(L-r) Retired Brig. Gen. Robert D. Bowie and Dr. Joi Spraggins, Board Chairman and Founder/CEO of Legacy Bridges STEM Academy Inc., respectively; Soledad Quaninoo; and Legacy Bridges Board Member Andrew Holloway all pose at DSU's Piper Arrow aircraft that now bears the name of Lt. Col. George "Tall in the Saddle" Hardy, who was a WWII pilot for the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. — *In this photo:* (L-r) Retired Brig. Gen. Robert D. Bowie and Dr. Joi Spraggins, Board Chairman and Founder/CEO of Legacy Bridges STEM Academy Inc., respectively; Soledad Quaninoo; and Legacy Bridges Board Member Andrew Holloway all pose at DSU’s Piper Arrow aircraft that now bears the name of Lt. Col. George “Tall in the Saddle” Hardy, who was a WWII pilot for the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.

On Campus

Aviation plane renamed after Lt. George Hardy, Tuskegee Airman

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Lt. Col. George Hardy, a highly decorated Tuskegee Airman and Pilot, is now celebrated as the name of one of Delaware State University’s Aviation planes. The nickname "Tall in the Saddle" stands for Lt. Col. George Handy's courage.

One of the DSU Aviation Program’s Piper Arrow aircraft is now the namesake of Lt. Col. Hardy after an Oct. 22 ceremony at the Delaware Airpark to rename the plane in honor of his aviation career and contributions as a veteran.

Lt. Col. Hardy – who is 99 years old, a native of Philadelphia, Pa. and currently resides in Sarasota, Fla. – could not attend the ceremony.

As a Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Hardy was one of the first African Americans to fly for the U.S. in a military conflict. During World War II, he flew 21 conflict missions, and later flew 45 and 70 in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In those missions he flew P-51s, B-29s, and AC 119K Gunships.

During his military service, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (1957) and a Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering-Reliability (1964), both from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. A group of the ceremony attendees pose at the renamed aircraft.

As an Air Force pilot and officer, Lt. Col. Hardy’s military awards and honors include a Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, two Presidential Unit Citations, and a Congressional Gold Medal.

After a 28-year military career, Lt. Col. Hardy put in another exemplary 17 years as a project manager for General Telephone & Electronics before retiring at age 64.

After moving permanently in 2003 to Sarasota, Fla., Lt. Col. Hardy continued to make significant contributions in Florida through his civic, business and public engagements. Over the last three decades, he has been actively engaged in advocacy on behalf of military veterans, and he continues to be living history due to his experience and legacy as a Tuskegee Airman.

“We need to treat Black institutions and Black people with the level of distinction that we deserve,” DSU President Tony Allen said. “And certainly Lt. Col. Hardy is that person.” During the ceremony Sharon Boddie favored the attendees with a rendition of "Total Praise."

The Renaming Ceremony was held jointly by Chesapeake Utilities, Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc., DSU’s Division of Institutional Advancement and its Aviation Program.

Robert D. Bowie, Board Chairman of Legacy Bridges, said the importance of the ceremony goes beyond the renaming of the aircraft.

“The efforts and accomplishments of Lt. Col. Hardy and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen opened the doors for people of color,” Mr. Bowie said. “I would suggest that the Tuskegee Experiment contributed to the desegregation of the U.S. military and federal government.”