Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
| Name | Paul A. REARDON [3] | |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | of Hartsville, South Carolina Former TSA track standout Reardon to be inducted into Francis Marion Athletic Hall of Fame next month Former Thomas Sumter track standout Paul Reardon will be inducted into the Francis Marion Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 24. Posted Saturday, January 27, 2024 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com Last March, Paul Reardon was going about a normal day when he got a call from Francis Marion Athletic Director Murray Hartzler. Reardon and Hartzler go way back, having coached at the school throughout the '90s, so he didn't think much of it. When he learned about the reason for the call, he had to pull his car over. Hartzler was calling to inform Reardon that he would be a part of the next athletic hall of fame class at his alma mater. "I was actually taking the trash to the dump that morning, and when his number popped up, I thought, 'I wonder what's going on with Murray?' Then I had to pull off on the side of the road because you're just so overwhelmed," Reardon said of that day. "I'm so happy. To be honored like this for something that you love and have a passion to do It's just overwhelming. I obviously love Francis Marion." Reardon's running roots were planted at Thomas Sumter. What started as a missed opportunity when he was cut from the baseball team as a sophomore became a life-changing conversation with A.L Geddings, who coached football and track while also serving as the athletic director for the Generals. "I remember it like it was yesterday," Reardon said. "I was sitting in typing class at like 8:30 in the morning, and the track coach, who also was the AD and football coach, said, 'I heard you got some disappointing news on the baseball field. I wish you'd come run for me.'" Reardon did more than run. He became an elite distance runner for the Generals. He helped lead Thomas Sumter to a state title in 1985 and met an important figure in his life along that journey. Back then, Francis Marion hosted the conference meet TSA ran in each spring. FM head track coach Dr. Thomas Whiteley had a front-row seat as Reardon put on a show, winning the three-mile, the mile and the half-mile races. "Coach Whiteley from Francis Marion was out there, and he came over and talked to my dad and I and asked if I would come back and be willing to talk to him. At that point, I had gotten a letter from what was then Baptist College, where my sister went, which is now Charleston Southern. All they were doing was wanting to talk to me," Reardon recalled. "I went to state, had two firsts and a second and ran a leg on the mile relay, I was the high point scorer, and Thomas Sumter won the state championship in track and field that year in 1985. I went back and met with coach Whiteley, and he offered me a scholarship to run at Francis Marion." Reardon met another key figure in his life during his time at Thomas Sumter, Wallie Jones, who also earned a place in his university's athletic hall of fame last fall at the University of South Carolina, where he starred on the baseball team. Jones served as a mentor and friend to Reardon throughout his life. To this day, the pair still bond over running. "I go to his dental practice and run with him every day," Reardon said. "He's been an unbelievable friend, mentor, everything." It's fitting that Reardon and Jones both earned induction into their university's athletic hall in the same time frame. "When I found out last March, Wallie had not found out about the University of South Carolina (Athletic Hall of Fame) yet, so when mom called me and told me she saw Wallie's announcement in The Item, I called him," Reardon said. "I wonder if the Lord had something to do with us finding out within six months of each other that our respective institutions were recognizing us." Reardon had an exceptional career at Francis Marion in both cross country and track. He earned NAIA District Six All-District honors three times in cross country and placed in the top six three times in the district meet, finishing third in 1988. He qualified for the NAIA National Cross Country Meet twice and earned team MVP honors twice. He earned two more All-District honors in track and was the team's MVP during his junior season. He won five District Six individual championships, claiming the title three times in the three-mile race and once in the 880-yard race. Across both sports, he was a member of four district championship teams. After graduation, Reardon served as an assistant to Whiteley for eight seasons before pursuing a career in health care finance. He eventually co-founded Receivable Solutions Inc. before selling the company in 2019 and retiring. He credits his success as an athlete and as a businessman to the things he learned at Francis