Glenn C. Hardin

Glenn C. Hardin was the youngest of six children and the son of a Baptist preacher. He was born in 1924 and grew up during the depression. He was a high school cheerleader, basketball and baseball player, soldier, father, grandfather, and an educator.

World War II started in December of his senior year. His high school offered credit to any boys that would enter the service or go into defense work. In February 1942, Mr. Hardin went to N.Y.O. (National Youth Organization) training for defense work. He then went to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station as an inspector. Deciding that he wasn’t helping to win the war fast enough, he went into the US Army Air Corps in March of 1943 (his goal at that time was to be a tail gunner on a B-17). The day he went in to enlist he did not weigh enough, and so he filled up on water and bananas for the rest of the day until he reached the required weight.

Mr. Hardin reported to Wichita Falls for basics, Amarillo for engineering school, Las Vegas for gunnery school and Ardmore, Oklahoma for overseas training. On July 11, 1944, he left Kearney, Nebraska to go overseas. While stationed in England, he was with the 8th Air Force. November 23, 1944, on his 12th mission, he was shot down over Germany. An out-of-control German Fighter dove down through his wing, taking him down with them.

On July 11, 1945, one year to the date after which he left for England, Mr. Hardin sailed home from Germany. After the war, Glenn Hardin went to college on the GI Bill, received his degree from Stephen F. Austin College, and became a teacher.

Mr. Hardin’s career in education included many different experiences. He started his teaching career in Pine Tree ISD (now in Longview) as a fourth grade teacher. He later taught 7th grade health, high school civics, and coached football, tennis, and basketball. He was an elementary principal for 21 years, a high school principal for 6 years, and superintendent one year in the Duncanville and Leverts Chapel School Districts. Mr. Hardin had a total of 32 years of service for the children of Texas.

Glenn C. Hardin died of pancreatic cancer on January 31, 1983. He is buried in Little Bethel Cemetery.

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