2026 HAF Board Officers:

President, Paul G. Samuels 

Married to Jamie Davis Samuels

Son Eli Samuels

Land Lease Manager, Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC

BS Business Management University of South Florida

1989 Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Baseball and Football

Former Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach

PRECO Operation Round Up-Vice President 2005-2008

Founding Board Member Hardee Athletic Foundation

Member Lions Club, President 2006-2007

Past Hardee County School Board Member

Member Northside Baptist Church

Vice President, Dr. Stacy Sharp

Married to John Sharp; Mother of Gavin and Caroline

Ed.D. Educational Leadership; M.A. English Education; B.A. Spanish

Professor of English, Humanities, and Education at South Florida State College

Former Hardee Junior High Cheerleading Coach

Former HHS Cheerleading Coach

Former HHS Girls Weightlifting Coach

Former HCYL Cheer Coach

Coordinator HCFB pageant

Hardee County School Board Member 2nd term

 

Secretary, Dr. Teresa Crawford 

 

Treasurer, Barry White

 

Married to Debra Wright White

Three daughters, Sherri, Tammi and Kristi

A.A. South Florida Junior College (presently, South Florida State College)

1969 Graduate of HHS

Retired Manager of Operation Support Peace River Electric Cooperative-40 years

Former Hardee Youth Football Coach-25 years

Former Hardee High Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball Coach-12 years

Hardee High School Junior Varsity Assistant Football Coach-15 years

Founding Board Member Hardee Athletic Foundation

2015 Hardee Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Member 

HHS Varsity Football Assistant

 

Executive Director, Tanya Royal

Married to David Royal

Son Kalan Royal and wife Abby Clapp Royal, son Kramer Royal

Hardee Athletic Foundation Executive Director 2015-present

1981 Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Basketball 

Former Youth Girls Softball and Tee Ball Coach

Former President Women's Church Softball League

Former Hardee County Little League/HCYS Board of Directors/Public Information Officer

Former Hardee County School Board Member-Chairperson 2007-2008

Former Main Street Wauchula Board of Directors-Promotions Chair-Design Committee

Former HHS Jr. Class Sponsor 2012-2013 and Sr. Class Sponsor 2013-2014

Former Youth Advisory Committee Chair FBCW

Former Hardee Athletic Foundation Board Member 2009-2015

Member First Baptist Church Wauchula

Former Student Ministry Family Group Leader FBCW

Member Main Street Wauchula

President Rotary Club of Hardee County 2022-2023 & 2023-2024, past VP and Director

Rotary District 6890 Assistant Governor Area 6 2025-2026 & 2026-2027

Immediate Past President Rotary Club of Hardee County 2024-2025

Member Hardee County Chamber of Commerce

Member Hardee County Farm Bureau

Member Hardee County FFA Alumni

Member Hardee County Cattlewomen

Board Member Advent Health Wauchula Foundation

 

2026 Board of Directors:

 

Rick Bateman

Married to Lesley Shackelford Bateman

Two children and granchildren

Cheetah Outdoor Advertising

Thompson Branch Cattle Company

Bachelor Degree from University of Alabama

1979 Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Football and Track

Hardee Athletic Focus Group

Founding member of Florida Pioneer Festival 2025

 

Millie Carlton Bolin

Married to Todd Bolin

Daughter Taylor Bolin Ming and husband Jacob Ming, Son Jacob Bolin and wife Lydia Daum Bolin

Granddaughters Kyle Marie Ming, Kody Denise Ming and Darcy June Bolin

Partner and Office Manager/Bookkeeper for family owned Cattle ranches and Citrus Production

1990 Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Softball, Basketball

Former HHS Cheerleader

Former Youth Girls Softball Coach

Former Member/Chair Hardee County YMCA

Former Main Street Wauchula Board of Directors

Former Hardee Chamber of Commerce Board of Director

Former Board Member Florida Baptist Children's Home

Founding Board Member Hardee Athletic Foundation

Board Member Florida Cattlemen's Foundation

Member Hardee County Cattlewomen

Secretary/Treasurer Hardee Adult Huddle Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Member First Baptist Church Wauchula

Assistant Treasurer First Baptist Church Wauchula

 

Andy Bonjokian

One grandson 

Hardee County Disposal co-owner

Former High School Football Coach

Former Hardee County Chamber of Commerce Director

Hardee County Chamber President 2018

 

Derren Bryan

Married to Diane Bryan

Two Sons, Jace and Joren

B.A. Western State College of Colorado

COO AVAIL

Former COO Albritton Insurance Services, LLC

1990 Graduate of HHS

Former Teacher HHS

Former Head Football Coach Hardee Senior High

Former HHS Athlete-Football and Baseball

Founding Board Member Hardee Athletic Foundation

Hardee County Chamber of Commerce Director

Hardee Youth Sports Assistant Coach

Former Hardee Junior High Football Assistant Coach

South Florida State College Board of Trustees

Hardee Wildcat Varsity Head Football Coach 2024-2025

 

Jason Clark

Married to Holly Clark

Three Children, Abby and husband Ricky, Griffin and wife , and Dean

B.S. University of Florida

Rancher

Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Football and Baseball

Former HHS Varsity Football Coach

Former Hardee Junior High Football Assistant Coach

Sanford University Football Letterman

Founding Board Member Hardee Athletic Foundation

Hardee Youth Sports Coach

Hardee County Fair Board

Hardee County Youth Livestock Steer Co-Chair

HHS Varsity Football Coach

Member First Baptist Church Wauchula

 

Michael Kelly

Married to Chelsea Kelly

Daughter Emma Grace and son Colton James

Publisher at The Herald Advocate

Bachelor of  University of Florida 

Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Football and Baseball

Former SFSC Foundation Member

Member of Kiwanis

Past President Kiwanis Club

Member Riverview Heights Missionary Baptist

 

 

Travis Maldonado

Married to Brandi,

Daughter Peyton and son River

Owner of Top Notch Construction 

Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Football 

SMM Volunteer

 

Russell Melendy

Married to Kristen Melendy

Daughter Kate Melendy McCool and husband Sean McCool, Daughter Anna Melendy

Vice President/Fourth Generation of Coker Fuel, Inc. family owned Propane Gas Company

Vice President of Sebring Natural Gas System, Inc. family owned Natural Gas Company

Bachelor of Business Management University of Florida

Member Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity

Member and Deacon of First Baptist Church Wauchula

Hardee County Commissioner District 4, 2014- present

Chairperson 2017-2018, 2021-2022 and 2024-2025

 

Jackie See

Two sons, Bryan and Jack

Four grandchildren and many great grandchildren

Retired

Former Corrections Officer

Former Grove Caretaker

Former Longtime Baseball Umpire

Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete-Football, Baseball, Track, Basketball

2018 Hardee Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Member

Member of First Christian Church

 

Thomas Trevino

Married to Guille

Son Ben Trevino and daughter Jenesi Trevino

Owner at Kinbro, Inc. and Trevino Management Group

Hardee Youth Center Executive Officer 

Graduate of HHS

Former HHS Athlete

Member Hardee Chamber of Commerce

Board member Advent Health Wauchula Foundation 

Co-host Wildcat Football Radio Broadcast