Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Earl "LeeBird" Hayes is a U.S. Navy veteran of the Beirut conflict in the early 1980s, and was stationed onboard the U.S.S. SAMPSON DDG-10 out of Mayport, Fla. Upon discharge from the service in 1984, Hayes began developing his career in charity work and event planning. By holding several events for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association, he was able to raise a significant amount of money, over the span of 10 years, to be donated to the M.D.A. telethon. Working with the M.D.A. enabled Hayes to learn valuable event planning skills. From 1995 till 2005, he drove a semi, hauling local freight in and around the Southwest Ohio area.
Hayes graduated with high honors from the Ohio/Illinois Centers for Broadcasting. With this new education, he formed Honor Veterans Radio, a fully licensed internet radio station, which can be heard at www.honorveteransradio.us.
Hayes and his wife Kathryn now reside in Oak Lawn, a suburb of southwest Chicago. He loves Chicago, and now calls it home.
