While at Washburn, Hayes was initiated into the Kansas Beta chapter of Phi Delta Theta.

While a student at Washburn Law, he and eight other fraternity brothers formed the Free Society of Gnip Gnop.

Hayes served as Captain in the United States Army with service in the New Hebrides Islands and the Philippines during World War II.

Upon his return home and graduation from law school, Hayes was a founding partner of the Gilliland & Hayes law firm, which has offices in Hutchinson, Wichita, Lawrence and Overland Park, Kansas.

Hayes was a Life Member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws serving for more than 30 years, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation.