Richard Hatcher was born on July 10, 1933 in Michigan City, Indiana, USA. He was married to Ruthellyn Marie Rowles. He died on December 13, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
He graduated from Indiana University, and earned a law degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana. He moved to Gary after becoming a deputy prosecutor.
He was one of the first African American mayors of a large U.S. city when he was elected mayor of Gary, Indiana.
Inducted into the Steel City Hall of Fame (Gary, Indiana) in 1985 (inaugural class).