March 5, 2013

For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - J. Alvin Hardy, a man who dedicated 43 years of his life to Campbellsville University, is the guest speaker at Campbellsville University's Heritage Day chapel at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13 in Ransdell Chapel at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville.

Hardy, who retired in 2001, will speak during the event that commemorates aspects of the university's past.

Heritage Day was first observed as Founders' Day in 1981. It changed to Heritage Day in 1995. Heritage Day looks at the events, eras and people that shaped the present.

Hardy was serving as the dean of academic support when he retired on June 30, 2011. Hardy was recently selected for the Kentucky Association for Developmental Education (KADE) Lifetime Achievement award. In 2011, he was Campbellsville-Taylor County's Educator of the Year.

Hardy didn't just work at Campbellsville University: he came to Campbellsville as a freshman in 1955, and, in 1956, he married his wife, Peggy, of Louisville, who is a 1974 graduate of CU.

Hardy was vice president of the university for 18 years, “when it was still a college,” he said.

Although the structure of administration has changed somewhat since Hardy was vice president of the university, he said his responsibilities once included the role of vice president for development and vice president for finance and administration.

“My motivation was to help students,” Hardy said, “as my own personal relationship with the Lord, and my motivation to help others.”

Of his time at the university, Hardy said, “I had wonderful years at the university, and I miss the students.”

Hardy serves as pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church in Taylor County. He has served as interim pastor of many central Kentucky Baptist Churches and also serves as a revival, youth and college emphasis speaker.
He has served on mission trips to Russia, Venezuela, the Philippines and Kenya, Africa.

He served 25 years on the Campbellsville City Council; 17 years as mayor pro-tem.

Hardy attended Campbellsville Junior College in 1955-57 and then graduated from Georgetown College in 1961 with a major in English and minor in sociology. In 1976, he received his master of arts from Western Kentucky University.

He has also attended Appalachian State University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Middle Tennessee State University.

Chapel is designed to provide opportunities for corporate worship and exposure through a variety of informative speakers and presentations.