Conard Hays, Jr.: Early Life and Career (Hays-1)

Conard Hays, Jr. was a chaplain in the United States Army during World War II. He settled in Arkansas with this family and taught Bible and Religion at Harding University in Searcy, AR for 34 years.
Harvard University Chaplain School identification card for Hays
Harvard University Chaplain School identification card for Hays

Earl Conard Hays, Jr. was born June 8, 1917, in Callahan County, Texas, to Marcia Olga Harvey Hays and Earl Conard Hays, Sr. He graduated from Abilene Christian College with a business degree in 1938 and joined an auditing firm in Dallas, Texas. After a few months, Hays left the firm to enter the ministry.

He attended Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. In 1943, he established the first Church of Christ in Arizona, and, soon after, he enrolled in the United States Army Chaplain School at Harvard. He graduated in June 1943 and became a United States Army chaplain.  

Letter of certification for Conard Hays
Letter of certification for Conard Hays
Newspaper article on Conard Hays
Newspaper article on Conard Hays

Developed by

The Conard Hays, Jr. Character Collection was developed by UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture intern Candace Kirkpatrick. Candace is an undergraduate student at UA Little Rock majoring in History with a minor in Social Studies Secondary Education. She plans to graduate in May 2019. Her passion is studying history and the education of today’s youth. After graduation, she plans to return to UA Little Rock to obtain her teaching license.