Harvey Boland Hardy – 1990

Harvey Boland Hardy was born on November 27, 1922 in Thomaston, Georgia.  He graduated in 1938 from Thomaston’s Robert E. Lee High School, where he played football and basketball and earned straight “A’s” in the classroom. 

During his next two years, Harvey attended Marion Military Institute (MMI).  While at Marion he played guard in offense, linebacker on defense and also was the team’s field goal and extra point specialist.  In addition, Harvey was Cadet Captain and Commander (ROTC) of Band Company and a member of the Glee Club, the Monogram Club, the Miana Club, the Orchestra, and the Officers’ Club.  He was selected as the valedictorian of his junior college class and graduated with and Associate-in –Science Degree in May 1940. 

After leaving Marion, Harvey walked on at Georgia Tech.  While at Tech, Harvey lettered as a 5’11”, 185 pound offensive guard and linebacker in both 1941 and 1942.  Harvey, playing nearly 60 minutes in every game, was a key reason Tech posted a record of 9 and 1 in 1942.  Harvey also played in the January 1, 1943 Cotton Bowl and was later named to the All-Time Cotton Bowl Team.  One of Harvey’s most cherished honors was when he was named to the Tech’s Coach William A. Alexander Era (1920-1944) Team, a team composed of only eleven players. 

As a result of his outstanding senior year, 1942, Harvey was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference Team and was named All-American by the United Press, NEA, New York Sun, International News Service, Newsweek (which selected Harvey on their Super All-American Team), New York Herald Tribune, and New York Journal-American. 

Harvey received the Rhodes Athletic/Scholastic for Senior Athletes, and in 1943 he graduated with his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.  The same year, he was drafted by the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Tigers.  In 1968 Harvey was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame. 

During World War II, he served in the Navy as a Naval Aviator and Aircraft Maintenance Officer.  Along with full time flying, he played football for both Pensacola and Jacksonville Naval Air Stations. 

From 1953 until his retirement in 1985, Harvey was employed by the Georgia Iron Works Company as sales engineer and vice-president. 

Harvey also had an illustrious career as a member of the Southeastern Conference Football Officials Association (1957-81).  Only the best officials are selected to officiate in bowl games and Hardy worked 23 bowls: three Cotton, three Tangerine, two Sugar, two Peach, two Gator, two Bluebonnet, two Citrus, two Missile, one All-American, one Orange, one Fiesta, one Sun, and one Liberty. 

His community activities include senior warden at All Saints Episcopal Church, past president of  Florida Section American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum, a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys’ Club at Lakeland, a member of the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club, PTA president, and past president of Ridge Chapter Naval Reserve Association. 

Harvey and his wife, Alice Storm, are the parents of four children and the grandparents of seven.  They reside in Lakeland, Florida.