BOMBER MEMORIAL

WILLIAM ROBERT "BILL" HAYES ~ Class of 1969
December 12, 1949 - July 19, 2025



My dad, William Robert Hayes, was born December 12, 1949, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to my grandparents, William W. Hayes and Inez B. Lee. He settled in Richland, Washington, where he built a life full of love and dedication to our family and community, leaving a legacy I’ll always cherish.

He graduated from Richland's Columbia High School with the Class of 1969. After high school, my dad answered the call to serve in the Vietnam War as a military police officer and sentry dog handler, bravely enduring 14 months of deployment from 1971 to 1972. That courage shaped who he was. When he came home, he earned his associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College, setting the foundation for an incredible career in public service. My dad started as a firefighter with the Richland Fire Department, where his passion and skill showed through. He went on to become the youngest deputy fire chief at the Hanford Fire Department, leading over 600 personnel and managed a multi-million-dollar budget with honesty and care. His leadership protected our community and inspired everyone around him until he retired in 2012.

When I was 2 years old, he adopted me during his marriage to my mom, Kathleen Hayes, and from that moment, he became the best dad ever. He poured his heart into raising me, guiding me through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Order of the Arrow, and celebrating when I earned my Eagle Scout award. We camped under the stars countless times, building memories that will stay with me forever. He taught me to fish, and we made unforgettable trips salmon fishing in Canada and vacationing in Hawaii twice. My dad emphasized the importance of education, and when I earned my master’s degree in Switzerland, his smile was unforgettable. He was always there, full of wisdom and love.

Christianity was a big part of my dad’s life. We were baptized together at Bethel Church, a moment that brought us closer to God and showed his commitment to guiding me toward Jesus with love and grace. He read the Bible to me every night before bed.

In 2016, after I graduated high school, my dad and I celebrated with an amazing trip through the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. In China, he found new love and married my stepmom, Xiaoling Hayes, on August 30, 2016. Together, they created cherished memories, from vacations in Jamaica to a cruise to the British Virgin Islands, and their little dog, Keisha, who brought joy to their home.

My dad’s passions showed his vibrant spirit. He loved woodworking with his uncle in Richland, helped me create a scrapbook, taught me what an electromagnet was and enjoyed fishing, gardening with his wife, and making memories with me. His love for our family was endless, and he always put us first, leaving a mark on my heart that will never fade.

His memory lives on through his loving wife, Xiaoling Hayes; me, his son, Jason Hayes; my children, Mary Hayes and Daniel Hayes; his brother, Patrick Hayes; his sister, Gloria Hutton; and numerous nephews and nieces. My dad’s love was without end, and I’ll forever remember the extraordinary man he was.

One of my most treasured memories is the trophy he gave me, inscribed with words from our favorite song: “Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then, it’s a love without end, amen.” We miss you dad.

Love, Your boy.

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Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).