The 2010 recipient of the Tom C. Frost Award has been called one of San Antonio's most successful mayors.
Phil Hardberger served two terms as leader of the seventh largest city in the nation. Shortly after taking office in 2005, his strong leadership ability was placed in the national spotlight as he led city efforts to help displaced residents of the Gulf Coast during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Hardberger, a former chief justice of the 4th Court of Appeals, a civil rights attorney, a Peace Corps volunteer, and a former Air Force bomber pilot, was re-elected in 2007 by an overwhelming 77 percent of the vote. At the end of his second term in 2009, he held an 86 percent approval rating from San Antonio residents.
His legacy as mayor includes the expansion of the River Walk and creation of Haven for Hope, a 37-acre campus serving the area's homeless. He increased city green space through the acquisition of Voelcker Park, which was later renamed in his honor. He also led San Antonio into the clean energy sector through the Mission Verde Sustainability plan, and he carried and implemented the city's largest bond initiative of $550 million for communitywide projects.
Hardberger received a bachelor's degree from Baylor University, a master's degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Georgetown.
He and Linda Morgan Hardberger have been married for more than 40 years. The two avidly support the arts community in San Antonio in addition to other charities and organizations.