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Jack
Hardy August 9, 1931 - June 23, 1977
TASD volunteer Jack Hardy, could be seen riding his bicycle around town selling Booster Club memberships. In spite of his physical handicaps, he sold more memberships than anyone else did. He attended all home sporting events and in recognition of his service he was allowed to ride the team bus to out of town events. Jack sold his first ticket every year to "Uncle Dudley", a colorful radio announcer at KOSY. This year in-and-year-out dedication to service to schools resulted in TASD naming its annual volunteerism in the schools award in honor of Jack Hardy. Jack was a member of the First United Methodist Church. This year the award goes to Rosemary Hardy (Class of 71), she has been president of the PTA at Kilpatrick, North Heights Junior High and AHS. She has served on the District Improvement Team and the Miller County PTA. She worked as treasurer for Kilpatrick, NHJH, AHS and the Razorback Booster Club. She’s been a homeroom mother, chaperone at dances, baker of dozens and dozens of cookies and co-chair of the high school prom two years in a row. Rosemary Hardy, actually no relationship to Jack Hardy, has devoted countless hours of volunteer work for the Texarkana, Arkansas schools since the 1980’s. "She is representative of that "Old Razorback Spirit" that is and was the heart of the Jack Hardy Award and of him," commented Mrs. Penny Arnold, current AHS PTA president.
"He was a “super” AHS Razorback fan and
supporter, and he was the “absolute champion” of promoting booster
club membership and participation. He
wore out many bicycles pedaling around selling booster club memberships,
and if you ever joined once, you were committed annually forever. There
was never anyone that could match Jack Hardy, and no one ever will. He
was a one-of-a-kind fixture around Arkansas High and our city for many,
many years." "Jack Hardy was a true Razorback fan. He was true, consistent, honest and steadfast in what he did. I will never forget telling him to come see me at a certain time, a week, a month, 6 months from now. He would be there --- on time. You would see him all over Texarkana. On his bicycle wearing his letter jacket. Someone told me one time how many bicycles he had worn out selling booster club tickets. I wish I could remember how many it was. I will always have fond memories of Jack from my high school days." Frank Buchanan "Jack Hardy was a member of the First United Methodist Church at 6th and Laurel Streets and I can never remember him missing a Sunday. His mother was a long time member of the church as well. I don't think Jack Hardy owned a bicycle that was not red. His Razorback spirit was awesome and he had to know everyone in Texarkana by name. I am so honored I knew Jack." Donna J. Ruggles My sister, Joyce Varner, and I have the distinct memory of Jack appearing at our house several evenings a week, always at dinnertime. We would sit down to eat and the doorbell would ring. Everyone looked at each other, knowing full well who was at the door. Dad (Jesse Stewart) was President of the Booster Club for many years and Jack felt like he should report how many tickets he had sold daily. Carrie Stewart
Galloway (1960)
Thanks to Lynne Dickens Vammen and Jack Young (Class of 47) for their help Thanks to Daniel Siau (Class of 69) for asking me to do this article If you have any other info on Jack, please notify the Webmaster
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