Clarence Ruben Hayes, Sr. and Oliver Paul Hayes

The Hayes brothers, Clarence and Oliver “Scoobie,” were a combination entrepreneurs and life savers for thousands of Baton Rouge residents.  Shortly after the end of World War II when there was limited public transportation and it was segregated.  Clarence and Oliver established a business principally oriented to transporting students to and from Southern University.  Mr. Clarence was himself a student at the time.  He would get students to the campus in time to attend his early classes. This continued for eleven years ‘til he completed his undergraduate work and secured a teaching post in the EBR School System.  At that point, he turned the business over to his younger brother, Oliver Paul Hayes, known to almost everybody as “Scoobie.”  He continued the service for 19 years.  The service was unique.  The busses went literally door to door rather than from corner to corner.  It was more like a taxi (a cheap one, since the fare was only a quarter) than a bus.  The expansion of the city bus system and the end of segregated busses forced the independents out of business.

 Mr. Clarence Hayes, Sr. worked his way through the school system from the classroom to administrative positions.  He retired in 1988.  Mr. Oliver Hayes continues to this day driving children to school.  Now he drives for the EBR School System.

 Countless students would have experienced extreme difficulty completing their education had it not been for the Hayes brothers."

 Mr. Clarence Hayes, Sr. died on Monday, Dec. 27, 1993, in Baton Rouge.  He was a member of Mount Zion First Baptist Church, where he served on Usher Board No. 1.  He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Fraternity of Southern University, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Vangard Social Club, Southern University Alumni Federation, McKinley High Alumni Association, NEA and NAACP.

Source:  “The First Annual South Baton Rouge Black History Recognition Program”- Author – Ms. Helen Turner Rutledge, February 27, 1993  and The Advocate Newspaper - Obituary Dec. 30, 1993