Guy Urban Hardy (April 4, 1872 – January 26, 1947) was a U.S. Representative from Colorado for fourteen years. He was a newspaper editor and publisher for 52 years as well as president of the National Editorial Association. Three parks were established in

Cañon City, Colorado Cañon City is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 17,141 at the 2020 United States Census. Cañon City is the principal city of t ...

as the result of his lobbying efforts: Royal Gorge Park, Temple Canyon Park, and Red Canyon Park. The Guy U. Hardy award was established to recognize individuals who preserve, protect, and advocate for outdoor recreational opportunities.

Early life and education

Born in Abingdon, Illinois, Hardy had two brothers. He attended the public schools, Albion Normal College in

Albion, Illinois Albion is a city in and the county seat of Edwards County, Illinois, Edwards County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,971 at the 2020 census. The city was named "Albion" after an ancient and poetic reference to the island of Great Bri ...

, and Transylvania University,

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

Career

He taught school in Illinois and Florida from 1890 to 1893. He had tuberculosis and moved to

for the dry climate in 1894. He was the editor and later publisher and owner of the ''Cañon City Daily Record'' and ''Cañon City Weekly Record'', beginning in 1895. Initially, there was a weekly paper, and by 1906 Hardy also published a daily newspaper. Appointed to the post by President William McKinley, he was

postmaster A postmaster is the head of an individual post office, responsible for all postal activities in a specific post office. When a postmaster is responsible for an entire mail distribution organization (usually sponsored by a national government), ...

of Cañon City from June 5, 1900, to July 30, 1904. He was president of the National Editorial Association in 1918 and 1919. Royal Gorge CO - Royal Gorge (NBY 431935) (cropped)

Royal Gorge CO - Royal Gorge (NBY 431935) (cropped)

He lobbied Congress in 1906 to establish a park at Royal Gorge by having the land ceded to the City of Cañon City. Royal Gorge Park was created due to his efforts, as were Temple Canyon Park in 1912 and also Red Canyon Park. He was also a leader in the local

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

. Hardy was elected as a Republican to the 66th Congress and to the six succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the

73rd Congress The 73rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1933, ...

. While in Congress, he prepared documents regarding the responsibilities of Congressmen and about Congress. He resumed his former publishing pursuits in

. He founded the University Club of Cañon City.

Personal life

On August 2, 1899, he married Jessie Mack (born May 7, 1875 Cañon City), the daughter of early pioneers of Cañon City, Julia E. (Little) and Henry Mack. Jessie received her Bachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B.) at the University of Michigan in 1898, after which she taught Latin and English at the Cañon City High School. She was a suffragette and involved in a number of community organizations. She also taught kindergarten. The Hardys had four children, daughter Marion and sons Max, Lyman, and Don. He resided in Cañon City, Colorado until his death on January 26, 1947. He was interred in Greenwood Cemetery. After his death, his son Don ran the newspapers. The Guy U. Hardy Award for Service to Outdoor Recreation was created in his name to recognize people in the community who "help preserve, protect and advocate for providing outdoor recreation opportunities." Hardy had a significant impact on outdoor recreational opportunities in the Royal Gorge area.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Guy Urban 1872 births 1947 deaths Transylvania University alumni American Disciples of Christ Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado People from Abingdon, Illinois People from Cañon City, Colorado