Winston Hardin

Winston Hardin, 83, died early Monday morning Dec. 27, 2010 in Ozark, Ark. Born Dec. 10, 1927 in Scranton, Ark., Winston was preceded in death by his wife Nola Blanche Dodgen Hardin; his parents Charlie Martin Hardin and Ruby Stephens Hardin; and one brother. Winston grew up and lived in the Coal Hill area until he joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 where he served his country for two years. After the Navy he returned to the Clarksville area where he finished his senior year of high school and then entered College of the Ozarks where he met and married Nola Blanche Dodgen, also a student at the college. After receiving his degree in business administration and a minor in physical education of C of O, Winston enrolled at the University of Arkansas to finish his education with a master's degree. While job hunting, Winston was offered a position in Florida to start and manage a Boys Club of America when his father-in-law, Harold Dodgen, offered Winston a position in his company, Harold Dodgen, Inc. Winston accepted and began a long and successful career in the poultry industry. Mr. Dodgen sold his company in 1968 to Cargill Inc. and Winston remained with Cargill as General Manager of the Ozark area operations until he took early retirement in 1985 due to an eye condition known as macular degeneration. Winston loved Arkansas and Ozark and held many positions in the community of Ozark and around the state. He lobbied in Washington DC at the national level and in Little Rock at the state level in support of the Arkansas poultry industry. He also held positions and served on committees for organizations such as The Arkansas Poultry Federation, The Lions Club, and served as school board president in Ozark during some tumultuous times in 1958 and 1959. One of Winston's most proud accomplishments was having organized the Ozark Baseball Program in 1961. He managed and coached in the league for many years while making Ozark baseball a formidable opponent in the state of Arkansas and surrounding states. Winston was an avid golfer and a founding member of both the Little Creek Recreation Club in Caulksville and the Ozark Recreation Club in Ozark. He was a longstanding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ozark where he sang in the choir and was a former elder. Winston had a love for all sports, especially Razorback football, basketball and baseball which he listened to avidly - seldom missing a game. He was a long standing supporter of the University of Arkansas Razorback Foundation and also a proud alumni of the University of the Ozarks, formerly College of the Ozarks, and remained actively involved in the alumni association. Survivors include one son, Winston Lanier Hardin, of Ozark; one daughter, Stacie Hardin Young and husband Mark of Phoenix, Ariz.; one sister, Neosha Kelton of Dallas, Texas; two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Natalie Young, both of Atlanta, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at Shaffer Funeral Home Chapel in Ozark, Ark., under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Ozark. To leave an online condolence to the family visit the website: shafferfuneralhomeweb.com.