Alan G Hardin's Obituary
Alan Gheens Hardin, age 93, joined his most beloved savior and hero, Jesus, on May 4th, 2024. Alan always enjoyed being busy starting at age 8 as a caddy and grass cutting contractor. This was followed by several years as a boy in Kentucky where he braved cold and ice on his bicycle delivering papers in the early morning hours in hilly venues. On one occasion, while delivering papers on his bike, he was struck by an errant auto driver, knocked out and sustained a broken nose.
While in the 9th grade he met this lovely young lady with a beautiful smile, Bobbie. They subsequently married in May of 1949. Prior to marriage Alan won a scholarship to Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill. where he pledged and joined Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Overwhelmed by the absence of his sweetheart Bobbie, he returned to Kentucky and married her a few months later. Their first child, a son, was born 25 months later followed by 3 other children.
A few months after their wedding Bobbie called to advise she has arranged an appointment for Alan at an insurance company for an entry level job. When arriving at the office Alan noticed a number of former veterans were lined up waiting to be interviewed for the job. Alan would have left then and there had it not been for Bobbie’s intervention. After arriving at the office and advising the receptionist he was there for an interview he was told to go wait in line. As he was walking out the door he was called by a gentleman to come and sit down. Following a short discussion the potential employer advised that anyone who was loved so much by a wife had to be good and Alan was hired on the spot. What followed was a 35 year career in the fire and casualty insurance industry including some association with the accident and health business. Alan rose very quickly and after joining a large general agency he was given binding authority in contracts with Lloyds of London and other British insurance companies. He was told he was the youngest person to hold such authority in the whole of America. He was promoted to Vice President of the agency at age 23. Alan later joined a company in the Chicago area where he was transferred to open a branch office in Dallas, Texas in 1964. In 1978 Alan founded a reinsurance brokerage office known as Professional Reinsurance Office of America. Subsidiary Pro Re offices were located in Dallas, New York City and Atlanta, Ga. Alan retired in 1984 to enjoy traveling in all 48 mainland states by motor home with various family members and Europe. He expanded his hobbies of handicraft activities and golf. Alan was plagued by clinical depression at an early age. Despite this he had a quick wit and very much enjoyed joking with others. His “take a number card” and Christmas dummy brought laughter to many folks.
Alan’s non work activities included cofounder of the Louisville Casualty Underwriters Association, member of Knights of Columbus, Officer of the Bishop Lynch Men’s Club, cofounder of the Crescent Hill Athletic Club in Louisville and President of Texas Surplus Line Association.
He is survived by his four children, 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren
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