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2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award

Congratulations to our 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, Stan Hendrix (’78).

Choosing one Harding Academy graduate from among the thousands of amazing graduates is quite a challenge. But when one name comes up over and over, our ears perk up. When multiple people describe that graduate as humble, hard-working, passionate, loyal, creative, energetic, and positive, we have to pay attention. When that graduate is also described as a person who lives by faith and who treats people with kindness, patience, love, care, and concern, we know we have a winner.

This year’s recipient of Harding’s Distinguished Alumnus Award has been not only a Harding student but also a Harding parent and Harding employee. He is a 1978 graduate, remembered for many things but especially for his dry wit and for his incredible humility and servant’s heart. He is also known for his ingenuity. When he was a student at Harding Academy, he had a science project due that he completely forgot about until one of his classmates reminded him. He proceeded to go outside where he gathered three sticks, found some string, and collected a rock. With supplies in hand he built an “If-ometer.” This was a tripod of sticks with one end of the string attached to the tripod and the other end attached to the rock. The “If–ometer” would forecast the weather. For example, if the rock was wet, it was raining. If the rock was moving, it was windy. If the rock cast a shadow, it was sunny. He actually made a decent grade with that project! I don’t think that would cut it in today’s science classes.

Our Distinguished Alumnus is married to Tracy, and they are the parents of two Harding graduates: Andrew Hendrix (Class of 2010) and Rachel Hendrix Dressman (Class of 2011). He is the brother of Terri Hendrix Hambrick (Class of 1980) and brother-in-law of Jim Hambrick (Class of 1980) and Rich Tinsley (Class of 1988).