

PROFILE OF A MUSEUM
VOLUNTEER
KENNETH E. HAYES
Kenneth
Hayes was born October 20, 1930 in Hazard, Kentucky, the only child of Edward
and Lassie Hayes.
Ken
graduated from Honey Creek High School in Terre Haute, Indiana, then continued his education at Hamilton Business College
in Hamilton, Ohio. He entered the
United States Marine Corps in 1948, serving through 1953. Upon discharge, Ken joined the U.S.M.C.
Reserve and served as a weekend warrior through 1970.
Ken
met his future wife Helen, and they were married June 28, 1969. Ken and Helen raised three children, Hans, Tobie, and Hunter.
They have been blessed with one grandson, Derek Schwenk. Ken has been a widower since Helen’s death
in March 2000.
Continuing
his commitment to the Reserves, Ken again joined and served with the Marine
Corps Reserve from 1975 through 1980.
He was a shooting member of their National Rifle team for eleven
years, holding a Master Rifleman classification in all types of shooting. Ken enlisted in the National Guard in 1980,
serving through 1986, then served with the
California State Guard from 1986 through 1996.
Ken
saw no combat time during his 45-year military service, but he accumulated 27
Award Ribbons and a Command and General Staff Badge, retiring as a Colonel. Ken has been self-employed as an accountant
the past twenty-five years. Ken also enjoys his membership in the Knights Templer, and was knighted in September 1998.
After
encouragement from Ron Markarian and Art Hill
during a visit, Ken became interested in the Legion of Valor Museum. He has served as a volunteer at the museum
since January 23, 2003 and passed away in 2010.
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