Obituary: Calvin S. Hatch

Calvin S. Hatch 1921 ~ 2006 Calvin S. "Cal" Hatch, age 85, former Clorox Company President, Chairman and CEO died at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, CA on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006. He was born February 23, 1921 in Heber City, Utah to the late Edwin and Vernico Hatch. He went through the Salt Lake City public school system, graduating from East High and received his Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Utah in 1947 (Pi Kappa Alpha). Cal was drafted into the Army in June 1942 and served in the 143rd Field Artillery Battalion of the 40th Infantry Division on islands throughout the Pacific, and in the occupation of Korea. He was discharged in 1945 as a Captain. Cal progressed through positions of increasing responsibility in the sales organization of the Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio for 25 years, before resigning in 1971 to join the Clorox Company of Oakland, CA as Vice President-Sales. In 1981 he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer. In 1982 he assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and continued in his leadership role as President, Chairman and CEO until his retirement in April 1986. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Clorox Company, The Grocery Manufacturers of America, First Interstate Bank, American President Companies, Basic American Foods and KRT Marketing. Following retirement from the Clorox Company, Cal became very active in support of the University of Utah, serving on the National Advisory Council, the Health Science Board and the Boards of Directors of both the Moran Eye Center and the Diabetes Center. Together with JeNeal, they established the Calvin S. and JeNeal N. Hatch Presidential Chair in Ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center for the Prevention and Cure of Macular Diseases. Throughout his career and into retirement, he was involved with many community organizations, including The Advertising Council, The California Round Table, The Conference Board, The Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America Bay Area Council, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, Board of Directors of the Rocco Siciliano Forum, Junior Achievement of the Bay Area, the Bay Area Business Advisory Committee of the Economic Literacy Council of California, and served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of California-Berkeley Haas School of Business, as well as Vice Chairman, Invest in America of the Bay Area. Cal was an active member of the Salt Lake Country Club, the ALTA Club of Salt Lake, the Desert Island Country Club, the Commonwealth Club and the World Trade Club. Cal was the recipient of numerous awards, including the United Nations Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award in 1985 and the 1994 University of Utah Distinguished Alumnus Award. He married his high school sweetheart, JeNeal Nebeker on December 23, 1945. The couple celebrated their 60th Anniversary while on vacation with their extended family in Mexico this past December. Cal and JeNeal recently moved to the Walnut Creek area from their home in Salt Lake City. The couple maintained a second home at Desert Island in Rancho Mirage, where they spent the winter months each year. He is survived by his wife, JeNeal; his two daughters, Marcia Thomas of Lafayette, CA; and Julie Hatch of La Jolla, CA; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held in Lafayette at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Saturday October 14th at 1:00 p.m. and in Salt Lake City at the John A. Moran Eye Center Auditorium, University of Utah, 65 Medical Drive, Monday, October 16th at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his memory c/o Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, 65 Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132.