William McNeily Hays Jr.
May 31, 1941 ~ January 13, 2005
William, 'Bill' McNeily Hays, Jr., 63, left on angels wings January 13th, 2005 to join his father, William Hays, Sr. in the next chapter of his life. Born in Oklahoma City, May 31, 1941 to William and Lula LeBouef Hays, Bill graduated from Waco High School and Texas A&M in 1965 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. While at A&M, he served as first sergeant and commanding officer of Squadron Eight of the Corps of Cadets. Known for his integrity, Bill joined the Marmon Mok Architectural Firm in 1971, leading the mechanical engineering department and was named a partner in 1976. During his career, he worked on several major projects including the San Antonio International Airport development, the Alamodome, One Riverwalk Place, the Texas A&M Recreational Sports Building and numerous financial, medical, church and governmental projects.
Bill served as president of the Comal School Board of Trustees, president of Smithson Valley Athletic Booster Club and vice-president of the Bulverde Area Volunteer Fire Department. He was named a distinguished alumnus of Texas A&M and engineer emeritus for Texas A&M Tau Beta Pi Society. Bill was also on the Chancellor's Council and Mechanical Engineering Advisory Council at Texas A&M, and an accreditation visitor for the national Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, Inc.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Diane Berry Hays of Spring Branch, TX., his dear daughter, McNeily Hays of Spring Branch, two sons; Sean Hays of Lyons, CO., Dirk Hays of College Station, and his mother, Lula LeBouef Hays of Waco, TX., four siblings; Wayne Hays of San Antonio, Kirk Hays of Havre, MT., Janet Glockzen of China Spring, TX. and Colleen Gilchrest of Belton, TX.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Bone Marrow Transplant floor of the Methodist Hospital for all of their loving care, compassion and friendship.
Serving as Honorary Pallbearers: Perfecto Barbosa, Dror Baldinger, Wade Cleary, Earl Cutler, Howard Decker, Greg Houston, William Reeves, Ben Daniel Roth, Paul Silber, Steve Souter and Shawn Bacon.
Should you choose to send flowers, they may be sent to Meadowlawn Park and Crematory at 5611 E. Houston St., Sunday and Monday or to Alamo Heights United Methodist Church at 825 E. Basse Rd. San Antonio, TX. 78209 after 9 A.M., Tuesday January 18th. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bill's name to Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX. 77843-3123, St. Peter - St. Joseph Children's Home, 919 Mission Rd., San Antonio, TX. 78210, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Southwest Texas Chapter, 950 Isom Rd. Suite 104, San Antonio, TX. 78216 or to the charity of your choice. You are invited to sign the guestbook by selecting Obituaries at meadowlawn.net. Arrangements by Meadowlawn Park and Crematory.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
I had the pleasure of meeting Bill a couple of times when he visited Sean’s family in Estes Park. Our sympathies and prayers are with his family.
To the HAYS family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you. You have our deepest sympathies. In loving memory of Bill Hays we would like to donate $50 to the leukemia foundation in his name. God Bless, Pete Koplyay (Teresa, Nicholas, and Courtney)
I send all my love and deepest sympathy to Bill’s family. Love, Tina
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
Dear Diane, your mother has kept me informed on eveything that has happened over the last few months. Bill’s love with help you in the months ahead. I will keep you in my prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. I know how much McNeily loved her dad, and how devastated she must be. Please let me know if there is ANYTHING that I can do for her, or for the rest of the family. I will continue to pray for you.
Kirk and Wayne, I am very sorry about Bill’s death. I was hoping to see you at the memorial service, but I cannot attend. Bill and I worked in the same building, and I would see him often. He was a wonderful person. Boxy Hornberger
My first job out of college was with Bill at Marmon Mok. I always thought highly of his leadership and technical skills. He instilled a sense of quiet confidence in me that I carry to this day. He was an individual with great class and caring, I will miss him.
Our prayers are with you and your family.
