Leslie Hardison
| Leslie C. Hardison | |
 | |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | January 1, 1929 |
| Death: | March 13, 2025 (aged 96) Cape Coral, Florida |
| Education: | Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) |
| Occupation: | Engineer, Inventor, Author |
| Residence: | Cape Coral |
| Party: | Republican; lifetime member of the Libertarian Party |
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Leslie C. Hardison (January 1, 1929–March 13, 2025) was an American engineer, inventor, and author known for his work in industrial gas treatment technology, including development of the LO-CAT® Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation Process. A longtime Republican, Hardison was also a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party.
Biography
Education and Career
Leslie C. Hardison, known as "Les" to friends and family, was a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). His professional career included work at Armour Research Foundation and Universal Oil Products. He later founded Air Resources Inc. (later known as ARI), where he developed the LO-CAT® Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation Process, a significant contribution in industrial gas treatment technology.
Les was an inventor, engineer, and holder of dozens of patents. His innovations extended into various domains, including a personal project aimed at enhancing two-dimensional television transmissions to simulate three-dimensional effects.
Invention and Curiosity
Even after retirement, Les continued to pursue scientific inquiry. He authored several books in which he challenged conventional physics, particularly Einstein's interpretation of the speed of light. Les proposed that the constant “c” should be understood not as a fixed speed but as a vector representing the rate and direction of the universe’s expansion. He argued that rethinking this foundational assumption would eliminate the need for complex theoretical frameworks in modern physics.
A hands-on problem solver, he also took pride in practical accomplishments—building his own barn, flagstone patio, and septic field, often enlisting (or conscripting) the help of his family in the process.
Personal Interests and Legacy
Les was a certified volunteer medical pilot, scuba diver, and a passable golfer by his own estimation. He was widely known for his storytelling, philosophical musings, and steady temperament. Deeply principled and intellectually independent, he often shared life lessons grounded in personal responsibility and resilience, famously advising: “Don’t feel guilt — learn from it, and do better.”
Political Affiliation
Although a longtime member of the Republican Party, Les was also a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party. His independent spirit and skepticism of centralized power aligned closely with libertarian principles.
Family
Les is survived by his wife Dorothy (Thomas) Hardison, his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, including his sister Ida (Hardison) Van Beek. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 56 years, Dolores (Wachdorf) Hardison.
Final Years
Les lived in Cape Coral, Florida, where he passed away peacefully at home on March 13, 2025, at the age of 96. In his later years, he remained optimistic and reflective, often expressing gratitude for the life he had lived and the people around him.