James Ellis Hays, one of eleven children of James Oliver and Eleanor Mary Spratley Hays of Columbus Ohio, died on September 7, 2022.

He served five years in the Army before entering the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1954.  Upon graduation, he entered the Army Corp of Engineers and served 35 years in an Army uniform.  Highlights from his career included participation in the Berlin Airlift after WWII and served in various overseas locations: Germany, South Korea, Vietnam, and Israel.  He ended his career at the rank of Full Colonel.  After retiring from the Army, he was employed by Smith Hinchmen and Grylls, Detroit Michigan as VP of their Civil Engineering Division.  He also held distinguished positions in several military and civilian engineering societies and organizations.

He was married to Pauline Mary Filiberti of Newburgh, NY on June 10, 1954, two days after his West Point graduation, and for 68 years was her loving husband.

His accomplishments included:

• Bachelors of Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
• Masters of Science, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
• Licensed Professional Engineer, Michigan
• 1980-2022: Consultant and Member, Board of Directors, Ohio Steel Industries, Columbus, OH
• 1983-1984: President, West Point Society of Michigan
• 1963-1986: Member, Vice President and President, Bloomfield Village Assoc, Birminghan, MI
• 1984-1986: Member, Board of Directors, Detroit Council, Boy Scouts of America
• 1968-2022: Fellow, Societ of American Military Engineers
  • President, Detroit Post, 1974-75
  • Founder and President, Illinois Post 1977-1978
  • Board of Directors, Detroit Post 1981-1995
• American Societ of Civil Engineers, Life Member
• National Society of Professional Engineers, Life Member
• Fellow, Michigan Society of Professional Engineers
• Honorary Member of Chi Epsilon