Mark Hatfield

MY TRIBUTE TO MARK HATFIELD

Tillman Houser

My freshman year at Salem, Oregon high school found me in the same home-room with Mark Hatfield. Since both our last names began with “H,” we saw each other daily. Always carefully dressed with shirt and tie with trousers of “cords.” This is the way he dressed throughout our time together the four years of high school.
It took a little time to get acquainted because he always seemed a little reserved. When I told my mother about him, she said she went to school with his mother in Dallas, Oregon. I don't recall meeting his parents, but evidently he came to our home. My brother, Wayne, recalled the time I attempted to convince him to leave the Court Street Baptist Church and join my Free Methodist Church. That never happened.
After graduation from high school I lost track of him until I read in one of our church publications that he had spoken to a youth group. By this tine he had entered politics. We in turn were in Southern Rhodesia in Africa serving as missionaries. Our job description was to build a new mission station in the bush two hundred miles from the closest town. At the same time I supervised and managed more than thirty primary schools over a hundred mile square area.
This involved inspecting these schools four times a year while camping out overnight at each school while sleeping in the back of a one-ton pickup. I awoke one night about 2:00 o'clock, and tuned my short wave radio to the American Armed Services station in Los Angeles. What a pleasant surprise to hear Mark debating with Governor Brown of California! I quickly wrote him a letter to which he personally replied with an affirming answer.
In 1969 on furlough from Africa, we were assigned to speak at the Free Methodist Church campground at Silver Springs near Washington D. C. I wrote Mark that I would like to tell him what the real political situation was concerning how the white controlled government was educating the Africans through the missionaries. He then invited me to his office in the Capitol at noon. He would send a limousine to bring me to the Capitol.
I told the Conference Superintendent who in turn announced the appointment to the Camp. A Navy Chaplain Webb came to me offering to take me to the appointment because he knew his way around the building. I quickly agreed and we arrived at Mark's office. Mark was glad to see me and made us comfortable. He heard me out, replying that he had a representative in Rhodesia who was aware of the true situation. When it was time to leave, Mark asked if we might have prayer.
I wish the prayer could have been recorded. He agonized in prayer to the Lord. It was not just a short blessing on us, but a plea for himself. It was just after that time he wrote his book, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.” When we left and were walking down the corridor, Chaplain Webb turned to me and with deep emotion said, “Whenever I hear the name ‘Mark Hatfield' in the future, I will have a completely different picture.”
Since that powerful encounter, we have had little communication. I have tried, but I understand that recently he has been in ill health. To his family, I wish to say that they are most blessed to have one like Mark to be their leader and guide. I am grateful to have been his friend.

Governor Hatfield spoke at my Salem Academy High School Graduation in 1962. I still remember the main theme - he reminded us that we were sheltered in our Christian school environment and to remember there was a real world out there (we were sheltered in a 'glass' house). While I was in high school, we also went Christmas Caroling at the Governor's mansion and he and his wife came out to greet us. That impressed me too.

To Antoinette and family: With deep sympathy for your loss. Mark Hatfield lived and made history throughout his life. He will forever be a major part of the experience we call Oregon.
-KC Piccard, director
Oregon Civil War Sesquicentennial

Dear Antoinette and family,

first of all our thoughts are with you all today.....I am the daughter of Thomas C. & Joan N. Stacer of Salem Oregon for many many years, then Olyampi, Wa.. My father was a good professional friend of Mark's during my fathers 20+ years of State service as Assistant Atty General in Oregon Forestry Department. I remember him visiting our home when I was little and also meeting the kids and you Antoinette. My parents spoke fondly of Mark and you Antoinette and of your children. He will be missed greatly but his accomplishments and hopes for the state of Oregon will live on. Somewhere I have some pictures of both of them together. My father has been gone since 1988 and my mother since 2010. Let your hearts know that he is in a better place and that he would want you to pursue his interests for your family generation legacy to come. Our prayers and sincere condolences to all of you and wish that we could have attended the service today, but our schedules would not allow it at this time. - Kathleen "katie" Stacer Frank and family, Olympia Washington.

I met Senator Hatfield in 1977 while helping him move in Georgetown. I was a day laborer, and he sat down during a break and talked to us like we were peers. What a great and humble man.

Hatfield Family you have Ralph & Diana Gantz's condolences for your loss.Mark Hatfield was a force to be reckoned with and he now has earned his rest.Even now Mark is talking to our God

Hatfield was a great Governor and Senator. I first met him when I was 14 years old. He was a wonderful influence in my life by his words of encouragement. A supporter of the Arts as well as Native culture, he told me to always do my best, get my work out there for people to see and share my creativity with the world. Thank you Sen. Hatfield.

Dear Antoinette and family: So sad to hear of Marks passing, he was a great statesman and will be missed Will remember him in our prayers. David and Barbara Cooney

"Our deepest condolence to the family

Dear Hatfield Family,
Although I never met the Senator face to face, I did have the chance to talk to him on the phone a few years back while getting messages to honour my dad on his 80 birthday a few years ago, from members of Zollies Gang from Salem of many years ago. He was very nice and wrote a nice letter to my father , who is now almost 95 . My prayers go out to all of you fora great loss ,both for your family and for the State of Oregon. God bless, and I know he will be missed.

To the the family of Mark Hatfield - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.

Senator Hatfield is with our Lord Jesus today and how blessed he is. We have lost a great man but, heaven just got better. I'm sorry for our loss.

Mrs. Hatfield, I so admired the Senator. He will be remembered by all Oregonians as a great leader. But I admire you for your loyalty to him and your family. I will be praying for you in the days ahead.

I covered MOH's career and life over many years. I particularly remember being the first to interview him about his memories of serving as a young Navy officer in World War II. As he opened up about those dramatic times he paused for a long moment to note he had never talked to anyone before about those days. I especially appreciate the personal note he wrote in my behalf when I was applying to be press officer of the U.S. Peace Corps. He was a tremendous guy. I'll never forget him.

I am deeply grateful for the life and example of Mark Hatfield! A true statesman who voted his conscience and stood for peaceful means to peaceful ends, his legacy is highly treasured. Oregon's finest, indeed--actually, America's finest!

A true patriot. Helped to make our country better.

A great man, a statesman, a leader who was well respected. I watched his career while in the US Congress. If there were more like him today our country would be in better shape. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Farewell to a great American. The US Senate could use 100 more like him today.

Thank you for your service to our state and country. Would that there were more like you.

I worked for Scoop Jackson on the Senate Energy Committee and interacted with Senator Hatfield frequently. He was always a perfect example of how a Senator should conduct himself. He would never have allowed the rancor that has invaded the Senate now.