The Whiting (Indiana) boxing club has been a fixture in NW Lake County for nearly 30 years. It was under the direction of volunteer coach DENNIS HARDESTY since the beginning. Recently, the mayor of Whiting decided to close the club due to some "petty thefts"at the Whiting City Hall which is located downstairs of the Club. Many of Indiana's finest fighters have come through that club as well as many now successful citizens of the most forlorn area of the state of Indiana.. Some in the community doubt the mayors sincerity, but that has yet to be proven. In the meantime, countless youngsters in Whiting and surrounding areas are the big losers. This is a letter written by one of Hardesty's many assistant coaches who have assisted him over these past many years, expressing the sentiments of all who know Hardesty.

It's unfortunate how the actions of a few affect the needs of the many....

December 25, 2004 - The Whiting Boxing club along with three other organizations has been suspended because of recent thefts that have taken place at the Whiting City Hall, and although the perpetrators have not been identified or apprehended, the members of the Whiting Boxing Club will have to suffer the consequences.

The Whiting Boxing Club, under the tutelage of Dennis Hardesty has placed the city of Whiting, on the map in more ways than one. Mr. Hardesty has not only made champions that have gone down in the books as among the best but also created a haven for otherwise misdirected teens for almost 30 years. The Kids, male or female, on more than one occasion found themselves
and a sense of what they wanted out of life through the club and the advice of Mr. Hardesty.

Nothing comes easy in life and being a member of The Whiting Boxing Club is a proving ground for learning to survive not only in the ring but in life as well.
Those aspiring to be boxers have come to the club thinking that they can be boxers with the least amount of effort, however, soon after being exposed to and inspired by veteran members of the club, the aspiring boxers soon realize how much discipline is required to be a well rounded boxer. They see clearly that to be a true Whiting Club boxer, one must have a sound
integrity, be self-motivated, self disciplined, and of an upstanding character—a character, which is developed and honed through the direction of Dennis Hardesty, President of the Whiting Boxing Club.

Yes, there are times when drastic measures are employed because of the extreme consequences of a less than acceptable (reputable) behavior of few; however, it is my opinion that to suspend the WBC for the actions of those few is the greater of two wrongs. I realize that the thieves must be caught and dealt with appropriately, but to deny a place for the rest of the young people to go to instead of hanging out in the streets is criminal. To simply eliminate the WBC with the wave the hand is akin to radical surgery. Why
remove the heart when a few zits can be laser cut without impacting the whole body? Doing so is like telling the WBC members. "You no longer are
appreciated and valued, so hangout in the streets and deal with it!"

I've lived on Myrtle Avenue for 28 years, which means that I reside on the Robertsdale (Hammond) side of the (figuratively speaking) side of the tracks.
Nevertheless, my home address is assigned to the Whiting Post Office, and although I pay Hammond taxes, I consider myself a Whiting resident--always have and always will, however, thinking of myself as a Whiting resident would be of little value if I didn't give something back to the city of Whiting for the good that it’s done me in giving me the opportunity to coach under Mr. Hardesty. So, it is with pride that I can say that through the support of Dennis Hardesty, I have and would continue to give to the little city by
the lake, if it wasn't for the recent closing The Whiting Boxing Club, so in a sense, I too have beenimpacted as a result of the ensuing events.

At any rate, I want to go on the record as saying that the generosity of the Whiting of the past has given young people an opportunity to find themselves through organizations such as The Whiting Boxing Club. How many organizations or cities for that matter, can boast of such an achievement? The Whiting of yesterday is the noble Whiting that forged the path for many a youngster for a better way of life through the Whiting Boxing Club and by way of the (non-profit) direction of Dennis Hardesty.

“Whiting of the present, don’t destroy what has taken Dennis Hardesty almost 30 years to build and to give you as a gift: a place, no, a temple for young people to find themselves, to find meaning in there lives, to have a purpose, a reason for being good citizens!”

Joseph A. Orellana, Coach and Trainer, Whiting Boxing Club