William R. “Bill” Hayes Jr., 75, died November 9, 2017, in Wyoming.

He started in the industry with Mel Kirsner of Pell Mell Supply. He founded Hayes Bolt in San Diego in 1976 and sold the distributorship to his first employee, Suzanne Dukes, in 1980. He had started Hawaii Nut & Bolt Inc. in 1979.

After 32 years in the fastener industry he retired to a rural lakeside house in Montana in 2003. He eventually sold the distributorship to his son, Bill Hayes III.

In 1995, he started a fastener jewelry company, Precision Screw. He introduced the company by donating jewelry to a Western Association of Fastener Distributors scholarship fund drawing.

During the U.S. Fastener Quality Act legislative process of the 1990s, Hayes convinced a Hawaii senator to block action on two fastener manufacturer-oriented amendments in order to protect a third amendment, which was distribution-oriented. Though initially that divided the industry, he was later credited for bringing the manufacturing and distribution sectors together to reach an industry-wide position. (See the Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com: 2003 FIN – No Parting Shots From ‘Loose Cannon.’ )

He had suffered polio at age 13 and in later years was wheelchair-bound.

Survivors include a daughter, Robin; and son, Bill.

Messages to the family may be sent c/o Hawaii Nut & Bolt, 905 Ahua St., Honolulu, HI 96819. Email: Bill@HawaiiNutandBolt.com Web: HawaiiNutandBolt.com