I wish you Diane, McNeily, and your families comfort during this time. I know you and your daughter brought a rekindled light and love of life to Bill – he expressed it, it could be seen in his face and his voice. His most enthusiastic moments shared with me were of you and your achievements. I know Steve and the firm will miss him; I will miss him as a friend and as a “go to” advisor professionally. Sincerely and with admiration, Karl Komatsu
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Dianne and Mike DiCorte
Enjoyed sharing Mother’s Day memories with both families (and Johnny’s fish!)
It is with all my heart that I send you love during this difficult time. Marion
Dear Diane, Although it has been several years since seeing you and Bill, I always have very fond memories when thinking about times past. It was such a fortunate circumstance for me to get out of A&M come to SA and work at a firm where Bill led the engineering. And even so much more beyond engineering! Then later we were teamed up on a number of projects and spent some really quality time together. Like in Washington, DC, Three Rivers, WI and of course Brownsville! I was saddened to hear about Bill. There are not any great words to write but I was very blessed to know him and you. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” With great respect, Paul
Dear Diana and all the Hays family: It was a great priviledge for me to know and work with Bill some years ago. He was probably the hardest working and most concientious person I ever knew and he loved his family and his great home and his engineering and of course the Aggies. It was my great priviledge to intorduce Bill to the Mechanical Engineers Advisory and Developement Council and to serve with him when he rose to the chairmanship. He was a true Aggie Engineer and greatly deserved the Distinguished Graduate award. I’m truly sorry that I could not be closer to him the past few years and I will miss him. May he rest with God and have peace forever. Oscar
“Among life’s great and wonderous things, are glimpses of an Angel’s wings.” Dear Diane and McNeily, May Peace be with you. My sincere condolences and prayers during this most difficult time. Raine
Although my tenure a few years ago at Marmon Mok was short, I always had a deep respect and admiration for Bill due to his vast experience and unmatched integrity. My heart and prayers go out to his family and coworkers.
As fellow architects in San Antonio, we share in the memory of Bill’s work and his contributions to our city and to the design industry. He will be missed by many. Our firm has made a contribution to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in his honor. Sincerely, Larry, Mickey & Mark O’Neill Conrad Oppelt Architects, Inc.
Dear Diane, McNeily, Sean, Dirk and Lulu, Bill was my roommate at A&M for our Junior and Senior years (in Animal 8). He was truly a good friend. He was the one who would trust me with his prized 50 Ford when I had a date on campus or needed to run an errand. We did a lot together and I admired his quiet leadership style. I did not keep in touch well after graduating and moving to Missour but I thought of him frequently. My wife, Donna, and I had planned to visit him on our first trip back to A&M in 20 years last Fall but I did not make arrangements in time and so we missed our last opportunity to see him. I did not know he was seriously ill. We extend our sincere condolences to the entire Hays family. Bill was a steadfast and talented friend and we will miss him. With a heavy heart, Bob Burk
Bill hired me for my first job out of school in 1983. I’m not sure what that smart Aggie saw in a young inexperienced kid, but the opportunity is something for which I will be forever grateful. I have many good memories of working with Bill. He had a unique style that made him both a leader and a friend. He will be greatly missed.
Diane, We were sad to learn of your husband’s death this morning in the Longview paper. Leslie and I want you to know that we are praying for you and the children and thinking of you.
I was a year behind Bill in Animal 8 at Texas A&M. I can certainly say that Bill helped make me a better fish. Though I didn’t see Bill for the past 40 years, I did talk with him a few times. He was very proud of his family. Lots of his Aggie buddies will miss him. My thoughts go out to his family, Pat
Mrs Hays: May I express my sympathy on the passing of your dear husband. I met Bill through my work at Fort Sam Houston. He was just a wonderful gentleman and he shared with me beautiful stories of his new life with you and McNeily. I know you will miss him terribly and I will keep you all in my prayers. God Bless You All.
Dear Hayes family: I grew up in Waco, graduated from Waco High School in 1958, and was CO of Animal 8 in 1961-62. I was shocked and saddened to learn of Bill’s passing. He was a good man. My prayers are with you during these days. My sincerest condolences, Ed Berry
My family and I are so sorry for your loss. Bill was a great man and touched the lives of many people. Diane, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Christi
May God’s loving grace be with you during this difficult time. I have heard many wonderful things about Bill and know he was a wonderful man who gave so much to his community and all who knew him.