Jim Hayes
New Braunfels, Texas
While living in Wichita in 1961, Shirley “drug” reluctant Jim to square dance lessons. Jim, who had never heard of square dancing, fell in love with it the first night of lessons. After graduation from the Centennial Square Dance Club’s lessons with Don Echols as Instructor, Jim and Shirley immediately attended the State Convention. It was there that Jim decided he would like to be a caller so he took calling lessons from Don Echols and Willard Palmer, two well-known Wichita callers. He called for many friends anywhere four couples would square up.
In September, 1963, Jim was hired as club caller for a Halstead club. He went from one club to seven over the next few years. Becoming club caller for the Trailing Squares, Sunflower Swingles, the Moose Club, and Riverview Grand Squares, all of Wichita, and the Cross Trails of El Dorado, Jim and Shirley formed the Pieces of Eight Advanced Club in 1975 and later the J & S Plus Squares, both of Wichita. Purchasing an old, three-story school in his mother’s hometown of Aurora, KS, in 1980, Jim and Shirley renovated the building into a square and round dance hall, “The French Quarters.” The French Quarters remained one of the North Central District’s leading dance facilities until Jim and Shirley moved to New Braunfels, TX, in the 1990’s.
Becoming a full time caller in 1974, Jim has called for festivals, state conventions and dances throughout the United States. Jim and Shirley have also conducted several callers’ clinics. They were active in promoting the Kansas Square Dance Convention. As club caller for several clubs in the San Antonio area, Jim and Shirley attended numerous National Conventions, especially in Texas and Oklahoma, and served on several callers’ committees. Prior to moving to Texas, they seldom missed a Kansas State Convention.
Jim and Shirley were members of the Kansas Square Dance Callers Association, South Central Kansas Square Dance Callers Association, North Central Kansas Square Dance Callers Association, Kansas Square Dance Association and CALLERLAB. Jim served as a member of CALLERLAB’s Executive Board. They served in all the offices of the South Central Kansas Square Dance Callers Association several times. Taking an active part in KSDCA, Jim served two terms as its president and was instrumental in forming the Kansas Area Representatives.
A featured caller for many festivals and State Conventions, Jim returns to Kansas several times each year to call for clubs and weekend festivals. He was the featured caller at the West District Spring Special in Hoisington in 2014. Jim and Shirley, active and enthusiastic supporters of square dancing, were early pioneers with visions of square dancing growing in Kansas. Serving as the 1969 KSDCA President, Jim stated, “If Salina would ever get a convention hall, I have reason to believe Kansas would have one of the biggest and finest State Conventions. Because of its location, this would be one of the best things that could ever happen to square dancing.” As we have gathered to dance here for years and we dance here again tonight, we realize that Jim’s vision for our Convention has truly become a reality.