I’ve been married 41 years as of March 7, 2005. My wife’s name is Sharon. We have three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

In 1964-1965, before and just after graduating from high school, I worked for Duracraft Homes and Gasport Builders building houses.

In September of 1965, I started working for Harrison Radiator. I worked there until 1979, when I left to do fulltime ministry.

In 1971, I became a Christian and my life changed completely. God filled me with the love of Jesus Christ and gave me the love for people. I took an educational leave from GM and went to Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, FL. Then I went to Northeastern Bible College in PA and Berion Bible College in MO. I had a burden to work with troubled kids and I was youth director of the Lighthouse Youth Center in Lockport for 7 years. Many young people came and received Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior and were delivered from drugs and alcohol.

When I left the Lighthouse. I became a fulltime pastor in Barker, NY. I started and built the church in 1978. In 1985, we built a new building for the sanctuary. I am still currently the Pastor at Barker Assembly of God and have been for 26 years now. We are planning to build a new church in Gasport on Route 31. We have 10 acres on the corner of Bolton Rd. and Rochester Rd. and have started some construction there.

I have been to Korea as a missionary evangelist twice. The second trip I was accompanied by my grandson, Eric Hayes II. We also sponsored a family of 12 from the Soviet Union and helped them come to America. They lived in Barker for a year and have since moved to Sacramento, CA, and have become very successful. The father and son have started a church in Sacramento -- Russian Ukrainian and Bella Russian Church. This church’s congregation has grown to about 10,000 people. I had the pleasure of ministering there in 2004. We also helped start a church in Pueblo, Mexico, in the year 2000.

My hobby is classic cars. I have a 1965 Pontiac 2+2 convertible that I am working on and hope to have finished for our 40th reunion. I live in Middleport and, by god’s grace, live my life to the fullest.