Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Thomas Hays Jr.

Mr. Thomas E. Hays Jr., 73, Hope banker, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

He was born in Little Rock on March 22, 1935, to Thomas and Helen Hollingshead Hays. The family moved to Hope in 1948. Tom graduated from Hope High School in 1953 and the Virginia Military Institute in 1957. After graduation, he served in the United States Army. He later graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University.

Mr. Hays began his banking career with the First National Bank of Dallas, Texas. He moved back to Hope in 1962 to join his father, Thomas Hays Sr. and his uncle, former U. S. Senator Lloyd Spencer, at First National Bank of Hope, where he progressed from cashier to president and CEO, to Chairman of the Board, a position he held until the time of his death.

Mr. Hays was past president of the Arkansas Bankers Association and past member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock branch. As Chairman of First National Bank, Hope, he directed the expansion of the bank to become First National Bancshares of Hempstead County, including First National Bank of Hope, Bank of Blevins, First National Bank of Lewisville and Texarkana First Bank, N.A., of Texarkana, Texas.

Tom Hays was a leader in economic and community development in Hope, Hempstead County and Southwest Arkansas. He was recognized for his service by being named Hope/Hempstead County Citizen of the Year. He served from 1962 until his death on the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hope Water and Light Company. He was a member of the Hempstead County Hunting Club.

Mr. Hays was a lifelong Presbyterian and member of First Presbyterian Church of Hope, where he served as an elder and trustee.

Mr. Hays is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betty Jo Fite Hays; his sister, Nancy Hays Gottwald and her husband, Bruce, of Richmond, Va.; three sons, Thomas E. Hays III and his wife, Helen, of Cambridge, England, Daniel Fite Hays and his wife, Kristi, of Hope and John Julian Hays and his wife, Tonja, of Hope; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at First Presbyterian Church of Hope, under the direction of Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home of Hope. Visitation was Friday, May 9, at the family home, 401 South Spruce Street, in Hope.

Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 702, Hope, AR. 71802.

Online guest book is at www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com