Mayor, City of Columbus
May 22, 1995 to May 10, 1999

Thomas Beattie Hancher was born May 22, 1946 in Houston.  He graduated from Columbus High School in 1964, received his undergraduate degree at The University of Texas in 1968, and graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1972.  He opened a private practice in internal medicine and geriatrics in Columbus in 1976.

Dr. Hancher was sworn in as Mayor on May 22, 1995 and served until May 10, 1999.  During his tenure the city acquired and annexed nearly 400 acres for an industrial park, overhauled the sewer plant and system, passed the city's first zoning ordinance, opened a recycling center, renovated the Mansfield Building, city hall, and the swimming pool, instituted a stipend for the mayor and city alderman, acquired land for and initiated the Midtown Park project, and changed the name of part of Malleck Street to Martin Luther King Street.

In addition to his work in city government, Dr. Hancher has served as a board member for the Columbus Independent School District, as a director of the Columbus Quincentennial Commission, as a member and officer of the Texas Medical Association, and has held memberships in the Colorado-Fayette County Medical Society, the American Society of Internal Medicine, the Texas Society of Internal Medicine, and the American Geriatric Society.  He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.