Approximately 150 at underage drinking party
Paul Hardy enjoys helping people - for 50 years

Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

“It’s just like any other job,” said Paul Hardy of Hardy Insurance Group. Hardy celebrated 50 years as an insurance agent on March 1. “There’s something about helping people that I enjoy.”

His first job after receiving his license to sell insurance in 1958 was with Farm Bureau. According to Hardy, at that time insurance policies for the home and farm were standard fire. When a change to a separate homeowner’s insurance policy was established, his clients resisted the change. He said, “They would ask me why change? We’re happy with the way things are.” Mr. Hardy continued to work for Farm Bureau until 1969, when he then contracted to work for Mutual of New York.

It was in 1971 when he made a life changing decision. “I decided that if I was going to stay in the insurance business, I was going to work for myself," he said. Hardy partnered with John Austin, and together they purchased the Fruedenstein Agency which became Austin-Hardy Insurance. “It was just the two of us and a receptionist in a very small office,” laughs Hardy. Austin retired in 1982 and later the name was changed to Hardy Insurance Group.

The tornado that hit Madison and the surrounding areas in 1974 caused a major shake-up in the insurance industry. According to Hardy, at that time policy holders were permitted to insure their homes for whatever coverage they could afford, often well below the value of the property. Damages from the tornado left many homeowners to borrow money to repair or replace their homes. As a result, the current policy is to insure the property for no less than 80% of the replacement cost.

One of the perks of being an insurance agent is helping people. Hardy explained the difficulty young people would have purchasing affordable car insurance. If they did not have car insurance before, or had previously been on their parents' policy, then these young people were forced to purchase very expensive high-risk insurance. Hardy worked with the companies to change the underwriting rules to make car insurance more affordable. “That saved the kids a lot of money,” he said.

Hardy believes it is important to keep up with the changes that occur in the insurance business and advocates continuing education. He helped to pass a law for mandatory continuing education in 1982. After the law went into effect, according to Hardy, "the insurance industry lost several agents. He speculates this could be a result of licensed agents that were no longer selling insurance and just did not keep up with their education."

“It’s a service business. I try to provide the best coverage people can afford.” He works hard to help his clients solve their insurance needs. “As long as I have a problem to solve, I’m happy,” he said.
Wife Rosella is a stockholder in the company, and has worked in the office in the past. The office is located on the corner of U.S. 421 and S.R. 129 in Versailles.

Some of Mr. Hardy’s children are following their father’s footsteps. Daughter, Terry Lynn, is a senior underwriter for Metropolitan Insurance in Georgia; and son Paul Anthony worked with his father until an injury forced him to retire. Mr. Hardy and his wife of 52 years, Rosella, live in Osgood. “I enjoy what I do,” he said. “It’s just like any other business, some days you win, some days you lose.”

BETH RUMSEY PHOTO Paul Hardy has been serving the community through the insurance business for 50 years.