Death and Legacy
Hays was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Hays, two sisters, and one brother. Surviving him are his five children: Lisa Hays Murray, Laurie Hays Becher, Lynn (Hays) Cosier, Christine (Hays) Henson, and John Jefferson Hays, II along with 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. With his five children present, the former legislator was memorialized in a joint resolution of the Indiana General Assembly on March 3, 2009. The resolution recognizes his contributions to the State House of Representatives and to the State of Indiana.
He is remembered as a political liberal and champion of civil and human rights. Once asked if he wanted to be remembered as a statesman, Hays declined, saying, "I would like to be remembered as a politician. A statesman is thought of as being above the people, while a politician is of the people".
Read more about this topic: J. Jeff Hays
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