Colonel James M. Hays MD

Ret. Col. James M. Hays, M.D., age 78, of Knoxville passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2010. Dr. Hays was born on May 27, 1932 and raised in Chattanooga, TN. He attended the University of Chattanooga where was he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and later graduated first in his class at the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis where he was a member of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. He completed his internship at the Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.

Dr. Hays joined the United States Air Force in 1958 and served as a Flight Surgeon at Yakota Air Force Base (AFB) in Japan. Afterwards, he returned to Chattanooga to run a private medical practice in Chattanooga. He also served as the Medical Director for the Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga which serves adults and children with disabilities. In 1978 he re-enlisted in the Air Force and combined his passion for flying with his training as a practicing physician. He was the Chief of Clinical Services at RAF Bentwaters in the United Kingdom and as the Chief of Clinical Medicine at Ramstein AFB in Germany. He also served as Hospital Commander at Blytheville, AFB in Arkansas. His last command was at Travis AFB in California, where he served as Commander of Aerospace Medicine. He served in support of operations during Desert Storm and received multiple medals, ribbons, citations, and service awards during his military career. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Assoc., Aerospace Medical Assoc., and Assoc. of Military Surgeons.

Dr. Hays had a love for boating and served as Commodore of the Chattanooga Yacht Club. He was active in the East Tennessee Historical Society and he and his family are listed among the First Families of Tennessee.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, former Hamilton County Sheriff, W. P. Hays and his wife Sarah; parents Harry and Cleo Hays, formerly of Chattanooga; a brother, Harry Hays, Jr.; and grandson, Gus Hays, of Cleveland, TN. He is survived by his wife, Ursula Hays of Knoxville. Children include James M. Hays, Jr. M.D. of Knoxville, W.A. Hays, M.D. of Cleveland, TN, Terri Miller of Murfreesboro, TN, C. Scott Hays, D.O. of North Carolina, and Angela Hays, of Nashville. He is survived by 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family will receive friends on Monday, August 16th from 8:30-9:30am at the Chattanooga Funeral Home at 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, TN. Interment will follow at 10am at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association.