Clifton Onie Hatter was born on Jan. 12, 1943, in Bessemer, Alabama. He passed away in Fullerton, California, on Aug. 3, 2023, at the age of 80 from congestive heart failure.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mari, and an older brother, William. He was preceded in death by sister Midge and brother Johnny. He had no children of his own but he was known as "Big Daddy" to hundreds of athletes and staff over more than three decades at Cal State Fullerton, where he was athletics equipment manager and so much more from 1974 to his final retirement in 2006.
Cliff met Mari at a small church where she and her college roommate assisted with music duties. His work career began as a part-time shoe clerk and three months later he was assistant manager. Another promotion to supervisor led to a move to Milwaukee to support Nunn Bush Shoes personnel.
Tiring of the travel after three years, they moved to Atlanta where they opened their own store. When they visited Mari's family in Southern California they liked the climate so much they sold the store and their home and never went back. Cliff's employment at CSF also was spontaneous as he went from an interested sideline observer at a football practice to a volunteer helper to equipment manager in a matter of days.
Cliff was a trusted confidant to CSF co-workers, athletes, coaches and athletic directors. He was a father confessor and sounding board for new game strategies. He stretched budgets tighter than size 34 pants on a 250-pound tackle. He made work fun while tutoring three future collegiate equipment managers in Gary Hazelitt (San Jose State, Stanford and currently Michigan), Jay St. Clair (Pacific) and Joe Camacho (currently Fullerton).
He had a conspirator in head athletic trainer Jerry Lloyd, who proceeded him in death in 1996. Known collectively as "Gasoline and Matches," they staged impromptu "routines" worthy of professional comedy clubs. Scams were common. Every one was a potential target. They sought bragging rights as opposing "head coaches" for the Spring intrasquad football game between the Mad Hatters and Lloyd's Boys. Fair play was optional. They were at their best on the road when they would exaggerate the extent of Fullerton's barely adequate athletic facilities to gullible non-conference peers. They co-owned a physical therapy business for a few years in Anaheim.
Cliff's passions away from Titan Gym were following Alabama football, traditional country music and golf. He hit the ball straight if not far and in January of 2001 he logged a hole-in-one at Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia where he worked part-time. At home all focus was on Mari, a native Cuban who could understand Cliff's southern drawl and match his story telling ability. Her father granted permission to wed Cliff only after a lengthy "conversation" between the Spanish speaking father-in-law-to-be and Alabama-speaking son-in-law-to-be.
A Celebration of Life is pending.
