Sept. 15, 1928-Aug. 20, 2009

Sam Hardy, 80, of Huntsville, passed away Thursday.
In 1946, Mr. Hardy entered the Army Air Corps, the sixth Hardy brother to serve his country. He was stationed in Guam. Always an athlete, in 1948 he played basketball in the Army All-Pacific Tournament in Japan and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In 1949, he enrolled at Florence State Teachers College (now UNA). He was selected to be a member of University's Who's Who. He was selected as Mr. FSTC in 1952. As a walk-on, he earned a basketball scholarship and led the team in scoring in 1950, 1951 and 1952. He still ranks sixth in all-time scoring. He was inducted into the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
He acquired a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate from the SE Institute of Technology. He was the director of product assurance for the Army Missile Research and Development Command, Huntsville, Ala. He retired as technical director of the Army Missile Command Advanced Systems Concept Office.
An avid golfer for 50 years, he made five holes in one. In 1993, he was the Alabama Seniors Golf Tournament winner. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Virginia Hardy; daughter, Lyndel Hardy and husband, Henry O'Steen, of Birmingham; sons, Darrell Hardy and wife, Kathy, of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Bruce Hardy, of Huntsville; grandchildren, Matthew, Stephen and Samantha Hardy and Callie O'Steen; great-granddaughter, Naomi Ruffin; brother, Nathan Hardy, of Franklin County, Ala.; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be noon-1 p.m. Monday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with John Denney officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Family Care, Memorial Parkway Church of Christ Building Fund or Parkinson's Association.