William Gaylor Hayes, 86

Obituary for William Gaylor Hayes: June 5, 1938 – February 7, 2025
After a full and adventurous life on earth, William Gaylor Hayes “Wild Bill” entered into the great adventure of eternity on February 7, 2025. He was 86. Bill was born on June 5, 1938 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania to Clarence Rakestraw Hayes and Josephine Gaylor Hayes. From an early age, Bill was an avid outdoorsman and athlete. A lifelong Boy Scout, he rose to the Order of the Silver Beaver and was an expert at lighting fires, building lean-tos in the rain, and knowing which plants were edible. He lettered in four sports at St. Marys High School: baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling–and was captain of the first wrestling team at the school. Bill was class president his senior year, and at graduation received the Babe Ruth Award given to the most outstanding male student in athletics. He wrestled through college and into his army career, achieving entry into the Bucknell University Hall of Fame as well as the honor of coaching the U.S. Armed Forces Wrestling Team as a First Lieutenant.






























