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Note: Kansas: The First Century - vo.3 Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York: 1956 p. 39 "Osborne industrialist Dwight Harrison Hardman devoted most of hiscareer to the lumber business, although he spent some time in the constructionfield as well. He built up the Hardman Lumber Company, of which he was the president; and he was absent from his commerical duties at the time of World War II to serve as an officer in the United State Navy. Mr. Hardman was a native ofPhillipsburg, Kansas, and was born on February 19, 1897, son of Marion W. and Geme (Edick) Hardman. His father is the subject of an accompanying sketch. Attending the public schools of his native city, he graduated from high school there in 1915. He then entered the University of Kansas, where he was a student fortwo years. He left to enter naval service for the first time in World War I.Assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was chosen for officer'straining while there and transferred to Northwestern University. After the war,Mr. Hardman began his civilian career in the construction field, working on highway construction projects and the building of government airports. Most of his career, however, was identified with the Hardman Lumber Company. This firm had been started in 1909 with three yards. He played an active part in building up the organization prior to re-entering the United State Navy at the time of World War II. It was in November, 1942, that he was sworn in as a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Engineering Corps., and soon afterwardshe was appointed officer in charge of the 57th Battalion of Seabees (Constuction Battalions). Assigned to duty in the Pacific, he spent one year in the New Hebrides, and moved with his battalion from there to the advance naval base on the Isle of Manus. Commander Hardman returned to the United States in September,1944,and shortly afterwards was ordered to the School Military Government, Princeton University. On returning once again to peacetime pursuits, Mr. Hardman became president of the Hardman Lumber Company in 1945. In 1947 he completedthe construction of new headquarters in Osborne. Previous to that time the firm's main offices had been at Downs. At present the lumber firm operates about thirty yards, in western Kansas, eastern Colorado and Nebraska and it carries ona largewholesale business as well as retail. Mr. Hardman was a member of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce, and as a veteran of naval service in two World Wars, he belonged to Evert Storer Post No. 87, American Legion. He was a member ofDowns Lodge No. 204, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Consistory of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at Topeka, Commandery No. 59 of the Knights Templer, at Osborne, and Isis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Salina. He was also a member of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Phillipsburg, and had been a member of Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity from his college days. In his politics, Mr. Hardman was an independent Republican, and was a conservative in his views on foreign policy. Hewas a progressive, however, in his attitude toward social trends. A few years before the end of his life he became a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Something of the nature of his character and his active mind is suggested inthese lines from a review of his career in the columns of a local newspaper: 'Dwight was not provincial in his thinking, but rather catholic and universal. His vast studies of world history, economics and politics gave him an insight into modern diplomacy and daily drama that but few seem to grasp in our time... Dwight learned courage from his parents, he learned fortitude in the Navy and inbusiness... His business associates and ardent friends feel a deep loss...' On April 8, 1922, Dwight Hardman married Miss Mabel Parker, daughter of HarlanLawrence and Virginia (Demarest) Parker.
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