William H. Hecht

TIFTON — William H. Hecht, a Tifton native who became a Republican lobbyist, died Monday, June 12 at his home in Virginia.

Hecht, who began his career as a Lutheran minister in Mt. Vernon, Ill., later became the executive director of the Missouri State Republican Party in 1967, moving on to serve as vice president of the American Security Council in 1969, then as executive assistant to the chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security in 1971, and finally as the vice president for legislative affairs at the Tobacco Institute.

In 1981 he founded Hecht, Spencer and Associates, a government relations firm.

Despite his career taking him to other parts, he never forgot his roots and did a great deal to help Tifton, according to Sonny Hamilton, who had been friends with Hecht since they were both five years old.

“Anytime I needed anything, he would get the people we needed to get it done,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton credits Hecht with helping transform an old depot owned by the railroad into the Chamber of Commerce and with bringing cable TV to Tifton.

In addition, he was woking to help revitalize the Lutheran church in Tifton.

“He helped where it really counted,” said Hamilton, “where it would really get something done.”

Hamilton emphasized that Hecht was first and foremost a family man.

“He thought more of his grandchildren and children than anybody you’ve ever seen,” he said.

Hecht is survived by his wife, Susan, three of his sons, Herb, Tim and Jim, three daughters-in-law, Dana, Jill and Melissa, and 10 grandchildren, Caroline, Rachel, Will, Robbie, Christian, Danny, Hannah, Sammy, Holly and Johnny. He was pre-deceased by one son, Robert David.