Chuck Hardin is the third member of the Class of 1946 to be inducted into the Stivers Hall of Fame, joining Gene “Whiff” Brown and Jack “J Willie” Brown. As a senior, Chuck was named to the All City football team.
As a baseball player he was considered to be an outstanding catcher and once posted a .353 batting average. He was known as a tough competitor throughout his baseball career. Chuck was one of the most popular boys in school, serving on the Senior Council and was named Prom King (by a landslide-according to Chuck).
He attended Otterbein College where he played football. After graduation, he continued playing baseball in the Dayton AA Amateur League. Chuck taught in the Gahanna School System for one year before beginning his illustrious career at Dayton’s Wilbur Wright High School.
During various stages of his tenure at Wilbur Wright, in addition to his teaching duties he coached the Pilots in football, basketball, and track. He was Athletic Director as well as head basketball coach for eleven years. After having open-heart surgery in 1973, Chuck resigned as basketball coach but remained as the Pilot’s A.D.
At the State level, he served as meet director for the Ohio High School Southwest Regional Track Meets held annually at Welcome Stadium. While teaching American Government, he also served as Advisor for the Hi-Y (YMCA) Club. In 1968, he organized the Wilbur Wright Boosters Club.
Chuck passed away in 1976 after a six-week battle with cancer.
After his passing, he was honored by the Boosters with the creation of the Chuck Hardin Memorial Trophy which was awarded yearly to a top senior athlete.
He was just an all-round good man