Historical October–November 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Gary Hayes of 61xx McPherson became president of the board of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council in January of this year.
He has served on the board for over 5 years and represents Grace Methodist Church.
He has lived here for 11 years with his wife Dee, stepson Rob, and daughter Elena. Rob is a sophomore at CBC High School and Elena is a third grader at St. Roch School. Hayes also has two grown sons and five grandchildren. Hayes gives his wife Dee, St. Louis’ Circuit Attorney, the credit for choosing the neighborhood.
He was a bit skeptical at first but soon discovered that this was the best neighborhood he ever lived in. “I wouldn’t move even if I won the lottery tomorrow,” he explained. “There are real people; great neighbors.
I have never seen a neighborhood this committed to being a community,” Hayes continued. Hayes was actually born in San Francisco but came to St. Louis as an infant.
His family first lived by Gravois and Shenandoah.
In the boom of the 50s, the family purchased a home in Affton. Their backyard was a corn field.
They moved back to city when he began 7th grade and he has been in the city ever since. Hayes had been a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Force.
He retired from the force in 1985 and then spent 5- 6 months rehabbing the home on McPherson.
While he habbed, a couple of lawyers asked him to undertake investigations.
He soon had his own agency. Several years ago, he merged that agency with another, ran it for two years, and then sought a major career change.
He is now undergoing “franchise training” from Firestone.
He is gearing up to take over their franchise at Sarah and Lindell and head an entirely new staff.
He was given a choice of store locations including some currently being built.
He chose the Lindell site because it is in the city. Hayes really enjoys being a board member of the SDCC.
He had never been involved in a neighborhood or community before.
He feels that the most important goals for the Council should be the redevelopment of Delmar and addressing the vacant buildings in the neighborhood. “Our primary goal should be to get something going on Delmar and improve it like University City did the Loop.” Hayes enjoyed talking about the strengths of the neighborhood. Its diversity was number won. “We can meet and have a council and work together. Obviously we’re doing something right. Our neighborhood is holding its own and is actually going up in value.” He added that for a neighborhood to survive today there would have to be a community effort. Hayes and his family are active members of Grace Methodist.
He is working hard to encourage the church to increase its financial commitment to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, most of its members live outside Skinker DeBaliviere.
He tries to stress the interrelationship between the health of the neighborhood and the church. Hayes spoke of Grace Methodist’s late pastor, Bill Richardson. Richardson was a friend to him and a role model.
He admired his ideas about racial equality and neighborhood involvement. “Nor have I heard a speaker who could speak as well,” Hayes added.
In his spare time, Hayes heads for the Caribbean.
His great love is diving.
He tries to take 2 dive trips a year. Everyone in his family is now a certified diver.
His other hobby is gourmet cooking.
He and 4 oldtime buddies hold a supper club once a month; each takes a turn preparing either the entree, the salad, appetizers, or dessert.
Original photograph caption
Gary Hayes. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October–November 1996.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1996_10.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
