Jim Hardin

News Obituary Article

BROOKS: Jim Hardin, 57, assistant DA

By KAY POWELL

Jim Hardin gave up teaching sociology to become a Secret Service agent protecting presidents and kings. In turn, he gave up the Secret Service to become a lawyer.

Mr. Hardin always wanted to be a public servant but not a politician, his brother, Bob Hardin of Fayetteville, said. He was proud of his work as an assistant district attorney in the Griffin Judicial Circuit's Fayette County office.

Mr. Hardin, who grew up in East Point, taught sociology at Cleveland State College in Tennessee and at Woodward Academy in College Park, where he also coached football and taught dyslexic children. He had a lifelong interest in law enforcement and through methodical analysis selected the Secret Service.

Jerry Kivett of Marietta, now retired as special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Atlanta field office, hired Mr. Hardin in 1976 and was most impressed, he said.

"A lot of people hear Secret Service and think it's an exciting job and a glamorous job, and it is for six weeks," Mr. Kivett said. "He did a tremendous job. He learned quickly and did protection well and did investigations well. He was a damn good agent. He was quick-witted, had a positive attitude and loved a good joke."

The funeral for James Elmer Hardin, 57, who died of cancer Sunday at his Brooks residence, is 11 a.m. today at Peachtree City United Methodist Church. Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City, is in charge of arrangements.

Working out of the Secret Service's Atlanta field office, Mr. Hardin at various times provided protection for Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and for King Hussein of Jordan.

He was fond of Mr. Reagan and even landed on the cover of Time magazine while protecting him. "Jimbo would ride horses with President Reagan at the ranch and split wood with him," his brother said. A friend turned the Time cover into a plaque.

By 1985, Mr. Hardin had married and left the Secret Service to attend law school. He became an assistant district attorney in Fayette County in 1995, said his wife, Ann Hardin.

Away from work, Mr. Hardin attended the concert series at Fayette County's amphitheaters, relaxed on cruises, and never missed a Friday date night when several couples go out to supper and socialize.

"He loved to go shopping. He shopped more than I do," his wife said, adding that he had a closet full of suits and more ties than anything.

"He always dressed really sharp," his brother said. "He would buy clothes for me. I hate shopping. I just don't do it. He would actually go out and buy suits for me."

Other survivors include a sister, Diane Jaynes of Fayetteville.

© 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution