Bob Hardy Jr. Obit

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From: allyn...@metronetworks.com (allyn_black)
Reply-to: allyn...@metronetworks.com
To: wpbr...@aol.com

Radio icon Bob Hardy dies of heart attack

Bob Hardy Jr., the distinct and opinionated voice of Williams' own
radio station,
KYET (1180 AM), died unexpectedly Friday, June 5, 1998, at his Parks
home of
an apparent heart attack. He was 43.

Hardy was born June 25, 1954, at Clark Air Base in the Philippine
Islands. He
graduated from Belleville West High School in Belleville, Ill., and
attended
Southern Illinois University in Edswardsville, Ill.

Hardy, KYET's station manager, was best known for his daily talk show,
"Northland Now," in which he welcomed visiting celebrities and aired
his views
on issues such as local and national politics.

"Bob is going to be greatly missed, I can't express it
strongly enough," said Judy Marinoni, KYET office
manager. "Bob was this radio station. We're going to try
to carry on, but it's going to be difficult."

On the air, Hardy was an outspoken and opinionated
talk show host, unafraid to ask the difficult questions or
stir up a little controversy. In many ways, he was the
unofficial spokesman for the community, participating in
several community events such as serving as emcee of
many parades and youth activities.

"He knew the world, you could ask him a question on
any subject and he knew what was going on. Bob was
very opinionated, he was a three-dimensional man. He lived life to the
fullest,"
Marinoni said.

"He just had a very dynamic voice, it just came across. He helped build
this
radio station to what it is today," she said about her former KYET
co-worker.
Hardy's career began under his father's tutelage during Bob Hardy Sr.'s
years
at KMOX Radio in St. Louis. Among the places the younger Hardy's talent
took
him to were WINU Radio in Highland, Ill.; WGSB Radio in Chicago; and
WJNO
and WPBR radio stations in West Palm Beach, Fla. Hardy settled in the
northern
Arizona area in 1992 when he became a radio personality at KVNA Radio
in
Flagstaff.

In Williams, he was a past member of the Rotary Club.

Hardy is survived by his wife, Kay; son Nathaniel of Williams; daughter
Jennifer
of Chicago; mother Rita of Highland, Ill.; sister Sandra Chinn and
brother-in-law
Glen Chinn of Highland; grandmother Marguerite Giering of Alhambra,
Ill.; a
niece and several aunts, uncles and cousins. His father preceded him in
death.

A memorial service was held Tuesday in Williams. In lieu of flowers, a
Bob
Hardy Memorial Fund has been established, and donations may be made to
the fund at Stockmen's Bank, 106 S. Ninth St., Williams, AZ 86046.
Donations
can also be sent to KYET, call 635-0228 for more information.