Ned Sprunt Lt. Colonel Hays

Lt. Colonel Ned Sprunt Hays, age 88, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2005 after ten courageous years of battling multiple health problems. Ned graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina spending two additional years in medical school before joining the Army Air Corp at the beginning of World War II. He was an instructor pilot at Randolph when he met his wife, Julia Annette Mauermann, whose father was the former San Antonio Mayor Gus B. Mauermann. Ned's long military career included instructing pilots in gilders, B17, B25 and B29 bombers during WWII and flying Air Evacuation between South Korea and Japan during the Korean War. Serving both in England and Japan with the military, he was a Command Pilot with more than 5000 hours.

After retiring from the Air Force, he began a second career in education working with San Antonio Region 6 Education Service Center, teaching in San Antonio ISD, Harlandale ISD and retiring from Alamo Heights ISD. Always interested in helping young people, Ned coached the basketball team at Harlandale High School prior to the Korean War, and organizing a HAM radio club and coaching the golf team at Alamo Heights School.

Lt. Colonel Hays is survived by his loving wife, Julia Annette of 64 years; daughter, Helen Hays Pohly and husband, Glenn Pohly; sons, David Mauermann Hays and wife, Charlotte Latimer and James Edward Hays, and wife, Janet Peacock; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He also survived by his loving sister, Margaret Denzler and sisters-in-law, Lenora M. Norton, Grace M. Allen, and Mildred M. Morton and husband Stanley. The family especially thanks Sgt. Roy Parker, his long time caregiver.

LTC Hays was an avid volunteer serving as a docent at the Institute of Texas Cultures. Ned also was an active member of Friends of the McNay, Revelers Dance Club, Lamplighter Dance Club, Los Alegradores Dance Club, The Dadaleons Air Force and the Sunday Bunch Club. He was an officer on rotation at the First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio.