Mark "Racky" Hanna Hays, III

Obituary – Mark Hanna Hays, III

Mark Hanna (Racky) Hays, III passed away peacefully in Charleston South Carolina on August 19, 2024 after a long illness.

Racky was born on June 26, 1946 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his father, Mark Hanna Hays, Jr., mother, Betty McCool Hays, brother, Harry McCool Hays, grandson, Silas Hays, and his dear friends Julie Sutton and Mark Thompson. 

He is survived by his wife, Andrea Moore Hays, his children: Dr. Mark Hanna Hays, IV (Sarah), Fr. John Hays (Ginny), David Hays (Robin), Hunter Hays, Heather Bachman Hays, and Holly Hays Orlando (David), along with grandchildren Logan Orlando, William Hays, Julian Hays and Noah Hays, brother Michael, cousin, John Barnes, his friend of 60+ years, Susan Highfield, and sister-in-law, Scottie Hays (Mrs. Harry Hays), nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

Educated at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville before graduating from the University of Chattanooga with a BS in Accounting. Racky began his business life at his family’s RCA and Whirlpool Distributorship in Chattanooga (RADCO) where he became Corporate General Manager. He left there to start his own marketing firm, Mark Advertising, before following his dream of owning and racing thoroughbreds. He owned or co-owned seven horses, five of which were winners, a statistical improbability. Hall of Fame trainers John T Ward, Jr. or Horatio Luro trained them.

When he left the horse business, he returned to academics, earning a Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian and East European studies from the University of Kentucky. He did post-graduate work at Florida State University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kentucky. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Gamma Theta Epsilon.

After a small stroke cut short his academic work, he and his wife moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked in sales at Crosby Seafood until his retirement in 2012.

Racky Hays was one of a kind. Friends and family have described him as a “Force of Nature.” He was utterly brilliant, mercurial and had a rapier-sharp wit which he wasn’t afraid to use.

“A world without Racky Hays in it is just weird,” said Tobie Wood, a close friend.

Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation and Burial Services are handling arrangements.

A memorial service will be held at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Charleston Animal Society.