AND THE GILMAN BOWL GOES TO… RICHARD G. “DICK” HATFIELD, FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF COLONIAL PARKING, INC.

​This year’s winner of the Marvin S. Gilman Bowl has never been one to pursue public recognition. Rather, Richard “Dick” Hatfield is a quiet, tireless, hardworking embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. Starting his first business at the age of 18, he has built a real legacy for all his endeavors both in business and in the community.
After serving his country in the US Army, he was right back to work developing opportunities to grow his skills and his business. The business that is his life’s passion was started in 1956, Colonial Parking, Inc.
From a single location, our recipient grew his company over the nearly 60-years to a regional organization recognized for integrity, professionalism and service excellence. It employs over 230 people to manage over 100 locations serving in excess of 45,000 customers every day.
But first, we need to back up to recognize all the lives he’s touched along the 60-year journey.
After several years in business, Mr. Hatfield became active in the National Parking Association where he ultimately served as President from 1975-1976 and continues to serve on the NPA’s National Leadership Advisory Council. Relationships developed there led to the expansion of his business bringing him and his family to Delaware in 1965. The partnership developed from that continues to this day, 50-years later.
General characteristics:

• He is always guided by the Golden Rule, the company culture he created through his example is built on that simple principal of treating others as you would like to be treated. This example has led his team to not only deliver excellent service, but to be socially responsible as well.
• A true “his word is his bond” he has structured more transactions on the back of napkins than any other way.
• He approaches every business opportunity expecting to achieve a win for all involved. He wants to conclude every transaction with everyone involved feeling good about it.

Left to right: Peter Gilman, Richard G. “Dick” Hatfield, Martha Gilman, Rich Heffron.
It is his long-term focus and desire to develop lifelong relationships that may lead to other opportunities that has crafted this business style. The sum of his win-win and long-term philosophies has also led him to be one of the strongest advocates for the City of Wilmington. For the Dick Hatfield, it’s all about what’s good for the city, knowing that what’s good for the city will ultimately be good for everyone in the city.
He is a deeply committed not only to his families, both at home and at work, but also to the greater community. This commitment has been demonstrated by volunteering for a number of community organizations throughout his career:

• He is a lifelong Rotarian, living by Rotary’s philosophy of “service above self.”
• He served on the board, including as chairman, of Elwyn Institute, a nonprofit organization providing employment opportunities, training and education for people with disabilities, for more than 30 years.
• In 1982 our Gilman Bowl recipient, a board member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce at the time, put the needs of a growing state chamber of commerce together with a piece of land to develop the One Commerce Center Building at 1201 N Orange Street.
• He served as a board member for Artisans’ Bank and Downtown Visions.
• He served as president of Committee of 100 from 2000-2002.

Dick has constantly pursued opportunities and has shared his entrepreneurial spirit with many over the course of his career. With Dick’s guidance he nurtured the start of a commercial cleaning business, a demolition contracting business and an archival/record storage business not to mention countless other young entrepreneurs that he touched in a more casual way. He was a regular guest lecturer in the University of Delaware’s Entrepreneurship Program, sharing his story and inspiring students.
Needless to say, there is no one more deserving of recognition for his hard work and dedication to the community. The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Alliance congratulate Mr. Hatfield on this prestigious honor.
The Marvin S. Gilman Bowl was established by the Small Business Alliance of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in 2008 to honor an individual who has made outstanding contributions to small business and nonprofit organizations of Delaware. The Bowl is awarded annually in the memory of Marvin S. Gilman. This recipient is held in confidence until the Superstars in Business awards luncheon, which took place on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.