co-Chairman, Colorado Emergency Planning Commission (SERT)

He served as Special Staff Assistant in the Colorado State Patrol prior to becoming the Director of DODES.

Hatten was united in marriage to Peggy Fouts on March 17, 1951. They had two sons, Richard Mark Hatten and Gregory Lynn Hatten. Hatten married Bonnie L. Bloom (Laughlin) on June 9, 1978. Served full time military with the Colorado Army National Guard from June 1963 until retirement with the rank of Colonel on November 1, 1987 culminating in 38 years and 5 months of military service. After his military retirement, he was appointed the State Director of the Colorado Emergency Services. He retired from the State of Colorado in 1993. After retirement, he and Bonnie visited many foreign countries and traveled extensively in their motor home.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother, sisters Dorothy June Hatten and Georgia L. Miller, and brother Robert D. Hatten. Survivors include his wife Bonnie, children Mark Hatten of Carrollton, TX and Gregory Hatten of Fremont, CA. Step children whom he loved as his own, Cynthia Richter (Larry) of Castle Rock, CO, Richard Bloom (Karen) of Colorado Springs, CO and Garry Bloom (Melinda) of Atlanta, GA, brother Kenneth Hatten (Lucille) of Drexel, MO, seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.