Jordan Ryan Hardin

Loudonfootball.com wishes to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Jordan Ryan Hardin, who died as the result of a motorcycle accident on May 24, 2004. Having just turned 18 years old, Jordan would have been a senior at Loudon High School this fall.

Hardin transferred from Lenoir City High School to LHS to be able to play football and basketball with his brother, Nathan Underwood. As a transfer student last fall, Jordan was ineligible for varsity athletics due to TSSAA transfer rules. As a member of the football and basketball teams, Jordan practiced everyday, even though he knew he was not going to be able to play. It was this character that earned Jordan the honor of being selected as team captain for the 2003 “Battle of the Bridge” game against Lenoir City. After a good spring practice, the Redskins traveled to William Blount High School, for a scrimmage game. Jordan turned in a solid performance on both sides of the ball: rushing for 79 yards on six carries, caught two passes for 80 yards, threw a halfback pass for 36 yards, scored a 2-pt. conversion, and made several tackles from the safety position.

A big turnout from the communities, plus a large extended family of grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and siblings were joined by teammates, students, coaches, and facility from both Loudon and Lenoir City High Schools to honor and celebrate the life of Jordan Ryan Hardin. Members of the football teams from both high schools served as pall bearers. Jordan had indeed made a positive impact on both communties and will not be forgotten.

Jordan was near his home riding a 2003 Suzuki 1300R, going around a curve on Lakeland Road just prior to Beal’s Chapel when the accident occurred, according to Sergeant Daniel Ruskey. According to Ruskey, Hardin went off the road, into a ditch, and hit a telephone pole guide wire, flipping the motorcycle over on top of him. Hardin was pronounced dead at the scene, and he was taken to Fort Sanders Loudon Medical Center emergency room.

Jordan's Impact on Two Communities

Hardin was a popular boy in both Loudon and Lenoir City. Coach Nick White of Lenoir City stated the following about Jordan: " He was a great kid. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago and asked him if his grades were good enough for him to play ball next year; and he said he thought they were. He lived with his grandparents and lost his grandfather between his freshman and sophomore years. He lost that strong father figure in his life but his grandmother did the best she could. But he was still a good kid, always polite and respectful, and just like any other teenager he hated sitting in class. He probably had more athletic ability than anybody I’ve ever been in contact with. I wish he hadn’t transferred to Loudon High School after his sophomore year and had to sit out a year before he could play again. He still lived in Lenoir City and hung out with our kids; but he was heads and tails above everybody else in athletics."

Principal Roger Eichelberger of Loudon High School echoed Coach White's sentiments about Jordan: "Jordan was an outstanding young man at our school. He was very popular, and was well liked by everyone. He was also an outstanding athlete with lots of potential and will be dearly missed by friends and teammates. It’s a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He was always courteous and well-mannered; and I’m sure that, if our students were still in school, they would be having a hard [time] dealing with his death; and I’m sure they are doing so wherever they are today. He was as popular as anyone at our school, and I’m sure that many of our students are going through some trying times."

“My experience with him was that he was a great kid and a great athlete and was never in any kind of trouble and always had a smile on his face, It’s a tragic loss to the community and to the Redskins," said Coach Eric Mitchell of the Loudon basketball team. He added, "Jordan ‘s cousins called me last night and told me that he had been in a bad wreck and they didn’t know if he was going to make it. Then I talked to his brother Nathan Underwood before we were sure that he was dead. I was around him every day for a year and he was a super kid. I can hardly believe it.”

Jordan's Obituary

Jordan Ryan Hardin Died: 05-24-2004 Jordan Ryan Hardin, 18, of Beals Chapel Road, Lenoir City, went to be with his father, Benjamin Hardin and grandmother, Lucy Billingsley, Monday May 24, 2004 at approximately 7:30 p.m. as a result of a motorcycle accident on Lakeland Drive in Lenoir City. He would have been a senior at Loudon High School where he was an athlete and participated in football and basketball. He received Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was an active member of the Riverview Missionary Baptist Church in Lenoir City. He recently had a tattoo of a tombstone with his fathers name and date of birth on his arm. He was a very caring person and would do anything for anybody. He loved kids, enjoyed spending time with friends and family and was loved by many. Survivors include his mother, Vivian Hardin of Lenoir City; biological mother, Eugenia Anderson of Loudon; biological father, Nathanial Hardin of Lenoir City; sister, Deloris Cowart and husband, Darnell of Loudon; brothers, Johnny Jenkins, Benjamin Hardin Jr. and wife, Cassie of Lenoir City, Perry Hardin and wife, Karla of Japan, Joey Anderson, Jamie Williams and wife, Courtney, Josh and Nathan Underwood of Loudon; stepbrothers, Matthew, Jordan and Daniel of Loudon; great-great-aunt, Irene Logan of Lenoir City; devoted godmother, Ruth Lawrence of Knoxville; grandfathers, Ronnie Watts and Gary Hall; grandmother, Cecilia McKeehan; aunts, LeeAnn McKeehan, Cindy McKeehan, Angie Huffman, Lynn Huffman, Mable Kerr, Shirley Fletcher, Mickey Amos, Wilhelmina Saffell, Wanda Jackson, Donna Billingsley and Ernestine Billingsley; uncles, Paul Walker, Gilbert Pride, Eddie Billingsley and W.J. Billingsley; many other family members include great-uncles, great-aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins and lots of friends at both Lenoir City and Loudon High Schools.

The family received friends 6-9 p.m. Friday at Click Hawkins Chapel at 102 B Street in Lenoir City. Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Saturday at Riverview Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Jesse Jones officiating. Burial was followed in the Martel Cemetery. Psalm 18:37 I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 18:38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: They are fallen under my feet. 18:39 For thou has girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Click Funeral Home, Lenoir City is serving the family of Jordan Hardin.