May 26, 2006

Liz Hayes '10 to Carry On Family Legacy

When incoming OWU student Elizabeth (Liz) Hayes begins her Ohio Wesleyan educational experience this fall as a member of the Class of 2010, she will be continuing a well-known family legacy connection. You see, Liz is the great-great-great granddaughter of Lucy Webb Hayes, the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, who served as president of the United States from 1877-1881. Lucy's two older brothers were OWU graduates, and she herself earned a degree in 1850 from the Ohio Wesleyan Female College. Among Lucy's many accomplishments, was her support for social causes, including the abolition of slavery and help for the disadvantaged. So it was perhaps family ties coupled with good feelings about OWU that drew Liz to this campus in Delaware. 

"Liz applied to many colleges and universities, and was accepted by more than half of those, but she really liked Ohio Wesleyan the best, and felt more comfortable there," says Theo Hayes, Liz' mother, from her home in Potomac, Maryland. She describes her daughter's visits to Ohio as a child, and her natural attraction both to the state and to OWU. From academic and athletic perspectives (Liz has been captain of her championship softball team at Stoneridge Sacred Heart School) Ohio Wesleyan seems to be a good fit. 

"When we visited Ohio Wesleyan recently, the staff went out of their way to make us feel good, and it wasn't because of our relationship to Lucy. They treated everyone around us very well."   

The Hayes family home — Speigel Grove Ohio — houses the first Presidential library, is located in Fremont, Ohio, and is, as Ms. Hayes admits, "an amazing place." Her husband, Stephen, grew up there, and while the family gave the residence to the state, they still run the Hayes Presidential Center, home and museum.

"We are thrilled about our daughter's decision to attend Ohio Wesleyan," says Ms. Hayes. "And as for Lucy Webb Hayes, it is such a cool thing to be related to someone like her."

— Pam Besel