Lawrence E. Hart

Lawrence E. Hart, 84, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021, in Temple, Texas.

Outward appearances notwithstanding, Larry was a sinful man whose hope was God's love through his Son, Jesus the Christ-all else are footnotes to this reality.

Larry Hart was born the second child of Don A. Hart, Sr. and Esther Downs Hart (both deceased) on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio.  He lived and worked in Austin, Texas from 1942 to 1999.  Larry had two brothers, Don Hart and Joe Hart (both deceased).  He was previously married for 24 years and had a son Brian Hart (a traveling nurse) and a daughter Lisa Hart (a teacher in Crested Butte, Colorado).  Larry and his wife Becky Denison Hart were married in 1986, reared her three children Bryan, Elizabeth and Tyler Byrd and then moved to Lampasas, Texas in 1999.

Larry graduated from The University of Texas in 1960 with a B.A. degree in Mathematics and Physics.  He had active duty service in the US Air Force from 1960 to 1963 and later separated at the rank of Captain.  Larry then worked at Rainhart Co. in the development, production and marketing of test equipment for professional engineers, serving as President from 1972 to 1996, the year he sold the business to new owners.  During this time he was a leader in the Texas Association of Business, ASTM International and Transportation Research Board (National Academy of Sciences).  Larry is named an inventor in US Patent 5,275,056 Gyratory Shear Material Compacting Device.  He was awarded the ASTM Committee E-17 Outstanding Achievement Award in 1989 and then received the 1995 ASTM Tilton E. Shelburne Memorial Award.

Larry Hart loved greatly albeit imperfectly, which is why he became a giving man.  This appeared as service and thoughtful contribution wherever he was involved.  Larry was one of the founding individuals of the Questors Class at the University Methodist Church in Austin.  Twice he was President of the Austin Square & Round Dance Council.  Larry served three years as the initial President of the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas.  In the 1990's he worked as a Deacon and led as an Elder at North Austin Christian Church.  In Lampasas, Larry became a Lay Speaker at First United Methodist Church and later was elected the Lay Leader.  Also, he served on the Board of Directors for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District and the Board of Directors for ConneXion House, Inc. (Christian covenant living).  At the time of his death, Larry was of record with Carter BloodCare for donating 221 units of whole blood.