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Claude Hays • 1932-2022: A Legacy of Business Leadership and Community Service
Dad was forward thinking, he cared greatly about others and the community that gave his family so much. ~ David Hays
Wilco Business Review recently sat down with David Hays, who shared the indelible legacy of his father, the late Claude Hays. A small business owner, philanthropist, and family man, Claude’s life and business ethos garnered profound respect throughout Williamson County. Known for his magnanimity, his unwavering belief in people, and his commitment to fostering a better society through business, Claude left behind a legacy that continues to inspire those who knew him.
Early Life
From humble but happy beginnings, Claude had bigger dreams than living the refinery life in Louisiana. After high school graduation, he hitchhiked his way to McNeese Junior College (now McNeese State University) and worked night shifts to fund his studies. His dedication earned him an academic scholarship to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and he joined the Air Force ROTC.
After graduating with a degree in business and a 2nd Lieutenant’s bar, Claude became a B-29 navigator and was stationed in Houston, where he met and married Barbara, an x-ray technician. Following his training, he relocated to Bergstrom AFB in Austin. While still on active duty, he enrolled in UT School of Law, graduated with honors, and received the highest score in the state on the bar exam.
Not wishing to use his bar card as a trial lawyer, Claude went to work for Shell Oil as a land man in Houston and traveled across Texas with his family. Despite a swift rise up the corporate ladder in the 1960s, when Shell shifted focus to international drilling Claude sought new opportunities. He settled his family in Georgetown in 1971 and was invited by his friend and also former Shell employee, Jim Rehler, to manage and buy his company, Georgetown Title.
Professional Journey
In the early ‘70s, Georgetown and Round Rock were small communities, home to only 6,000 and 3,000 residents, respectively. At that time, Georgetown Title had been on the historic downtown Square for 78 years, had three employees, and an annual gross revenue of $12,000. That was not quite enough to feed his family, so he practiced law and partnered with his friend Rehler to buy, develop, and sell a 2,000-acre ranch subdivision they named North Lake Estates near the future Lake Georgetown. Also during this time he and Jim founded Longhorn Title, which still exists today and grew alongside Georgetown Title and Williamson County itself.
David says, “In my father's 50 years at Georgetown Title, he employed several hundred different people. Most were women who grew up in and around Georgetown, in towns like Walburg, Florence, and Jarrell. They were smart, had a great work ethic, and were fun. He also hired quite a few young law school graduates to do title research. They would work for a few years then use their acquired real estate knowledge to move on to bigger and better things. He was a patient and thorough teacher, and many in the industry would call to see if their children could work at his company and be trained by him. Sam Rawls, one of dad's attorney friends and a title examiner, flew 65 air missions in World War II. Sam would take off from France, drop bombs in Germany, land in Russia, then repeat from Russia back to France. So many wonderful people and he took great pride in working with them. He was soft spoken, a good listener, and always gave people the latitude in their work to take advantage of their gifts and strengths.”
The Hays Prescience
David was county commissioner 19922004 and says, “Dad believed that the type of explosive growth he saw when he lived in the Houston suburbs was also going to happen in Central Texas. He recognized Austin was going to grow and that Georgetown and Williamson County would benefit from that growth. He also knew the potential for that growth to provide a good living. When I was first elected, the county had 135,000 residents but as I sit here today, we have 650-700,000 and are on track to have 1.3 million by 2050. The challenge today is the same as it has always been in successful communities. We must make sure the types of growth we seek and allow continue to provide residents with the ability to get quality education and training, have exceptional healthcare, parks, open space, well designed transportation, and infrastructure, and a broad range of jobs and opportunities in other words, things that are essential for a great quality of life. So many dedicated community leaders who went before us worked hard to provide those things for us and we should work equally hard to provide the same opportunities for our children and grandchildren.”
Community Contribution
David says the essence of Claude’s persona was deeply rooted in community service. His belief in giving back was not just a personal principle but a part of his identity as a business leader, setting an example for contemporary and future business leaders. “My parents had a strong faith and a great relationship with First Baptist Church and the community at large,” David says. “Dad was also on the Georgetown Hospital Board and was an original member of Georgetown Healthcare Foundation, which he found to be most rewarding.”
After he retired from day-to-day operations in the 90s, Claude maintained an active role in the community, generously contributing to its growth during a time when the local business landscape was rather nascent. He believed in the principle of mutual growth and symbiosis between businesses and their surrounding communities viewing business as a means and opportunity to make a positive impact beyond just making money. David recalls, “In a time when the local economy was driven by a select few banks and companies, my father was consistently at the forefront of philanthropy. There was always a steady stream of people asking for support—from football teams to homeless initiatives—giving back to the community was at the heart of who he was.”
In Claude Hays, we see a life led with resilience, commitment, and profound dedication to serving others. David says, “Dad loved working with the church and found fulfillment at the healthcare foundation. He golfed for fun and loved the Longhorns. He lived an amazing life and never got too far away from his roots.”
Claude Hays' legacy is a beacon for contemporary and future business leaders, demonstrating the transformative power of integrating business with a deep-seated commitment to community service.
He was an amazing man! He was gentle and kind with a beautiful smile. His work ethic was unmatched. When his group closed something it was done absolutely correctly. ~ Avis Wukasch, Georgetown
