Woody Hayes was not the first person to embrace “pay forward”, but at least amongst faithful

Buckeye fans, he is most adored. Coach Hayes paraphrased Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1841 essay, “Compensation” when he stated “you can pay back only seldom. But you can always pay forward, and you must pay line for line, deed for deed, and cent for cent. He said beware of too much good accumulating in your palm or it will fast corrupt. That was Emerson's attitude and no one put it better than he did.” The legacy of the Hayes family loomed large over most families from Newcomerstown, Ohio. Woody’s parents, Wayne and Effie never missed an opportunity to help anyone, especially young people.

Wayne Hayes was the legendary superintendent for Newcomerstown schools. He was a tireless educator and worker from a large farming family in Noble County. Only after attending six different colleges while supporting a family of three children (Woody was the youngest), did Wayne complete his college degree from Wittenberg in 1920 at age 38 – Woody was eight years old when he watched his father graduate college. Wayne Hayes required his teachers to memorize all textbooks (as he did as well as superintendent.) Sunday dinner was a modest yet formal affair and Woody and his two siblings were expected to converse about politics, sports, poetry and literature (often in Latin.) Woody would later take a part-time job working for Cy Young following his retirement from the Cleveland Indians. In the Hayes household, everyone in the community was to be respected, authority obeyed and charity towards the needy expected.

My father and mother attended Newcomerstown public schools during the Hayes era. My father had red hair, uncommon and easily noticed in the small district. Mr. Hayes would often single out my father for special attention and correction on those unfortunate occasions when Dad stepped out of line. Most memorable was the Hayes family devotion to supporting the community and sports. Woody was fifteen years my father’s senior; Woody having served as captain of the football team back before my father arrived. Woody and two siblings were well educated and often generous to the point of returning any speaking fees or remuneration ever offered them from any worthy community organization. Today, the large imposing obelisk in the community cemetery for Wayne and Effie Hayes sits not far from my parents’ final resting place.

Underneath my desk at work are the pair of shoes that my father wore when he passed away in 2016. They serve as a daily reminder of whose shoes I walk in every day. Mom and Dad were typical of many families from Newcomerstown. Helping anyone in need was expected – often not in a formal or organized way. When my parents left this earth, they did not leave a significant financial legacy – they couldn’t since they provided for anyone (including my sister and I) while they could. Most of us can learn from the lessons taught in rural Tuscarawas County a century ago – pay forward while you can. You can never pay back to your parents (or anyone) for all they have done for you.