Porter Hardy Jr.

Porter Hardy Jr. (June 1, 1903 – April 19, 1995) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.

Porter Hardy Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1969
Preceded by	Ralph Hunter Daughton
Succeeded by	G. William Whitehurst
Personal details
Born	(1903-06-01)June 1, 1903 Bon Air, Virginia
Died	April 19, 1995(1995-04-19) (aged 91)
Resting place	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Randolph-Macon College (BA) Harvard University (MBA)
Profession	businessman

Biography

Born in Bon Air, Virginia, Hardy attended public schools and Randolph-Macon Academy, Bedford, Virginia. He graduated from Boykins High School in 1918, and from Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia, in 1922. He then attended the Graduate School of Business Administration at Harvard University in 1923 and 1924. After completing his education, Hardy was employed as an accountant and warehouse manager in New York City and Norfolk, Virginia from 1924 to 1927. He then became a wholesaler of electrical equipment in Salisbury, Maryland from 1927 to 1932, before moving to Churchland, Virginia, in 1932, to engage in agricultural pursuits.

Hardy was elected as a Democrat to the Eightieth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1969), during which time he was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto that opposed the desegregation of public schools ordered by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress, instead pursuing a career as a director of Dominion Bankshares Corporation and other Virginia financial institutions.

He died April 19, 1995, and was interment in Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Electoral history

• 1946; Hardy was elected to Congress defeating Republican Sidney H. Kelsey, winning 65.66% of the vote.
• 1948; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican Walter E. Hoffman, Independent Jerry O. Gilliam, and Socialist Sidney Moore, winning 61.15% of the vote.
• 1950; Hardy was re-elected unopposed.
• 1952; Hardy was re-elected unopposed.
• 1954; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican George V. Credle, winning 74.45% of the vote.
• 1956; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican William R. Burns, winning 76.43% of the vote.
• 1958; Hardy was re-elected unopposed.
• 1960; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican Louis B. Fine, winning 75.94% of the vote.
• 1962; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican Fine, winning 74.96% of the vote.
• 1964; Hardy was re-elected defeating Republican Wayne Lustig and Independent H. Grady Speers, winning 68.73% of the vote.
• 1966; Hardy was re-elected unopposed.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Porter Hardy Jr. (id: H000197)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Ralph Hunter Daughton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district 1947–1969	Succeeded by G. William Whitehurst