When H.B. Hardy Jr. ’48 left Heber Springs in 1944 to attend college at Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas, he had no idea that he would one day be considered an institution.
“I had high standards. I always had high standards in my personal life, and I carried that into my professional life, and it served me well,” Hardy said. “I don’t consider myself to be an institution, but if others do, I consider that a compliment.”
After spending four years as a student, Hardy worked for 36 years as an employee. Originally hired in 1956 as director of Placement and English instructor, Hardy quickly moved through the ranks.
He was promoted to associate professor and director of General Studies in 1966, and then became dean of Undergraduate Studies in 1969. He served as dean of the Graduate School for 16 years beginning in 1972. Additionally, he served as interim vice president of Academic Affairs in 1975 and was appointed interim president of the University in 1988. He also worked as assistant to the president from 1988 to 1992 before retiring.
Throughout his employment, Hardy also served the University as faculty adviser to Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, sponsor of the Scroll and Alpha Chi and as chair of the Publications Committee.
Hardy was chairman of the Conway Planning Commission and served on the board of directors for the Conway Chamber of Commerce and the UCA Foundation.
The Board of Trustees recognized Hardy in October 1992 with a resolution saying, in part, “Dr. Hardy fulfilled each of these important duties with an extraordinary professional competence and commitment that contributed immeasurably to UCA’s emergence as a major institution of higher learning.”
The University named Hardy the 2001 Distinguished Professor Emeritus in honor of his many years of outstanding service.
Hardy earned his bachelor’s degree in 1948. He earned a master’s degree from the George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University in 1954 and a doctorate from the University of Arkansas in 1967.
Hardy celebrated his 90th birthday in April 2017 with friends, relatives, well-wishers and fellow alumni. While he does not get to visit the campus as much as he once did, he knows some things at UCA will continue to endure.
“The campus always had a nice feeling of congeniality,” Hardy said. “It’s a good university, probably one of the best in the United States.”