National Louis University - National Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Because of the underlying importance in presenting a dedication, the year book staff has endeavored to do more than give an oversimplified dedication. To dedicate something does not merely mean to ap- praise the dedicatee's accomplishments. Rather, a dedication is the recording and reporting of that person's contributions and life which deserve testi- mony, as well as, admiration. In preparing our dedication to Mr. Edward Hardy, jr., the year book staff did extensive research on o-ur subject. To find all we could about Nlr. Hardy as teacher, family man, and fellow human being, we gathered facts from interviews with people who have known him over the years. Much of what we did discover about Mr. Hardy goes beyond the realm of pure factual information. It is this combining of facts and interviews which shed light on the real Ed Hardy. Born and raised in midwestern Illinois, Mr. Hardy was one of foiu' children of a Methodist minister. He spent his earlier years in a rural community with his sister and brothers. In 1928-1930 he enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was an active member of the school choir and band. After only two years of school, he left in 1930 to earn some money as a teacher in the Barstow Public School system. However, Mr. Hardy was later to finish his education at the University of Illinois where he re- ceived both his B.A. H9381 and M.S. 119499 degrees in Physical Education. His experiences in the field of education covers some thirty-two years. In this time he has been a teacher, coach, principal, counselor, and physical education director. From 1932-1936 he was a rLu'al school teacher, and in 1938-1941, Mr. Hardy became a staff member of Roosevelt Military Academy. While at the academy, he served in the capacities of athletics coach, principal of the elementary school, and com- pany commandant. Finally, from 1941 imtil he came to National, Mr. Hardy was principal of the Aledo Public Junior High School.

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Dining the summer months of these years he was director of athletics and water sports at a boys camp in Beaver Dam Lake, Wisconsin. February 1943 marked Mr. Hardy's first year at National College. He joined the college staff in the same month as his close friend, Lloyd Cousins. 'gEd Hardy and I have known each other for twenty- four years. The college was quite different back in those days when Edna Dean Baker was president. The faculty, as well as the student enrollment, was much smaller than it is now. We had many oppor- tunities to get together at faculty picnics, dinners and teas. There was a definite closeness on the part of all the faculty thenf' said Mr. Cousins. Ed's al- ways been an energetic supporter of school fimctions. I can remember one occasion in particu- lar. Miss Etta Mount, who was the college dance instructor, got the male faculty to- gether for a Hooten- anny skit. She made us learn the minuet. When it came time for the performance, there we all were- dancing the minuet in full length skirtsf, The energetic and tireless personality .of Mr. Hardy has been visible since that first year at National. He was hired as a P.E. instructor for the children's school and as a science teacher to work with Mr. K. Richard johnson, who is currently the president of our college. Between teaching Children's Hygiene and Physiology courses, and working out play activities for the children, he also helped Miss Mount with college athletics. From here on we have accumu- lated an inexhaustible list of activities and commit- tees in which Mr. Hardy has participated. To name afew: ill organizer of the Hootenanny, the faculty and all-school picnics, Q27 advisor to College Council, CD member of the American Association of Uni- versity Professors, MJ Marshall of the Day at com- mencement exercises, 151 Firemarshall for school fire drills, C65 member of the Post War Council, 1946, which worked on Red Cross drives, and Q71 director of the P.E. department since 1955. Of course, this is an extremely limited list of Mr. Hardy's activities at National, because it only takes into consideration those activities which are given noted recognition. The simple listing of facts does not give a true measure of the man. For instance, as director of the Women's Athletic Association, Mr. Hardy strove to qualify the organization for member- ship in the Illino-is Athletic and Recreation Federa- tion, succeeding in 1963. Like many teachers, he puts in a great deal of overtime on behalf of the students. As Miss Wren Staley, English professor, puts it, Ed never watches a clock. Many is the time Iive been going home for supper and he has been in the gym repairing or setting-up equipment for an activity. For many years he stayed late at night or came on the week- end to freeze the ice skating pond for the children's school. A former Evanston- ian, Mr. Hardy pres- ently lives in Liberty- ville, Illinois with his family. On weekends you can find him singing in his church choir and puttering around his garden. I-Ie is very much of a family man, as well as, a very religious man,', remarked Mr. Linford Marquart, history professor. I know he used to en- joy taking his wife, son, and daughter on camping trips to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Now that his children are grown up, he spends most of his time raising flowers and vegetables, andplaying with his grand -children-both of which are the center of his life.