By Thaden Rumbaugh
Lanier High School students, coaches and teachers gathered Wednesday, March 1, at E. E. Robinson Park in Sugar Hill to mourn the loss of senior Landon Hardie and to share memories of the young man.
The Gwinnett County Police Department said Landon died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident about midnight on Sunday, Feb. 26, while driving on Moore Road near Rosemoore Court in the Suwanee area. According to police, Landon was traveling through a curve when he collided with a vehicle head-on.
Landon was a member of the Longhorns’ golf team and made an impression on many. Stories were shared by students who knew Landon from elementary school from both sports and classes. They shared stories of laughter and also tears and said Landon always had a smile on his face.
A childhood friend said she grew up with Landon from elementary school, and she laughed remembering him being afraid of mascots. She said he never seemed sad.
Landon’s father stood by his family giving an uplifting account of the person Landon was, expressing his tremendous pride through his pain as he spoke about his son and his accomplishments, which included being accepted at Kennesaw State University.
Mr. Hardie said Landon was a very caring, loving person who respected all of his friends and his friends respected him. He was an influence on anyone he came in contact with.
A message shared on the Lanier Longhorns golf team’s Twitter account following Landon’s passing read, “Landon made us better people and we will miss him more than words can express!”
FEATURED PHOTO: Lanier High School students, coaches and teachers gather Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at E. E. Robinson Park in Sugar Hill to remember Landon Hardie, a senior who died following a traffic accident. Photo by Thaden Rumbaugh.
