March 3, 2022 - THROW BACK THURSDAY - PART 5 - BILL HAYES, THE LATER YEARS - FROM BRANDO TO BARROW plus Class news

The Congressional - Part 5

For some who are following this true story, I’d like to quickly summarize the first chapters. William Graham Hayes seemed to have everything. In the mid-20th century his future was all but assured. Before he left high school, he served a year as a page in the United States Senate; he was elected as president of the student body of one of Arkansas’ most prominent high schools despite his attending school in Washington DC during the year he was elected; He was a star athlete, winning regional tennis honors; he was handsome and popular - even dating the daughter of the President of the United States. According to the prinicipal of his high school, Bill assisted him in ensuring the peaceful integration of the races at Hall High School. Bill was a star in so many ways. His college years were spent at University of Arkansas where in his spare time, he perfected his skills as a pilot. Before he was voting age, he had a commercial pilot license with instrument ratings. Bill was a serious college student, according to his chemistry lab partner, a longtime successful businesswoman in Little Rock. “He was serious, but a really nice guy,” she recalled. Bill would later earn his degree, but his graduation would be delayed by his fascination with the field

of acting. He had reportedly performed in various amateur theater productions; and in the late 1960s Bill entered what was considered by some the world’s top acting school, the Actors’Studio. Located in a converted church in the heart of Manhattan’s theater district and co-founded by “Streetcar Named Desire” director Elia Kazan, its alumni included Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and practically every film legend of the mid-century. Dustin Hoffman was likely still studying there when Bill Hayes arrived from Arkansas. It was not easy to be accepted at Actors’ Studio. Jack Nicholson was rejected three times. Eliza Kazan, the studio founder, spent time in Little Rock in the 1960’s and he and his son, a writer at the rkansas Gazette were tennis players. It is probable but not certain that Hayes and the Kazans met in the city’s tennis community which was small at the time. During his tenure at Actors’ Studio, Bill lived at a fraternity house near Columbia University and worked as a flight instructor at a Long Island airport. The future of Mr.Hayes seemed unlimited. His accomplishments were significant for such a young man. Thus it was particularly shocking to family and friends, when Arkansas and New York newspapers announced the arrest of William Graham Hayes in Ithaca, New York, on charges of armed kidnapping, in September of 1970, at 24 years old.

The final chapter and wrap-up will follow soon.

1956 Class News

In the next few days, everyone who sent in their Registration Form and check last year before we postponed our 65th Reunion will be receiving a refrigerator magnet announcing the new date for our 65th Reunion, the new name of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (it is now DELTA PLAZA HOTEL), a copy of the Registration Form you filled out in 2021 with an updated listing of all the events planned for this September.

NEW REUNION DATE: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, SEPTEMBER 22, 23, 24, 2022.

NEW NAME OF THE HOTEL: DELTA PLAZA HOTEL (was the Crowne Plaza Hotel)

PHONE NUMBER THE SAME: (501) 223-3000

For those of you who didn't get your Registration Form and check mailed in before we postponed the Reunion last year, I have sent you an updated Registration Form. If you didn't get it, please let me know.

1955 Class News

Eddie and Joyce Hightower (CLASS OF '55'S JOYCE JOYNER) of Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, won the Winnebago Solis. Married 55 years, they are self-proclaimed RV enthusiasts. Having recently donated their last motorhome to charity, they said they are elated to receive the new Solis.
“We were so surprised to have won ‘Wheel’s Win a Winnebago Giveaway’,” Joyce
Hightower said in the release. “Camping has been a huge part of our lives for many years. In
fact, this will be our fourth motorhome.”

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ML