Obituary of Richard Hays

Richard "Dick" Hays August 09, 1938 - October 09, 2011 Richard F. (Dick) Hays, a longtime La Porte and Richardson educator and former superintendent of the La Porte Independent School District, passed away at his home Sunday, October 9th, after a lengthy illness. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in La Porte., with refreshments served in Angel Hall at the church following the service. Dick was born August 9, 1938 in Hallsville, Texas and graduated from Hallsville High School in 1956. He attended the University of Louisiana-Monroe on a track scholarship, and graduated in 1961 with a degree in mathematics. Dick taught math and was an athletics coach at Jefferson High School for two years, then attended East Texas State University, graduating in 1964 with a master’s degree in educational administration. He then began a long service to the Richardson Independent School District, moving from the classroom as a fifth grade teacher, to a principal in the district, and later to deputy superintendent. In 1984 Dick moved to La Porte and became deputy superintendent of the La Porte Independent School District. He became superintendent of schools in La Porte in 1990, and retired in 1994. He soon began a second education-related career with Claims Administrative Services, developing a worker’s compensation program for public schools. He retired in 2005. In his honor, every “Producer of the Year” at the company receives the Richard Hays Sales Award. Preceded in death and now reunited with his son Kevin, Dick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sandy; his son Hunter and daughter-in-law Diana and step-grandson Tyler; and daughter-in-law Robin and grandsons Stefan and Ashton Hays. Dick was a long-time member and past president of the La Porte Rotary Club and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow; he served in the Chamber Blazers for the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce; he was a member of the Houston Yacht Club and the former Baywood Country Club; and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of La Porte. In lieu of usual remembrances, the family suggests that donations be made either to the cancer treatment program of your choice, or to the operating fund at First United Methodist Church of La Porte. Dick was devoted to his family; he loved to hunt and fish and play golf; and he loved to play gin rummy with Bruce Angel.