Richard Daniel Hays

Coach Dick Hays, 88, of Prescott, Arkansas formerly of Ashdown, Arkansas passed away Friday, April 26, 2013 in Prescott, Arkansas. Dick was born October 9, 1924 in Camden, Arkansas to Robert and Iva Wright Hays. Upon graduation from Henderson State University, he accepted an assistant football coaching position in Dewitt, Arkansas, (1950-1954). In July 1954, he accepted the Athletic Director/Head Coach position in Ashdown, Arkansas and remained in the position until retirement in 1980. Dick dedicated himself to the entire athletic program, shouldering the responsibility to serve as coach, mentor, manger and administrator, which he seemed to effortlessly merge together. He was honored by the Ashdown School Board and community in 1991 with the renaming of the football stadium to the Dick Hays Stadium. In 1993 he was inducted to the Henderson Hall of Honor and this summer he will be honored in Hot Springs, Arkansas by also being inducted into the 2013 High School Sports Hall of Fame. His family was very supportive; having said, "Our father/husband managed to balance his position as Athletic Director along with being an excellent husband and father." His children grew up in the home of an Athletic Director/Coach; it was a way of life, which was the norm for the family. His children, Jimmie, Kay and Rex, knew from the success they witnessed in all the sporting events in Ashdown that their father was a special man and loved the job he held. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Ashdown, and saw that the family attended church and Sunday school every Sunday. Coach Hays is survived by his wife of 63 ½ years Pauline Hays of Prescott, Arkansas; one son, Richard Rex Hays of Patterson, California; two daughters, Jimmie A. Hays of Charlottesville, Virginia and Jamie K. Hays of Ashdown, Arkansas; one brother, Emmit D. Hays of Chicago, Illinois and two grandchildren, Hays Enoch of Fouke, Arkansas and Joanna Enoch of Fouke, Arkansas. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 30, 2013 between the hours of 6-8 p.m. at Pharr Funeral Home of Prescott. Service will be Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Pharr Funeral Home of Prescott. Interment will follow in Liberty Cemetery under the direction of Pharr Funeral Home of Prescott.