Marion. "It made me the person I am; it made me successful in business. Grit, determination, perseverance, consistency, those are things you hear Wallie Jones say, and that's what it takes in any sport if you want to be one of the best," Reardon said. "That's why it makes my heart feel so good, because it's something that I have a passion for. I was going to do it whether I was running No. 1 at Francis Marion or if I was the sixth man like I was when I was a freshman. Now at 61 years old, I still love it." Francis Marion also helped him make one more connection that changed his life forever. "I met my wife (Ashley) at Francis Marion, who I've been married to for 32 years and been together with for 36 years," Reardon said. "How does it get any better than meeting your wife when you're running and getting your degree? Life is good." While Reardon is beyond excited for his induction on Feb. 24, there are two people he regrets won't be able to join him for the momentous occasion. "One is my dad; he passed away in 2015," Reardon said. "And coach Whiteley, who passed away three years from leukemia. He was just an awesome coach." Reardon is thankful for all the important people who will be able to enjoy the moment with him, from former athletes to his mother, Marguerite, his sister, Cindy, and brother-in-law, Edward, as well as his good-luck charm, his nephew Robert. While they won't be there in person, his father, Norward, and Dr. Whiteley will watch from above. "I didn't get here by myself, I got here with a lot of people helping me. My mom and dad brought me to 5K races all over this state and North Carolina and took me to meets everywhere," Reardon said. "My sister and brother-in-law who are older. I have a 35-year-old nephew that we have on video at no less than eight or 10 of my cross country and track meets and for the longest time I never lost when he was there. When he saw the article, he wrote me and said, 'Do you want your good luck charm to come to your induction ceremony?' "That's why I get emotional. A lot of people don't have a lot of good people in their lives to help them." [2, 3] | |
| HIST | of Hartsville, South Carolina Former TSA track standout Reardon to be inducted into Francis Marion Athletic Hall of Fame next month Former Thomas Sumter track standout Paul Reardon will be inducted into the Francis Marion Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 24. Posted Saturday, January 27, 2024 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com Last March, Paul Reardon was going about a normal day when he got a call from Francis Marion Athletic Director Murray Hartzler. Reardon and Hartzler go way back, having coached at the school throughout the '90s, so he didn't think much of it. When he learned about the reason for the call, he had to pull his car over. Hartzler was calling to inform Reardon that he would be a part of the next athletic hall of fame class at his alma mater. "I was actually taking the trash to the dump that morning, and when his number popped up, I thought, 'I wonder what's going on with Murray?' Then I had to pull off on the side of the road because you're just so overwhelmed," Reardon said of that day. "I'm so happy. To be honored like this for something that you love and have a passion to do It's just overwhelming. I obviously love Francis Marion." Reardon's running roots were planted at Thomas Sumter. What started as a missed opportunity when he was cut from the baseball team as a sophomore became a life-changing conversation with A.L Geddings, who coached football and track while also serving as the athletic director for the Generals. "I remember it like it was yesterday," Reardon said. "I was sitting in typing class at like 8:30 in the morning, and the track coach, who also was the AD and football coach, said, 'I heard you got some disappointing news on the baseball field. I wish you'd come run for me.'" Reardon did more than run. He became an elite distance runner for the Generals. He helped lead Thomas Sumter to a state title in 1985 and met an important figure in his life along that journey. Back then, Francis Marion hosted the conference meet TSA ran in each spring. FM head track coach Dr. Thomas Whiteley had a front-row seat as Reardon put on a show, winning the three-mile, the mile and the half-mile races. "Coach Whiteley from Francis Marion was out there, and he came over and talked to my dad and I and asked if I would come back and be willing to talk to him. At that point, I had gotten a letter from what was then Baptist College, where my sister went, which is now Charleston Southern. All they were doing was wanting to talk to me," Reardon recalled. "I went to state, had two firsts and a second and ran a leg on the mile relay, I was the high point scorer, and Thomas Sumter won the state championship in track and field that year in 1985. I went back and met with coach Whiteley, and he offered me a