First James H. "Red" Hayes Scholarship Awarded
$100,000 endowment will benefit UNH football team
By Kimberly Swick Slover
James H. "Red" Hayes was generous in his support of the University
of New Hampshire. Hayes and his wife, Claire, helped build new football
locker rooms, a study lounge, and a granite sign in front of the Field
House listing UNH athletic facilities, and established the first-ever
fully endowed chair in the College of Liberal Arts. He has been recognized
many times for his generosity and service to the university, and received
both the UNH Granite State Award and the New Hampshire Alumni Meritorious
Service Award.
But perhaps closest to his heart was the Wildcats football team. A former
Wildcat, he became an avid fan, and at one point, Hayes had a 12-year
record of not missing a single game -- home or away. In 1983, he was recognized
by then Governor Sununu as UNH's number-one football fan.
A member of the UNH Class of 1932, Hayes founded New Hampshire Distributors,
Inc. He began as a wholesaler 53 years ago in Concord, and also served
the public as an elected member of the Governor's Council for 18 years.
Following his death in 1993, in honor of his lifelong support of the Wildcats,
New Hampshire Distributors, Inc., along with the New Hampshire Wholesale
Beverage Association and the Hayes family, established the James H. "Red"
Hayes Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded each year to a UNH athlete participating
in the football program.
New Hampshire Distributors, Inc., President Tom Brown says that he and
his colleagues in the industry decided that the best way to commemorate
Hayes' life, as one of the state's industry leaders, was continuing to
support his deep commitment to UNH football. "We've earmarked it
for a lineman and a New Hampshire man, just as Red would have wanted,"
he says.
The first scholarship has been awarded to Michael Wells, a junior kinesiology
major from Salem. Wells, who started on the defensive line in seven games
last season and played offensive guard, has a starting position on the
offensive line this fall.
"One of the main reasons I came to UNH was because of the football
program and the coaching staff," says Wells. "The experience
of being on this team has been great. I've made a lot of friends, and
this is the greatest group of guys. We're all really close, and if you
have a problem, there's always someone around who can help out."
Wells says the program and staff have more than lived up to his expectations.
According to Head Football Coach Sean McDonnell, the award is well deserved. "Mike was an all-state football player in New Hampshire in high school, and he went to the next level to play for the university," says McDonnell. "He is a class kid both on and off the field, and he has a lot of character. He's not at all selfish, and he's willing to give whatever it takes for the team. He is a very deserving student."
October 21, 1999
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