Headin Lay

James D. “J.D.” “Headin” Lay (March 29, 1927 – June 7, 2011) was a teacher and coach who served as Scott County Road Superintendent in the 1980s and 1990s.

Biography

Born in St. Charles, Va. on March 29, 1927, Headin Lay was the son of John H. Lay (1885-1964) and Vanell West (1899-1983). He had four brothers: Carl Lay, Elmer Lay, John Lay and Herb Lay.

The Lay family dated back several generations in Scott County. His second-great-grandfather, John Michael “Missouri Jack” Lay, settled in Elk Valley, and several of his children moved to the Rock House area of eastern Scott County. One of them, Rev. James A. Lay, was Headin Lay’s great-grandfather. Prominent Oneida businessman Arlie Lay, who founded the Lay Simpson line of furniture stores, was descended from James Lay’s brother, William Dandy Lay.

Lay married Jo Ruth McDonald in 1950. She was the daughter of Leon Earnest McDonald (1900-1955) and Virda Cross (1895-1995). They had one child, daughter Janet Lay Buhaly. Following Jo Ruth’s death in 1999, Lay remarried to Janet Hoover.

Adult Life

After graduating from Oneida High School, Lay enlisted in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University and coached basketball and football at Huntsville High School. He retired from teaching in Florida.

Lay was a familiar site around town, known for both his tobacco pipe and his sense of humor. Less known about him, except to family and friends, was that he was an animal lover and animal rights activist.

Road Superintendent

Following his career in education, Lay served three terms as Scott County Road Superintendent, from 1982 to 1994. His primary political opponent was Ray Hatfield, who he defeated twice and lost to twice.

Lay’s campaign slogan was “Pave the way with Headin Lay,” a reference to his plan to resurface every road in Scott County. Hatfield countered with his own campaign slogan: “All the way with Hot Mix Ray.”

Lay was first elected in 1982. He and Hatfield first squared off in the 1986 election, which saw Lay win re-election by a razor-thin margin of 2,953 to 2,828. Hatfield dominated in his home precinct of Fairview, 741 to 199, while also winning Robbins, Elgin, Paint Rock, Huntsville and Helenwood. But Lay dominated in Oneida, winning West Oneida by a 625 to 137 margin and Oneida proper by a 441 to 140 margin. He also won by a 247 to 50 margin at Ponderosa. Roger Bridges and L.A. Chambers were also candidates in that year’s race.

Four years later, in 1990, Lay again defeated Hatfield by a narrow margin, 3,562 to 3,351. Again, Hatfield dominated Fairview, winning 820 to 271, while Lay dominated Oneida, winning 475 to 271 in Oneida proper and 632 to 213 in West Oneida.

Finally, in the 1994 election, Hatfield broke through. He defeated Lay that year by a margin of 3,634 to 3,219, while Bridges finished third. Hatfield again dominated Fairview, out-polling Lay there by a count of 619 to 164, and won big in the 2nd District precincts of Elgin and Robbins.

The two men again battled to a close finish in the 1998 election, with Hatfield winning 3,833 to 3,745.

Death

Lay died on June 7, 2011 at his Oneida home with his family by his side. He was 84 at the time. A private graveside service was held at Carson Memorial Park, where Lay was buried next to his first wife.