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Bill T. Hardman, Sr. Papers
Descriptive Summary | |
| Title: Bill T. Hardman, Sr. Papers | |
| Creator: Hardman, Bill, 1926- | |
| Inclusive Dates: 1960-2009 | |
| Bulk Dates: 1961-1970 | |
| Language(s): English | |
| Extent: 3 box(es) (1.75 linear feet and 1 audiovisual item) | |
| Collection Number: RBRL382 | |
| Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies | |
| Abstract: Bill T. Hardman, Sr. (1926-2013) served as Georgia's first tourism director (1959-1970). His papers document his work to promote Georgia tourism throughout the United States and abroad and include news clippings, photographs, scrapbooks and printed material. | |
Collection Description
Historical Note
Billy Thompson Hardman was born June 5, 1926, in Colbert, Madison County, Georgia, to William and Inez Hardman. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and later attended Piedmont College and Mercer University. Hardman and his wife, Dorothy, had two children, William and Mary.
In 1959, Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed Hardman as Georgia's first tourism director in the Georgia Department of Industry and Trade (now the Georgia Department of Economic Development). During his tenure, serving, he oversaw the development of the state's first eight welcome centers; launched the "See Georgia First" campaign to encourage vacationers on the way to Florida to stop first in Georgia; organized the nation's first Governor's Conference on Tourism (1961); worked with the State Highway Department to improve the condition of Georgia's major roadways; and promoted Georgia at international and national travel conferences and trade fairs. He also served as the inaugural president of the Southern Travel Directors' Council (now Travel South USA), as chair of the Travel Industry Association of America (now U.S. Travel Association), and as a long-standing member of its board.
In 1970, Hardman founded Hardman Productions to present travel and RV trade shows and related events. In the early 1970s, Hardman lobbied successfully to convince the Georgia General Assembly to appropriate $30 million to build the Georgia World Congress Center and place it in Atlanta. In 1983, Hardman helped create the Southeast Tourism Society, which now covers a twelve-state region, as well as the STS Marketing College, which trains professionals in the area of travel and tourism marketing. He served as STS's president and CEO.
Hardman's wife, Dorothy, died in 2000. He later married Helen Fincher in 2006. Hardman died October 18, 2013, in Gainesville, Georgia.
Source: "Billy Hardman." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 20 October 2013. Web. 14 December 2015.
Scope and Content
The Bill T. Hardman, Sr. Papers document Hardman's tenure as Georgia's first tourism director and his work to promote Georgia tourism in the United States and abroad. The material includes information on his efforts to establish welcome centers throughout Georgia and to elevate Georgia's overall profile as a tourist destination. The papers includes news clippings, photographs, scrapbooks and printed material. Of note are photographs of Governors Ernest Vandiver, Car Sanders and Lester Maddox participating in tourism-related events with Hardman.
Organization and Arrangement
The papers are arranged by type of material and chronologically.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Reference copies of the audiovisual recording are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.
Preferred citation
Bill T. Hardman, Sr. Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
Conditions Governing Use
Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.
Copyright Information
Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Finding Aid Publication
Finding Aid prepared by Mat Darby, 2015.
Related Materials and Subjects
Subject Terms
Related Collections in this Repository
Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 146 Bill Hardman
S. Ernest Vandiver, Jr. Papers