Longtime moderator of Hilton Head GOP First Monday Lunch Club, Tom Hatfield, dies
Tom Hatfield, best known for his many years as founder and moderator of the Hilton Head Island First Monday Republican lunch group, died Feb. 23.
Born in Indiana, Hatfield lived all over the world before spending almost three decades on Hilton Head Island.
He was active in local politics, including serving as vice chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party and treasurer of Hilton Head Island Republican Club. He also served seven years as an elections commissioner for the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, including four years as chairman.
“I think Tom helped shaped a lot of political thinking, especially on Hilton Head,” longtime Beaufort County School Board and Beaufort County Council member Rick Caporale recently told The Island Packet. “At least south of the Broad, everybody knew Tom Hatfield and what he thought.”
Caporale said Hatfield died after an extended illness.
The men had gotten to know each other well during their time in local politics and through Hatfield’s monthly lunch group that drew large crowds and notable local and state leaders.
Hatfield was known among the lunch group regulars as a “brick,” Caporale said. “He was always solid and strong on the side of Republicans. He wasn’t going to be an apologist and he wasn’t going to compromise.”
No services have been announced.
The First Monday Club Lunch will continue to meet with the next gathering at noon Monday, March 7, at the Old Oyster Factory.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 11:46 AM.
