Obituary of Robert Moss Hardy

Robert Moss Hardy, a legendary University of Kentucky quarterback and distinguished amateur golfer, died Sept. 4, 2016, in Boynton Beach, Fla., after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Hardy was born June 21, 1933, in Paducah, Ky. An outstanding athlete, he emerged as a star quarterback at Paducah Tilghman High School and was named all-state quarterback his junior and senior years. Hardy accepted an offer to play football for the University of Kentucky, which was then coached by one of college’s greatest coaches, Paul “Bear” Bryant. When Bryant left after Hardy’s sophomore year, he played for another renowned coach, Blanton Collier. Hardy’s frequent target on the football field was Howard Schnellenberger, a talented receiver who went on to become a celebrated college football coach and with whom Hardy remained very close throughout the years. Hardy often joked that “Coach” won accolades as a receiver because Hardy put the ball right where he could catch it. Hardy is most remembered by Wildcats fans for leading UK to three straight victories against arch-rival Tennessee in ‘53, ‘54 and ‘55. He was named All-Southeastern Conference in ‘54 and ‘55 and second-team All-American in ‘55. He quarterbacked the Blue-Gray game and the Senior Bowl. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, Hardy declined their offer. Hardy graduated from UK with a degree in commerce. He was 2nd Lt. ROTC and he served in the National Guard. He went on to work for Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company as Vice President and later pursued various business ventures. Hardy also had a great love of golf beginning at age 10 when he started caddying at the municipal course in Paducah, Ky. He was encouraged by golf pro Bob Hamilton from nearby Evansville, Ind., who won the PGA Championship in 1944. Hamilton took a personal interest in Hardy’s development as a golfer. Hardy went on to win many amateur golf tournaments beginning in 1951. After moving to Boynton Beach, Fla., in 1988, Hardy turned his competitive sights toward the National Senior Amateur Golf circuit with the Society of Seniors. In 1989, he won the American Seniors’ Golf Association Stroke Play Championship. In 1990 he finished third in the British Senior Amateur Championship and he was ranked as 5th U.S. Senior Amateur Player by Golf Digest Magazine. He also won five stroke-play and two match-play club championships at his home course, Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach. He served both as its President and as a board member throughout the years and was inducted into the Quail Ridge Golf Hall of Fame in 2010. Despite Parkinson’s Disease, he continued to play golf with passion and precision, while enjoying the many friends he had at Quail Ridge. Hardy is preceded in death by his parents, Velvaline Moss Haley and Robert Layman Hardy and his brother William L. Hardy. He is survived by his two children, Robert Moss Hardy, Jr. (Lisbon) of Frankfort, Ky., and Laura Lee Hardy Dobie (Bruce) of Nashville, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Houston Hardy (Liz), Hallie Hardy, Hannah Dobie and Rob Dobie; and his brother, James B. Hardy. Hardy is also survived by his former wives, Rose Gayle Waterfield Hardy and Mary Futrell Hardy. Hardy donated his brain to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank for the advancement of Parkinson’s research. A special thanks to his kind caregivers at Boulevard Rehabilitation Center and Trustbridge Hospice in Boynton Beach. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Ascension, Frankfort, Ky., with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, KY 40601 or online at www.hospicebg.org.