Dorsey Brodie Hardeman
1902-1992
Texas Patriot - Soldier - Statesman
Son Of N.B. Hardeman
Dorsey Hardeman was born December 11, 1902 in Henderson, Tennessee
to Professor N.B. and JoAnna Hardeman. His early education was spent
at the Freed Hardeman College, founded by his father and A.G. Freed
in 1908. He attended the University of Florida and earned his LLB
from Vanderbilt University. He came to Texas in 1932 and practiced
law in San Angelo before being elected mayor in 1936. In 1938, he
was elected to the House of Representatives and served two terms
before joining the United States Army Air Corps and was sent to
officers training school. He served in the Headquarters of the Judge
Advocate General. When he got out of military service he was elected
to the State Senate serving for over twenty years. During his tenure
in the Senate he was one of the most powerful figures, because of
his knowledge of the constitution, legislative procedures and as
chairman of the State Affairs Committee. He sponsored or
co-sponsored and contributed significant amount of legislation
including the sponsorship of a revised code of Criminal Procedure;
the establishment of a state senior university in San Angelo; and
the Stacy Dam and Reservoir on the Upper Colorado River. After his
time in the Senate it was said it was an ?the end to an era.?
Governor Preston Smith appointed him Executive Director of the Texas
Water Commission later being named a commissioner. Senator Hardeman
had many family ties to the Lone Star State, notably General William
P. Hardeman and Bailey Hardeman, signer of the Texas Declaration of
Independence. He was a very loyal and proud citizen of Texas and was
a very astute student of the history of Texas. He was also a very
successful businessman owning the historic San Angelus Hotel in San
Angelo, had ranching and farming interests in Texas and Colorado,
and owned and operated a title company in West Texas. Among his many
business interests he was a member of many organizations. Including
hereditary membership in Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of
the Republic of Texas, Knights of San Jacinto, Sons of Confederate
Veterans, Order of Stars and Bars, the Baronial Order of Magna
Charta, Huguenot Society, Knights of Malta and he held an honorary
membership in the Greek order of St. Denis of Zante. All these
organizations aimed at the preservation of history and was a
lifetime member of the Texas State Historical Association. He was
also a member of the American Legion, State bar of Texas and the
Travis County and Tom Green County Bar Associations.
-Taken
From Texas State Cemetery Website
Dorsey B. Hardeman
1902-1992
Nicholas Brodie Hardeman and his wife Joanna Kendall Tabler Hardeman had three chilken. They were: Dorsey B. Harieman; Mary Nelle Hardeman 'owers; and Carrie Neal Harieman Foy. I wrote stories about )oth the daughters after their leaths and published them in The World Evangelist. They were loth friends of mine. They were 30th active in the work of Freed-Hardeman College (now University) in Henderson, Tennessee when I attended there 1946-1949, while their father was president of the school. He was co-founder in 1908 of the school which was sventually named for him and A. G. Freed the other co-founder.
N. B. Hardeman had a brother named Dorsey who was three years older than he. Dorsey died at age 22 of pneumonia. N. B. mourned greatly the loss of his beloved older brother. About eight years after Dorsey's death, N. B.'s son was born and he named him Dorsey.
Dorsey moved to Texas in 1932 and became very active in government, business and legal affairs. He served as mayor of San Angelo, and was also a Texas State Senator for 22 years. N. B, Hardeman told me that Dorsey was over the largest state senatorial district in the United States. I remember seeing Dorsey me time when he was visiting at Freed-Hardeman.
N. B. Hardeman's granddaughter, Joanne Powers Bradshaw of Atlanta, Georgia was graduated from Freed-Hardeman when I was in 1949. She called me when she got home from her uncle Dorsey's funeral to tell me about his passing. He died August 11, 1992 in Austin, Texas at age 89. He was educated at Freed- Hardeman, the University of Florida, and Vanderbilt University.
Dorsey was a member of the church of Christ in Austin.
Dorsey is survived by his widow, Geneva; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Francine of Sonora, Texas and Bryan and Rebecca of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, William Bryan Hardeman and Genny and Joy Hardeman of Austin; a niece, Joanne Bradshaw of Atlanta, Georgia; nephews, Nicholas Powers of Memphis, Tennessee and Joe Hardeman Foy of Houston, Texas.
-- Basil Overton, The World Evangelist, Vol. 21 #4; November, 1992, page 12.
Directions To The Grave Of Dorsey B. Hardeman
D.B. Hardeman is buried in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin Texas. The cemetery is located at 909 Navasota Street, Austin, Texas 78702. Phone:512-463-0605. In downtown Austin, take I-35 to Exit 234C from the south or Exit 234B from the North. Converge on E. 7th St. On E. 7th go to the fourth street on the left Navasota. You will see the office on the right. It is best to enter the 11th Street entrance and travel in. The road through the center of the cemetery is called State Highway 165. Travel until you see the Civil War Cemetery on your left. In front of it is the beautiful above ground sarcophagus of Albert Sidney Johnson. Just across the street is Republic Hill Section 2. This is the burial plot of some of Texas' greatest heroes including Stephen S. Austin, Governor John Connally, and Dallas Cowboys Football coach Tom Landry. At the front of the section closest to the street is the grave of D.B. Hardeman. Also behind him further up in the cemetery is the grave of a restoration preacher by the name of W.S. Dabney.
GPS Coordinates
30° 15' 919" N x 97° 43' 602" W
15 Ft. Acc. / Grave Faces East
Republic Hill/Section 2/Row B/Number 8
HARDEMAN
Dorsey B. Hardeman
Born December 11, 1902
Henderson, Tennessee
Died August 11, 1992
Austin, Texas
Geneva Moore Hardeman
Born September 30, 1918
Brownwood, Texas
Note Stephen F. Austin Grave & Monument In Background
Dorsey B. Hardeman
Patriot - Soldier - Statesman
Assistant Attorney General Of Tennessee - 1929-1930
Mayor Of San Angelo, Texas - 1936-1938
Texas House Of Representatives - 1938-1942
United States Army Air Force-Captain JADG - 1942-1946
Texas State Senate - 1947-1969
Executive Director Of Texas Water Commission - 1969-1970
Commissioner, Texas Water Commission - 1971-1982
Hardeman Monument With Albert Sydney Johnston
Monument In Background
See More Below
Offices Of The Texas State Cemetery
at 909 Navasota St. Austin, Texas
Main Entrance From 11th Street Into
The Texas State Cemetery
State Highway 165
State Highway 165 Back Toward The
11th Street Entrance, Civil War Cem. On Right
Sarcophagus Of Albert Sydney Johnston
Republic Hill
Grave Of Stephen F. Austin