Life in the Palmetto State: Donald Hardy, our homegrown talent

If you haven't had the privilege of meeting or knowing this gentleman, then you are the unfortunate one.

His kind and courteous persona is only outmatched by his outstanding athletic ability.

I have known this man for years, and I know of no one with his personality and being loved by so many.

Donald Hardy is truly an outstanding person, one many men strive to emulate.

Donald started off in very humble beginnings. He was born in a rundown tenant house that his mother was also born in. Donald grew up in this house with all of his other siblings.

Donald unfortunately saw what alcoholism can do to a family, but thank the Lord, he was raised by a strong mother who saw to it that he got whatever he needed.

Donald has always said from his earliest days that God puts special people in your life for a reason, and his dear mother certainly qualified there.

Donald grew up in a very athletic family. His whole family was gifted when it came to sports.

The more I get to know Donald, I find that his athleticism and his drive to compete is the catalyst that fuels his success. But bear in mind, his compassion for his fellow man runs a very, very close second.

He tells a story about a young man named Sandy where they had a group of kids gather together to play a pickup game of baseball.

There were two teams, of course, and Donald was picking for his team. This is when kids played outside 'til dark and weren't distracted by a cellphone and social media.

Now, Sandy was not the athletic sort, but his enthusiasm could be seen right off, and he always got picked last, even if at all.

Donald, being the softhearted person he was, picked Sandy right off, and his smile could be seen for blocks away.

Unfortunately, before Donald could develop his trademark friendship with Sandy, Sandy was tragically killed in a car accident 10 days later.

Donald tells that story as if it happened yesterday, for it made such an impact on him and anyone that hears the full story.

At the ripe old age of 13, he decided to break into the gymnasium at East Clarendon, where he went to school.

Now, he wasn't a thief or a miscreant, but he was driven by sports, and all he wanted to do was shoot baskets.

Well, he hadn't had too many appearances at the EC gym before Coach Shad Hall, their iconic coach and who would be the second prominent person in his life, busted up the game.

"Boy, what are you doing in here?"

"Just shooting baskets, sir."

He was scared to death, but Coach Hall continued.

"Boy, do you realize the laws you are breaking? You could go to jail."

Being 13, he didn't know; he just knew that he was trembling and that Coach Hall could really make trouble for him.

But instead of making an example of young Donald, the inspiring coach worked a wrinkle so that he could continue to shoot baskets. That was the beginning of a bond that would last until Coach Hall's tragic death.

As stated previously, Donald was a gifted athlete, almost a prodigy. In high school, he played four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track, of which he was later inducted into the EC Hall of Fame for his accomplishments. He grew up in a very athletic family. Most of his family are there in the EC Hall of Fame with him.

He goes on to say that American Legion baseball followed up two weeks after school let out, and he was gone again. He claims he only had two weeks off a year.

Unfortunately, that's the life of an athlete of that caliber.

During high school, two things happened worth acknowledging.

First, he became the starting quarterback for the Wolverines his junior year. They ended up only winning one game that year, and that was almost by default but a win for sure.

He endured harsh criticism from everywhere except his coach. Coach Hall believed in him since he caught him sneaking into the gym several years earlier.

Next year was the complete opposite. His senior year, they were 11-1-1 and won a state championship. No longer did they jeer him; they only cheered him, and he is remembered as one of the best players to play that position at EC.

The second was probably the most important and proved to have the most impact on his life.

In high school, he met his high school sweetheart and who would become the love of his life, the lovely and elegant Jeannie Rhodes. She will end up being his only true love, a love that has stood the test of time.

Of course, as the calendar flips and the inevitable closes in, graduation was a bittersweet moment in his life.

Of course everyone enjoys the accomplishment of graduation, but he would be facing an unfamiliar future. Up to now, all he knew was home, EC and sports. This can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when you are unsure of the path in front of you.

Unbeknownst to him, life for him was really fixing to change. It wouldn't be long before he would receive a call that would truly change the course of his life forever and put him on the national stage.

Shortly after graduation, Donald received a call from Bobby Richardson; yes, the New York Yankees Bobby Richardson. The same Bobby Richardson who was named MVP of the 1960 World Series from the losing team. The same Bobby Richardson who caught the line drive off Willie McCovey's bat to save the win in the 1962 World Series. The same Bobby Richardson who won multiple Golden Gloves. The same Bobby Richardson who wins souls over to Christ today.

Yes, that Bobby Richardson.

Donald was being drafted by the New York Yankees by the one and only Bobby Richardson and had to report for spring training in Hollywood, Florida.

It was a very surreal moment that seemed like a dream, but Donald pursued this new world with all the courage he could muster.

He rode the train down there and made it to the stadium, where he rubbed elbows with the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and other legends. A true list of royalty when it came to Yankeedom.

It went very well that year, and he played an exhausting first season in 1967.

Unfortunately life happens, and with the Vietnam War heating up, he felt the tug of patriotism on his shirttail.

Donald, being the patriot that he was especially with the military draft looming, decided to go ahead and enlist in the National Guard, thinking that he could do both his patriotic duty and live out his dream of playing professional baseball.

Well, sometimes some things just won't mesh, like the Army and baseball.

He just couldn't make the schedules jive, so with a heavy heart, he hung up his cleats for good and made that long trip back to Turbeville.

Now with athletics being completely out of the picture, except for golf, he found a menial job flagging traffic on the soon-to open Interstate 95 to start with.

He did all sorts of jobs to support him and his new lovely wife, Jeannie, in 1968.

He continued to bounce around professionally with some jobs at finance companies and some in banking, but in the late '70s, when he was 30, he found his other calling, insurance.

He went to work with Farm Bureau selling insurance, where he did very well - with that and his golf.

With his knack for selling, he earned trips all over the world and played golf in each of those countries.

He got so popular playing golf and selling insurance that he was known all over the world and played golf with the rich and famous.

He won so many trophies and awards that it takes several rooms to hold them all.

In his later years, he was known as much for playing golf as he was known for playing baseball years earlier.

He eventually got his own insurance agency and still plays golf to this day, retired of course.

Over the years he has coached at several schools and in 2013 started a program to teach kids how to play golf, and in his retirement, he has the privilege of watching his golf students enjoy the game of golf and win tournaments.

Donald and Bobby Richardson still are friends to this day dating back to the mid'-60s. Bobby doesn't drive anymore, but Donald sees to it that he gets where he needs to go.

Donald enjoys retirement with his sweet wife.

If I could sum Donald Hardy up in a sentence or two, I would have to say this.

Donald grew up in very humble means and never forgot where he came from. So whether he was playing golf in some foreign country or playing pickup baseball with a kid named Sandy at 10 years old, he is the same Donald. That is such an admirable trait.

I am fortunate to call him friend.

May God bless you!

Lee Reaves Jr. is president of Clarendon County Historical Society.