Students from Texas surprise former director with his own day

RESPECT! Only a select few El Pasoans who had the honor of having Mr. Phil Hatch as director will understand this reference.

It was a song played during the morning announcements at Montwood High School and it was a phrase that former principal Mr. Hatch would always ingrain in the minds of his students.

Decades later, some of those students walking the halls of Montwood High School in the early 2000s would have the honor of showing great RESPECT to their high school principal during a city council meeting in El Paso.

Phil Hatch Day in El Paso:

A few weeks ago I received a call from Brenda Medina, former KTSM morning news anchor and proud Montwood High School Alum.

Brenda sought the help of her fellow MHS classmates, Representatives Claudia Rodriguez and Claudia Ordaz, to ensure Mr. Hatch could receive the recognition he deserved for his contributions to local youth in the areas of sports and education.

On June 11, 2024, Mr. Phil Hatch would be surprised with his own day, “Phil Hatch Day.”

“Mr. Hatch thought Montwood High School would be recognized today, so that’s why he came,” Brenda said in front of the council, “so this presentation was a surprise to him.”

Montwood High School Alum, former staff, and even Mr. Hatch’s former secretary stood at the podium to say kind words to Mr. Hatch and congratulate him on this proclamation.

From UTEP to Montwood High School:

Mr. Hatch moved from his hometown of Mobile, Alabama to El Paso, Texas on an athletic scholarship to UTEP.

After college, he would find his way into the world of administration with schools such as Jefferson High School and Montwood High School.

In 1992, Mr. Hatch would lend his coaching skills to become one of the head coaches of the Greater El Paso Football Showcase, becoming the first head coach of the organization that has helped so many youth in the sports community.

Memories of Mr. Hatch:

I am a proud graduate of Montwood High School, class of 2005! And I have nothing but fond memories of Mr. Hatch.

There were days when he not only wore his principal’s hat, but sometimes you would also see him outside directing traffic, assisting teachers or greeting parents with a handshake.

He always made sure that every student felt seen. He knew most of every student’s names, and if he didn’t know your name, you wouldn’t know it, because he had a way of making you feel like he’d known you your whole life.

However, I’m sure most MHS alumni would agree that one of the fondest memories of Mr. Hatch was the pre-recorded voicemail left on our parents’ phones when we missed school. (Not that I ever missed school……..)

Decades later I met Mr. Hatch against:

I remember one day I was shopping at Walmart with my son and I saw Mr. Hatch from a distance and for some reason I wanted to walk up to him and say hello. And I did. (I was that girl lol)

Mr. Hatch was the same kind and gentle person he was when he was our high school principal, and his sense of humor was still good!

A recognition decades in the making:

It was so great to know that Mr. Hatch would finally be recognized for going beyond his position as a high school principal.

Even though I couldn’t attend the meeting *Cries in Spanish* I was able to watch the proclamation live and I shed a few tears hearing how much this surprise meant to Mr. Hatch, especially when he said these words:

“One of the things I found important when working with young children is to know their name and make sure you let them know that they ARE someone. We had 3,300 students a year, which was a huge number. People always asked me how I knew almost everyone’s names, and I always replied, “Only God knows.”

I’m proud to call Mr. Hatch my high school principal and I’m happy to celebrate Phil Hatch Day by playing Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT” on repeat!

And before I wrap up this article, I wanted to end it with something Mr. Hatch said in closing his speech as he accepted his Phil Hatch Day Proclamation:

“If we get that (respect) back in society and are respectful, I think we’ll do well.”