Hatch, Ephraim

M. Ephraim Hatch worked in the Brigham Young University Physical Plant Department between 1957 and 1982, including as chief of planning and special projects coordinator.

Worked in BYU Physical Plant Department, 1957-1982, including as chief of planning and special projects coordinator.

Ephraim Hatch is an amateur photographer in Provo. He worked in the Physical Facilities Division of Brigham Young University.

Hatch served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943-1945 and achieved the rank of second class electronic technician.

Ephraim Hatch (1920-1982) helped plan several buildings on campus during the building frenzy of the Wilkinson years.

Ephraim Hatch was born in 1920 in Woods Cross, Utah. In 1928 his family moved to Spanish Fork and opened up a grocery store. They lived there until The Depression prevented them from continuing their business and they moved to Provo to farm. As a young boy he enjoyed building models and in 1935 he won a model building contest and received $75 which he used to buy a Model T. He was also into HAM radios. He got a HAM radio license in 1937 and in 1939 he and his brother Noal hiked Mount Timpanogos with it and they were able to talk to their friend Jack Halliday from the top. He feels they were the first to ever broadcast from the top of Mount Timpanogos but they forgot to take a picture of the event. During World War II Ephraim worked for Boeing for two years before being enlisted into the Navy. He became a radio repair and maintenence man for ships. During this time he met his wife, Verena Ursenbach, while visiting Provo. They were married on August 4, 1944 while Ephraim was training for to maintain radios. Following the war Ephriam built wooden toys for a while, then went into the cabinet business. Soon he started designing and building a few homes in Provo. One of his homes was selected by Better Homes and Gardens to represent contemporary homes in the mountain states area. He also did remodeling work during this time. After doing some remodeling for a BYU employee he was hired by BYU to work in the building and planning office. He helped plan several buildings on campus during the building frenzy of the Wilkinson years. He helped create buildings that could be used not only for school but also for church services on Sunday. He also helped to maximize usage of space. He also did work on Ricks College. He worked planning for BYU until he retired in 1982.