NASHVILLE, Tenn. — L. Hall Hardaway Jr., chairman of the board of Hardaway Construction Corporation and the Hardaway Group, Inc, has been selected to receive the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. The presentation will be made Friday, Feb. 1, at the School of Engineering’s annual Leadership Dinner at Featheringill Hall on Vanderbilt campus.
Hardaway graduated from the School of Engineering in 1957 with a degree in civil engineering. He began working as a field superintendent with Hardaway Construction, the firm his father founded in 1924. Concentrating on the commercial side of the business, he led the company into a new era that culminated in the establishment of the Hardaway Group as the 19th largest private enterprise in Tennessee. The company employs 1,000.
The School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes distinguished achievement, significant service, excellent character and a reputation that reflects well on the school. The honoree is chosen from nominations submitted by the Engineering Alumni Council and the faculty of the School of Engineering.
In addition to his business and professional achievements, Hardaway is known for his service to and support of Vanderbilt. A member of the University Board of Trust since 1990, he serves on the Academic Programs Committee and the Budget Committee. Hardaway has also served as president of the Nashville Vanderbilt Club and was a steering committee member for the Campaign for Vanderbilt. A long-time supporter of the School of Engineering, he has agreed again to serve on the School of Engineering’s Campaign Committee for Vanderbilt’s upcoming campaign.
Hardaway has served the Nashville community in numerous capacities. He has been president and director of the Nashville chapter of Associated General Contractors and director of several construction organizations, including the Construction Specification Institute, Nashville Contractor’s Association and the Tennessee Associated Builders and Contractors. He served on the Sovran Bank Trust Board and the boards of Dominion Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville City Bank and Citizens Bank of Hendersonville. Hardaway is also a past member of the Board of Governors of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is a trustee of Davidson Academy, a trustee and deacon of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville and director of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
His company’s contributions to the community include being Pencil Partner for the Jere Baxter School; the rebuilding of the Dollar General Store and learning center in the Sam Levy neighborhood after it was destroyed by arsonists; and the sponsoring of Habitat for Humanity home building projects.
Contact: David F. Salisbury, (615) 343-6803
David.F.Salisbury@Vanderbilt.edu