Emotion overcame a longtime Hennessey town board member as he was honored for his years of service.

“I didn’t think this was going to affect me this way,” said Wes Hardin last Thursday night when he was visibly overcome after he received a plaque from the town board.

It was Hardin’s last meeting as a member of the Hennessey Board of Trustees after serving on it for 20 years.

It hasn’t been researched yet, but Hardin is apparently the first Hennessey board member to serve for that many consecutive years.

He served as mayor for 10 years (2004-14) and during most of his other 10 years as vice mayor.

“This is my hometown, my home, I grew up here, and I love it,” Hardin said after the presentation.

He told board members it had been a great experience and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“You’ll learn a lot,” Hardin said and pointed to Harold Shaw in the audience, who will take his place on the board next month. Hardin didn’t file for that office again and Shaw was the only person to file.

Hardin said he’d learned a lot about finances, communicating and dealing with people. Some of those citizens got really irate, Hardin said, and even a couple of times he wished he could have “punched them,” but he didn’t.

He said the community has been extremely supportive of the town and board, and complimented his wife, Linda, for her support so he could be on the board.

Hardin also recalled economic changes over the 20 years, some great, and some really bad, “like 2020.”

He stayed around a few minutes after the meeting to talk with others, including Mayor Bert Gritz, who said he might have as many years on the board as Hardin, but not at the same time. Gritz first went on the board when he was 22.

About Hardin

Hardin is an oilfield mechanic at the family-owned Industrial-Ignition Engine that his parents, Floyd and Gail Hardin, started in 1963.

He is also a partner with his brother, Dagan, and son, Zach, in Vernost Wine Co., after Wes Hardin started making wine as a hobby a few years before that.

The three opened the wine bar on Hennessey’s Main Street in June 2014 in what used to be The Ranch Room next to The Ortman Theatre.

He is a 1981 HHS graduate and he and his family have been longtime supporters of community activities, including football, motorcycle rallies, Tough Guy competitions, horse shoe throwing contests, and car shows.

Hardin and his wife, Linda (Guerra), have two sons, Zach and Alex, and grandchildren Gage, Finley, Ezra, Lane and Jerzi.

He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Masonic Lodge and is a member and past president of the Hennessey Lions Club.

His civic work also includes serving on the Hennessey United Association (formerly Hennessey 2010) Board of Directors for 15 years.

He is credited with starting and chairing United’s annual fundraiser Wine & Chocolate Festival since its inception in 2011. Hardin recommended, and the board canceled, the festival last year due to COVID, but it’s re-scheduled this year for Oct. 16.

As a member of the town board, United, and the Oklahoma Grape Industry Council, Hardin has also worked with legislators about matters concerning small towns, municipal government and the wine industry.