Citizen of the Year BOB HATCH
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Bob was born in Lompoc, CA in 1947 and was raised in Solvang. He attended Solvang Elementary and graduated from Santa Ynez High School in 1964. Bob then enrolled at Allan Hancock College but was interrupted by the Vietnam War. By the winter of 1966 he was in Southeast Asia. In June of 1968 he returned home to Solvang as one of the most highly decorated veterans on the Central Coast and is currently a proud member of nearly every Veteran’s Organization locally and nationally. Bob’s numerous awards for valor include: ● The Silver Star ● Air Medal ● Bronze Star with V (the V device denotes heroism) ● Purple Heart (3 awards) After returning home Bob continued his studies at Hancock College and Cal Poly all while performing a variety of jobs including the Credit Bureau of Santa Maria, Valley Community Hospital, Tahoe Forest Hospital and the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, before he found his calling in the Chamber of Commerce Industry. Bob enjoyed his Chamber days at the Salinas Valley Chamber and then the Monterey Peninsula Chamber. In 1990 he was recruited to serve as the Lompoc Valley’s Executive Vice President and in 1994 he applied and was hired by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber as its President and CEO. His demonstrated character in fulfillment of his commitment to the Chamber, the Board of Directors declared that the Citizen of the Year award, from this time forward in perpetuity, will be known as the “Robert P. Hatch Citizen of the Year Award”. ● Army Commendation Metal ● Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ● Coveted Combat Infantryman’s Badge Bob has given back to his community by serving on a myriad of boards and commissions throughout the Central Coast, and his awards are too numerous to list. Bob joined the Santa Maria Elks Lodge in 2002 and is a 24-year member. He has previously been awarded the Elks Citizen of the Year and was the Grand Marshal of the Elks Parade in 2014..
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