2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 57
BY SENATOR FIELDS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
passing of Mr. Clovis Hayes.
WHEREAS, it is with great regret and profound sorrow that the Legislature of
Louisiana has learned of the passing of Clovis Hayes on May 3, 2022, at the age of
eighty-seven; and
WHEREAS, Clovis was born on September 13, 1934, on a small farm in Clinton,
Louisiana, to Gravile and Clara Hayes, and was the youngest of their twelve children; and
WHEREAS, having only obtained a sixth grade education, Clovis could have never
imagined that he would grow up to make history by becoming the first black city bus driver
in Baton Rouge; and
WHEREAS, in 1959, at the age of twenty-four, Clovis started working for the Baton
Rouge Bus Company, now known as the Capital Area Transportation System (CATS), as
a mechanic and janitor for one dollar and twenty-seven cents per hour; and
WHEREAS, upon the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Clovis was asked by
the president of the bus company, Pinky Jenkins, to become a bus driver; and
WHEREAS, no white bus drivers wanted to train black bus drivers, so the president
would ride with him, and after six weeks of training, his salary was increased to one dollar
and ninety-seven cents per hour; and
WHEREAS, Clovis's first route was on Capitol Avenue, later changed to Gus Young
Avenue and East Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, Clovis spent much of his time driving routes in both black and white
neighborhoods and training other black bus drivers; and
WHEREAS, he particularly enjoyed driving college students in the Baton Rouge
area, spending many weekends driving special charters for the Louisiana State University
football team and the Southern University Human Jukebox Band; and
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WHEREAS, he was personally requested by Dr. Isaac Greggs to transport the Human
Jukebox because he loved how Clovis took care of the students that were in his care while
driving; and
WHEREAS, Clovis strictly enforced company rules and policies and remained calm
and professional at all times, even when dealing with passengers who were unhappy to be
driven by a black man; and
WHEREAS, Clovis earned the nickname "Bam-Bam" from his son, Juan, who would
visit the bus station often as a young boy; and
WHEREAS, Clovis retired in April of 2000, having worked for the bus company for
forty-one years; and
WHEREAS, Clovis was president of the usher board at Beech Grove Baptist Church
in Clinton, Louisiana, and was always willing to help anyone in need of a ride or a good
conversation; and
WHEREAS, Clovis was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Booker-Hayes, who
he was happily married to for fifty-five years; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his four children, Weverlyn Lachas Hayes-Conner,
Juan Deandre Hayes, Telita Juanetta Hayes-Reese, and Natasha Lenise Hayes; eleven
grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Clovis will be remembered for his caring nature, his love of family, and
as a trailblazer for black bus drivers in Baton Rouge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of Mr. Clovis Hayes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
daughter, Telita Hayes.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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