Hargadon named Friend of Education
Posted: 3/3/2010

By Duanne Puckett

"Hello, Pat, Shelby County Public Schools needs ..."

"Sure ..."

That is always the response received when asking Pat Hargadon for assistance. As agency manager of Shelby County Farm Bureau Insurance and a 1979 graduate of Shelby County High School, Hargadon believes wholeheartedly in the Partner In Education program and in giving back to his hometown. The school system is, obviously, part of that hometown and he never hesitates contributing time or money. 

He does this despite family and work commitments, plus volunteer services for the Shelby County Industrial Foundation, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Shelby, Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service, etc. His work has not gone unnoticed as he has been recognized as Leadership Shelby Alumni, outstanding Farmer and Business Leader, as well as other accolades too numerous to mention.

That is why SCPS nominated Hargadon for the Friend of Education award and that was presented to him by the Kentucky School Boards Association Jan. 23. Since 1989, KSBA has awarded the Friend of Education honor to a company and an individual for their promotion of excellence in public education. Previous recipients include Toyota Motor manufacturing, Ashland Oil and Dollar General Corp., former Gov. Bert Combs, former U.S. Rep. William Natcher and Murray State University President Kern Alexander.

Hargadon, in his typical humble manner, said, "I am not exactly sure how I came to get the award but am very honored to have even be nominated, let alone win."

A partial list of what he has done for SCPS primarily since 1998 includes:

-- Serves as a Key Communicator through an e-mail distribution list when information needs to be shared or clarified with the community.

-- Supports education by contacting legislators, elected officials or state officials when concerns or issues need to be addressed. 

-- Provides 600 yellow plastic school bus bags, crayons, coloring books, pencils, and rulers for preschool/kindergarten.

-- Co-sponsored Heritage Elementary fifth graders' trip to Berea College when they met with an admissions counselor, toured the campus, and learned that any career goal can be met if you work hard enough.  

-- Sponsored attendance incentives for summer school ($1,000 each time) for two years.

-- Donated $500 to each Family Resource and Youth Services Center site (nine total) for two years to be used for free/reduced lunch children who may need coats, food, and especially for dental, vision and hearing services for those students who do not have access to any type of health insurance.  

-- Co-sponsored printing Positive Behavior Support System motivational posters for Shelby County High School.

-- Offered co-op opportunities to FFA students interested in the agri-business career field.

-- Served on the East Middle School-Based Decision-Making Council and the Shelby County High School Youth Services Advisory Council.

-- Serves on any district committee when called upon.

Superintendent James Neihof said, "His fiscal donations and physical presence make him an excellent role model for students ... and so many of our programs would have suffered without his involvement."

Hargadon does not give himself that much credit.

"I worked my way up from the tobacco patches," he said. "Along the way I have met some of the finest and some of the worst that Shelby County has to offer. By nothing more than the grace of God, I have been fortunate enough to aspire to be like some of the finest, who were mostly older business guys in town that I grew up watching and admiring."

At 48 years old, he still sees folks that have qualities to which he aspires to attain because he "was taught by my parents to always put back from where you take and Shelby County has been so good to me and my family."

He hopes his community involvement, which takes him away from his wife, Terry, and children quite a bit, is teaching his son, Patrick, and daughter, Kelsey, "this is a great community and regardless of where they end up, they need to put back."

In reference to his dedication to education, Hargadon said, "Education is a critical piece to our community.  Kids are our future. Not every kid may be as lucky as I was to be surrounded by good experiences, to have lots of mentors, and to have seen the light about needing to watch leaders to see what was done right and pattern my life after them."