Hays Truck and Tractor, Inc began the legacy in what stands today. It all started back in 1951, When Lee Hays (1st Generation) bought out the Mansfield Location from The Benton Brothers. At that time, Lee began to sell Farmall Tractors, and later, International Harvester tractors and combines. Lee ran the dealership and began to shape the second-generation owner, Lamar Hays.
In the early 1970's, 2nd Generation Lamar Hays took over the dealership from his father, Lee Hays, and the name of the dealership became "Hays Tractor & Equipment, Inc." Being the new ambitious owner, Lamar was able to have his wife Carrie stay at home and care for the 3rd Generation. Through the 40 years that Lamar owned the dealership, the Legacy was shaped and molded to what he wanted to display to his community and what he also called "his family." The "yes Suh's" and the copious amounts of information about a single random part that one could name is what made Hays Tractor the community staple.
Lamar's daughters- Susan, Sandra, and Sheila all worked at the dealership, one a bookkeeper, one a Parts associate, and one that was able to keep everyone on their toes, while having those Kroger feet toes... (You can pretty much guess who that would be!) Eventually branching out and deciding to be a Feed Store Owner, and a hairdresser, there was only one thing left for Sheila to do; learn the business. Sheila grew up and was sought after by many customers that was surprised that she knew how to look up a carburetor kit for a Farmall Cub. Many would not speak to anyone else but Sheila. Throughout her years of learning what is now called the "blue collar" part of the business, she decided to venture out and get her feet wet in the public sector. After quickly realizing the public sector wasn't for her, she returned back to Hays Tractor to begin the bookkeeping role in the business.
Right after she came back, Lamar fell ill and died in March of 2009. Overnight, Sheila went from Bookkeeper to Owner. Sheila was then named 3rd generation owner and began to take on the daunting task of running the massive legacy that Lamar left behind. From 2009 up until 2017, Sheila ran with the fact that she was the first female to own Hays Tractor.