Remembering Mariam Hayes: Friend of the 49ers
Charlotte, N.C. -- Mariam Hayes, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 91, has left an indelible imprint on the 49ers athletic department. Her generous donations sparked the 49ers facility construction boom in the mid-90's and continued through to the 49ers latest construction efforts. In all, her generosity has touched each and every student-athlete in one form or another.
Hayes and her husband Robert, who passed away in 1998, made the Naming Gift for the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center in 1996. The Center houses the 49ers athletic department as well as its basketball home, Halton Arena. In 2001, she made a major gift to the Miltimore-Wallis Athletic Training and Academic Center, which includes the 49ers Athletic Academic Center, Strength and Conditioning Weight Room and the Hayward Memorial Practice Court. She made the Naming Gift for Robert and Mariam Hayes Baseball Stadium, which is being completed this summer. She also made a major gift to the 49ers Short-Game Practice Facility at Rocky River Golf Club of Concord and was a major contributor to the annual "Let Me Play" Luncheon, which raises funds for the 49ers women's athletics program. A long-time men's basketball season-ticket holder, she also donated at varying levels to the Athletic Foundation's Annual Giving Campaign and Great Gold Rush Auction and was a contributor to the Judy Wilkins Rose Student-Athlete Scholarship.
"Mariam Hayes's name is synonymous with `philanthropy'," said 49ers athletic director Judy Rose. "I have never met a more generous individual. She genuinely enjoyed giving and helping other people and organizations. What started as a professional relationship between Mariam and me changed to a close personal friendship. I'm deeply saddened by her passing but know that her memory will live on and will be shared by the many 49er fans and student-athletes who both attend and compete at the facilities and programs that she made possible."
"Mariam Hayes was a role model and an inspiration for all of us," said Pat Rodgers, President and CEO of Rodgers Builders and chair of the 2006 "Let Me Play" Luncheon. "She worked tirelessly on behalf of UNC Charlotte and in particular athletics. She brought a wonderful enthusiasm to the annual `Let Me Play' event leading the way in raising money for scholarships for the women's athletic program. There will never be a way to truly measure the impact she has had on the lives of young women and in turn on all of the communities where these women will be future leaders."
"Mariam had great respect and admiration for Judy and the leadership that she provided. (Former Chancellor) Jim (Woodward) exercised that same leadership for the university as a whole and that was something Mariam paid attention to: Good management and strong leadership," said Frank Davis, Executive Director of The Cannon Foundation, who noted that the majority of Mariam's relationship with the university occured during Woodward's tenure. "A lot of people don't understand this, but Mariam Hayes was an very astute businesswoman. She was involved with the 49ers because, plain and simple, she enjoyed the basketball, but she also enjoyed the highly-competent management Judy brought to the program."
"Ours is a university that is constantly growing and it's doing so thanks to the support of people like Mariam Hayes," said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Dr. Philip Dubois. "She was a great friend and fan of the 49ers whose generosity will have an impact on generations of 49ers still to come. The university is honored to have called Mariam Hayes a friend and the university is stronger because of her friendship."
Athletics. Academics. Men's programs. Women's programs. Basketball, baseball, golf. The contributions of Mariam Hayes were varied and long-reaching and have helped make the 49ers athletic department what it is today. With her passing the 49ers athletic department, the university and the community lost a generous and supportive friend.
The 49ers will honor Mariam at the Dedication of Robert & Mariam Hayes Baseball Stadium, Oct. 19.
