HLS 161ES-485 ORIGINAL
2016 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 17
BY REPRESENTATIVE LANCE HARRIS
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Obdulia Teodosia "Teddy" Rios Hayes for her service
to the American Red Cross
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Obdulia Teodosia Rios Hayes for her service to the American Red Cross.
3 WHEREAS, Obdulia Teodosia "Teddy" Rios Hayes was born in San Juan, Puerto
4Rico, in 1922, and after high school graduation and several jobs, joined the United Service
5Organizations (USO) in 1947; and
6 WHEREAS, Teddy's first post in the USO was in Panama, where she was stationed
7for two years and then returned to her island home of Puerto Rico; after the USO closed its
8San Juan office, Teddy was offered a job by the Red Cross, and she worked to rehabilitate
9soldiers through the Service in Military Hospitals program; and
10 WHEREAS, most of the staff of Service in Military Hospitals spoke Spanish and
11most of the soldiers spoke mostly English, so Teddy's bilingual skills allowed her to live the
12motto of the Red Cross: "the need is real; the time is now"; and
13 WHEREAS, James "Jim" Anderson Hayes, an Army corporal, was assigned to
14Rodriguez General Hospital to teach soldiers new skills as part of their rehabilitation; he was
15captivated by the beautiful Caribbean Red Cross worker who also was helping soldiers to
16heal through therapeutic activities, and once their paths crossed, romance led to a fruitful and
17lasting marriage that began in San Juan on January 15, 1949; and
18 WHEREAS, after Jim's discharge from the Army, the newlyweds traveled to
19Louisiana and settled in Pineville where they started Hayes Manufacturing Company in
201954; Teddy's business acumen and Jim's ingenuity laid a foundation for success that has
21been passed to their children and grandchildren; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 161ES-485 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 17
1 WHEREAS; Teddy Hayes' fiery spirit and knack for getting the job done has left a
2legacy of competent care and concern that is a testament to the esprit de corps of the
3American Red Cross, and it is appropriate to recognize the valuable and noteworthy
4contributions of Obdulia Teodosia "Teddy" Rios Hayes to the organization.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
6Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Obdulia Teodosia "Teddy" Rios Hayes for
7her exemplary and dedicated service to the American Red Cross; does hereby pay tribute to
8the years she spent helping to heal members of the U.S. military in the aftermath of war; and
9does hereby express best hopes and wishes for continued happiness and good health.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
11to Obdulia Teodosia Rios Hayes.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 17 Original 2016 First Extraordinary Session Lance Harris
Commends Obdulia "Teddy" Rios Hayes for her service to the American Red Cross.
Page 2 of 2