» Kandis Carper / Staff writer

Army Maj. Gen. Dennis E. Hardy remembers watching the Lilac Festival Torchlight Parade from the sidelines as a boy. This year he'll return to his hometown as the grand marshal of Saturday's parade.

Hardy, 55, is the commanding general of the 24th Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kansas.

He attended Whitman Elementary and graduated from Rogers High School in 1968. In 1972 he graduated from Gonzaga University, was commissioned as an armor officer, and later earned a master's degree in business administration from Washington State University.

Hardy and his wife, Diane (Marycliff 1969), are excited to be a part of the festivities.

"I'm pleased to be able to do this. It's going to be fun to see Spokane again, and family and friends," Hardy said.

"We're looking forward to it. It's nice to be able to come home once in a while," he said.

Hardy said that he and his wife left Spokane just before Expo 74.

"Obviously the city is continuing to do well," he said, "but in many ways it still looks like the same hometown."

As grand marshal, Hardy will ride in the parade and he will speak at the Lilac Festival Military Luncheon and President's Dinner, where he says he will recognize the Washington Army Guard and Reserve soldiers recently deployed or about to be deployed.

He plans to visit Gonzaga to meet with the professor of military science and the school's president.

"I know there have been some changes at Gonzaga over the years, although the great Bulldog tradition of basketball continues," Hardy said. "As I travel the world and people want to know where I'm from, as soon as I mention Gonzaga, everybody recognizes 'Sweet 16' and basketball," he said.

Before becoming commander of the 24th Infantry Division, Hardy served as the director of force management, office of the deputy chief of staff, G3, Headquarters Department of the Army.

"This is an adventure," the general said. "This (Fort Riley) is a great historical post. With the war fight on, we're committed to the mission.

"We have a lot of great soldiers and great families here that we're supporting. As long as the war fight continues, we'll stick with it, as long as we're useful to the mission," he said.

Diane Hardy said that when her husband retires, they hope to return to the Pacific Northwest.