David John Hardt, age 64, passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at home near Yancey. He was a loving husband and father to his family. His children were his greatest love. Dave was born June 7, 1951 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Richard Wilburn Hardt and Ruth Eleanor Bennett Hardt. He attended grade school in upstate New York and high school in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Summer trips to the family ranch in Yancey connected him to Texas. Dave attended Texas State University, graduating in 1974 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Dave began his career in the food field with his first job at Amigo's Food Company in San Antonio, Texas. He set up a quality control lab, and monitored thermal process logs, while developing new products. He invented the original bean dip recipe that was made at Amigo's which became popular with consumers. After working for Amigo's, Dave advanced in his career, moving to Houston to work for Riviana Foods. Dave began work on flavored rice mixes. He pioneered new parboiling methods, oil extraction and centrifugal rice drying methods. He presented his concept of heat puffed rice kernels as a healthy snack at a marketing meeting there before it's time. Staying in Houston, he was hired by Coca-Cola Foods, and worked on the Minute Maid brand, and developed flavor systems for Hi-C drinks. Still in Houston, he was hired by M&M Mars, Inc. He was the project leader for Uncle Ben's Boil-N-Bag from product conception to national launch - winning "Best New Product Award" from Prepared Foods Magazine in 1983. Transferring from Houston, Dave moved to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania to the corporate offices of M&M Mars, Inc. He developed a chocolate coating for their first granola-type candy bar launched in 1986 under the Kudos brand name. In charge of chocolate conformance, Dave reformulated new chocolate recipes for the Twix Peanut Butter and the Milky Way bars resulting in higher consumer acceptability. He was asked by one of the Mars brothers if he could make a chocolate that was like the one Mr. Mars remembered from his grandfather's days. Dave researched archival records, and replicated the old chocolate flavor that Mr. Mars was eager to taste. This became Ethel M Chocolates and Dave was personally recognized by Mr. Mars for this delicious creation. Following his work for M&M, Dave advanced again, returning to Texas to work as the project manager for Pace Foods in San Antonio, Texas. Dave was responsible for product development and research, from conception to commercialization, of all Pace products except the original Picante. A state of the art lab was created where Dave advanced research on jalapeño peppers and cilantro flavor. Dave invented the "Thick and Chunky" version of salsa at Pace, which turned into a huge success. Dave's invention of Thick and Chunky Salsa revolutionized the salsa/tomato industry and within two years, salsa was out selling catsup in America. The rest is history. When Pace was sold to Campbell's Soup Company, Dave relocated to Philadelphia to work at the CSC World Headquarters in Camden, New Jersey. He oversaw the transition and transfer of all Pace products to other plants while continuing to develop the Pace brand. Dave's work on the "Wall of Pace" concept was recognized when he received the Campbell Soup Gold Medallion Award for Pace Foods "Flavors of the Flame" product development initiative. Only 30 out of 30, 000 employees received this honor in 2001. In 2002, Dave was hired by Authentic Specialty Foods, and moved to Pasadena, California. His work at the Rosemead production facility streamlined operations and Dave was again responsible for the subsequent transitioning and transfer of production of over 140 products to the Los Mochis, Mexico plant. After five years with ASF, Dave was recruited by Ruiz Foods, in Dinuba, CA in 2007. Dave made it to the top of his field. He was the Vice President of Research and Development for Ruiz Foods, and provided guidance and innovation on the El Monterey brand of frozen Mexican foods until his retirement in 2012. For Dave, life was full of wonderment. He was accomplished in many activities and hobbies. At the age of 19, he soloed and received his pilot's license. He owned his own plane for many years, and enjoyed the companionship of other pilots, with whom he co-owned a plane. Dave was an art aficionado and painted in oils. He was a patron of the arts, and enjoyed museums, concerts, and ballets. He loved to camp. At the age of 18 he was the cook for the Camp Adventure youth program, traveling across the United States and hiking and camping in many of the nation's National Parks. Dave was a patriot and a firm believer in American freedom. He was a member of the Yancey United Methodist Church and served as a Trustee. Dave enjoyed hunting and fishing, beekeeping and scuba diving, astronomy, woodworking, and was also a ham radio operator, but the greatest joy in his life was sailing. He purchased a sailboat in California and studied for his open ocean license at Long Beach. He made multiple sails to Catalina Island from Long Beach, and other sails to the Channel Islands, Marina Del Rey, and Lake Mead in Nevada and Canyon Lake in Texas. Dave enjoyed adventure. His love for Texas and his many friends and family here, brought him back to the family ranch. Dave is survived by his wife, Laura J. Bucci Hardt; daughter Joan Eleanor Hardt; son David Henry Hardt; sister, Laura Hardt Abramson (and husband Jeff); brothers, Robert Hardt (and wife Marian) and Charles Hardt (and wife Trish); and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Richard Hardt, and his sister, Janet Hardt, and brother, Richard B. Hardt. Services are planned for Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the New Fountain United Methodist Church at 10 am. Interment to follow at New Fountain Cemetery. Donations in memory of David Hardt may be made to the Hondo Army Airfield Museum or to a charity of your choice.