scholarship to run at Francis Marion." Reardon met another key figure in his life during his time at Thomas Sumter, Wallie Jones, who also earned a place in his university's athletic hall of fame last fall at the University of South Carolina, where he starred on the baseball team. Jones served as a mentor and friend to Reardon throughout his life. To this day, the pair still bond over running. "I go to his dental practice and run with him every day," Reardon said. "He's been an unbelievable friend, mentor, everything." It's fitting that Reardon and Jones both earned induction into their university's athletic hall in the same time frame. "When I found out last March, Wallie had not found out about the University of South Carolina (Athletic Hall of Fame) yet, so when mom called me and told me she saw Wallie's announcement in The Item, I called him," Reardon said. "I wonder if the Lord had something to do with us finding out within six months of each other that our respective institutions were recognizing us." Reardon had an exceptional career at Francis Marion in both cross country and track. He earned NAIA District Six All-District honors three times in cross country and placed in the top six three times in the district meet, finishing third in 1988. He qualified for the NAIA National Cross Country Meet twice and earned team MVP honors twice. He earned two more All-District honors in track and was the team's MVP during his junior season. He won five District Six individual championships, claiming the title three times in the three-mile race and once in the 880-yard race. Across both sports, he was a member of four district championship teams. After graduation, Reardon served as an assistant to Whiteley for eight seasons before pursuing a career in health care finance. He eventually co-founded Receivable Solutions Inc. before selling the company in 2019 and retiring. He credits his success as an athlete and as a businessman to the things he learned at Francis Marion. "It made me the person I am; it made me successful in business. Grit, determination, perseverance, consistency, those are things you hear Wallie Jones say, and that's what it takes in any sport if you want to be one of the best," Reardon said. "That's why it makes my heart feel so good, because it's something that I have a passion for. I was going to do it whether I was running No. 1 at Francis Marion or if I was the sixth man like I was when I was a freshman. Now at 61 years old, I still love it." Francis Marion also helped him make one more connection that changed his life forever. "I met my wife (Ashley) at Francis Marion, who I've been married to for 32 years and been together with for 36 years," Reardon said. "How does it get any better than meeting your wife when you're running and getting your degree? Life is good." While Reardon is beyond excited for his induction on Feb. 24, there are two people he regrets won't be able to join him for the momentous occasion. "One is my dad; he passed away in 2015," Reardon said. "And coach Whiteley, who passed away three years from leukemia. He was just an awesome coach." Reardon is thankful for all the important people who will be able to enjoy the moment with him, from former athletes to his mother, Marguerite, his sister, Cindy, and brother-in-law, Edward, as well as his good-luck charm, his nephew Robert. While they won't be there in person, his father, Norward, and Dr. Whiteley will watch from above. "I didn't get here by myself, I got here with a lot of people helping me. My mom and dad brought me to 5K races all over this state and North Carolina and took me to meets everywhere," Reardon said. "My sister and brother-in-law who are older. I have a 35-year-old nephew that we have on video at no less than eight or 10 of my cross country and track meets and for the longest time I never lost when he was there. When he saw the article, he wrote me and said, 'Do you want your good luck charm to come to your induction ceremony?' "That's why I get emotional. A lot of people don't have a lot of good people in their lives to help them." | |
| _UID | F09AC977E2FD44A3951CC6EE0027AAEEB456 | |
| _UID | F09AC977E2FD44A3951CC6EE0027AAEEB456 | |
| Person ID | I298617 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 27 Jan 2024 | |
| Father | Norward Alexander REARDON, Jr., b. 1936, Clarendon County, South Carolina  d. 11 Jan 2015, Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 79 years) | |
| Mother | Marguerite HINSON | |
| Marriage | Abt 1991 [2] | |
| _UID | E81EB3B0AE1C454981F2E7213A50131BF469 | |
| _UID | E81EB3B0AE1C454981F2E7213A50131BF469 | |
| Family ID | F200269 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Ashley | |
| _UID | CEA8197ED0044668AF6EE10C0F0F53B7C18E | |
| _UID | CEA8197ED0044668AF6EE10C0F0F53B7C18E | |
| Family ID | F200271 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified | 23 Mar 2026 | |
| Sources |
