[Editor's note:  Bo was 76 on February 18, scarcely two weeks before his death.]

Dr. James M. Hardy, resident of Erwin, TN died on March 3, 2005.  He was the son of Dr. Wofford Benjamin Hardy and Ruth Johnson Hardy (now deceased) of Big Spring, TX.  His wife, Bettye Gray Hardy, also preceded him as well as his brother, W. B. Hardy, Jr.  His wife, Dr. JoAnne Horton Hardy and three children survive.  Heather Boyd of Columbia, SC, Pat Hardy, Elizabethton, TN and Dr. John Hardy of Abingdon, VA.  He has two stepsons:  Matt Chatman of Erwin, TN and Kenny Chapman of Franklin, TN; granddaughters Evelyn Ester Hardy and Jessie Chatman and grandsons Frank Hardy, Taylor Hardy and Zack Chatman .  His faithful friends Ble and Sam also remain.

 Dr. Hardy received his undergraduate work from Southwestern University, Masters degree from Harvard Graduate School of Business and his Ph.D in Organizational Development and Planning from the Union Graduate School.  Dr. Hardy served as an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps.  He began his career with the YMCA as CEO of the Big Spring YMCA in Texas and later served with the Minneapolis Y before joining the National YMCA in New York City.  He moved to his beloved Pippin Hollow in Tennessee in 1976 and established JMH Associates,  a management consulting and training firm.  Dr. Hardy served as a consultant to national and local clients in the U. S. as well as Canada, Africa, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.  He was also author of seven books and numerous articles and research reports.

 Dr. Hardy's career was filled with honors and recognitions.  Among the most noteworthy are: Distinguished Service Award, U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce; One of five Outstanding Young Texans of 1960; selected by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce ; Alumni Citation of Merit, Southwestern University; One of Five Giants of the YMCA in the U. S.; selected by the Association of Professional Directors; recognized by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers for contributions to the field of professional management; accredited by the International Association of Applied Social Scientists in organization development and training.

 Professionally, Dr. Hardy was a member of the American Psychological Association,American Management Association, American Society for Training and Development, Harvard Business School Association and the World Future Society.

Bo Hardy was an avid outdoorsman and traveler.  He camped in the African bush, trekked in the Himalayas, rode horseback in Mongolia, dived the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea, tracked rhinos by elephant back in Nepal, and sailed the Drake Passage to Antarctica.  His life was full; his blessings were  many.

The family will receive friends at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at Centenary Methodist Church, Elm St., Erwin, TN followed by the Memorial Service at 3:00 PM.  The family has requested that in lieu of flowers and donations be made to the Bo Hardy Memorial Leadership Fund, c/o YMCA of Greater Charlotte, 500 E. Morehead, Charlotte, NC 28202.  Arrangements are in the care of Valley Funeral Home in Erwin, TN.

[This obit sent to the Association by Helen Montgomery Snyder, who received it from a family member.]

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