After graduation from high school, he entered Arkansas State Teachers College and found college life very pleasant. In 1937, the Hatfield family moved back to Conway and Gene would attend Conway High School, where he graduated in 1942. Mount Vernon was Lester and Gertrude’s hometown and they would move into a house directly across the road from Gene’s grandmother. This financial setback was the impetus for the Hatfield family to move back to Mount Vernon in 1932. In 1929 the stock market crash occurred and Lester’s business was adversely impacted. Gene’s father, Lester Hatfield, was a building contractor and built many homes in Conway during the 1920’s. Gene’s mother, Gertrude Hatfield, also attended Central College for Girls, as did Maurine and Mildred, who finished high school there and completed their first two years of college. She transferred to Arkansas State Teachers College where she graduated in 1929. His eldest sister, Maurine, attended Central College for Girls in Conway. Gene, along with siblings Mildred, Frank, and Myra attended the training school at UCA, formerly known as Arkansas State Teachers College. The Hatfield family has had a very long relationship with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), which began in 1922. Frank was 9 years his senior and Myra was four years older. The oldest child was Maurine, who was eighteen years older than Gene, who was ten years older.

He was the youngest of five children, having three older sisters and one older brother.

Gene’s birth took place in the family home at 407 Center Street. Lester Gene Hatfield was born on Novemin Conway, Arkansas to Lester and Gertrude Powers Hatfield.

Washington, Arkansas by Mary Medearis