James Hamilton Hayes

January 29, 1935 November 6. 2026

I Will Lift Up My Eyes To The Hills, Psalm 121

James (Jim) Hamilton Hayes, Colonel (Rtd)USA,MSC departed on his final journey on November 6, 2026.

Jim was born January 29, 1935 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He lived his youth in the Blue Ridge

Mountains. Graduating from Wilkes Central High School in 1953, he then entered Wake Forest College,

and in 1957 received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree. While enrolled in the Army R.O.T.C.

program he enlisted in the U.S.Army Reserve and got his first real taste of Army life.

On Valentine’s Day, 1957, he met his wife-to-be, Betty Sue Cash, at a Delta Sigma Phi fraternity serenade

in her UNC Woman’sCollege dorm. They immediately fell in love and in May he “pinned” her. After

Betty Sue graduated they were married on July 12, 1958 and began a 68 year life of many journeys

Jim’s military career included MSC basic officer training at Fort Sam Houston, followed by Womack Army

Hospital, Fort Bragg,N.C. This became his lifetime career in health care administration . While at Fort

Bragg their son, Jim, Jr. was born. His next assignment was to the1st Recon Squadron, 11thArmored

Cavalry in Straubing , Germany. This was a major military learning experience, particularly, during this

stint as Adjutant under the tutelage of his Executive Officer, Major George S. Patton,Jr.

The 20th Station Hospital in Nuremberg,Germany was a special hospital. Our daughter, Beth,was born

there. Returning to America heI was assigned to the Walson Army Hospital at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Once again to Fort Sam Houston for school, he then went to the 121 Evac Hospital, Ascom, Korea. In

1966 he entered the U.S.Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Hospital Administration. After a

year’s residency at the USAH, USMA, West Point, N.Y., he received his Masters of Hospital Administration.

He returned to Ft. Sam where he was a member of the faculty and an Assistant Professor in the graduate

program.

In 1972 he returned to Korea as the Executive Officer, USAH, Seoul. His next assignment was to the U.S.

Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon graduation he was detailed

for 4 years to the Inspector General Branch in what he considered to be one of the best health care

administration experiences of his military career. Jim was assigned to theEisenhower Medical Center, Ft.

Gordon, Georgia as the Center IG and then to Hqs, U.S. Army Services Command, Ft. Sam Houston as the

Chief, Hospital Inspections Branch and liaison to the JCAH. His final assignment was as the Executive

Officer, Darnall Army Hospital Ft, Hood, Texas.

Retiring from the army in 1982, his military decorations and awards included the Legion of Merit,

Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense

Service Medal, Overseas Service ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Armed Forces Expeditionary

medal.

After military retirement, Jim was employed as the Executive Director of the South Texas Organ Donor

bank, a non-profit organ procurement organization until his second retirement in 1997. During this time

he served on the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation; EyeBank, Baptist Health Care

System; Transplants for Children and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Bank. He was a member of the

American College of Hospital Administrators, member and officer of the Association of Organ

Procurement Organization and the North America Transplant Coordinators Organization. In 1985 he

became a member of the Board of Directors of Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc., Olathe, Kansas.

In 2007 he was elected Chairman of the Board.

As a member of San Pedro Presbyterian Church, Jim served as an elder and a trustee. He enjoyed being

the sound board operator and usher. He was a member of the Alamo Heights Rotary Club and chaired

the scholarship program as well as doing Meals on Wheels and ARC Shelter management.

Jim is survived by his wife Betty Sue Cash Hayes, the love of his life, and their daughter, Beth, his

grandson Jackson (Nikki Green) and daughter in law, Maggie. His granddog, Bonnie, will miss him

terribly. Preceded by his parents and son, Jim, Jr.

The Memorial Service will be at San Pedro Presbyterian Church November 21st at 11:00am with a

reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers donations to Alamo Heights Rotary Club (Scholarship fund) and Meals on Wheels.

Burial service at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery is pending.