Uncrowned Community Builders

Mr. Hardwick was a prominent local business and civic leader for many years in Buffalo and Western New York. He holds the distinction of being the first African American from Erie County to be elected to the New York State Legislature. He was elected to the Legislature in 1964 representing the 143rd District of Buffalo. He served two terms before he was defeated by Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve. Mr. Hardwick served on the Ways and Means, Military Affairs and the Commerce and Industry committees of the Assembly. He was co-chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Migrant Labor.

He worked with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to expose the conditions endured by the state's migrant workers and authored legislation for the first worker's compensation bill for migrant workers. He also pushed for education for the children of migrant workers.

Before serving in Albany, Hardwick operated a successful retail liquor business in Buffalo and was the principal stockholder of H & H Delivery Service. He also served as vice president of Doris Records, Inc. Active in civic affairs, he served on several mayoral committees, including those serving the elderly and combating drug abuse.

He served on the executive state board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He was honored on numerous occasions for his community work. Mr. Hardwick was a veteran of World War II.

Mr. Hardwick met his future wife, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm when they both served in the New York State Legislature in 1966. On November 26, 1977, Mr. Hardwick and Ms. Chisholm, D-Brooklyn, who was at that time a member of the United States House of Representatives, were married.

He died on August 18, 1986. He is buried, as is his wife, in the Birchwood Mausoleum of Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York.