John Hays

John was born, raised and educated in southwest Los Angeles.  After graduating from U.C.L.A. with a degree in engineering, a week of skiing at Vail and the beauty of the Rocky Mountain outdoors was more than enough to convince John to take a position with Martin Marietta as an Aerospace Systems Engineer.  In the early 1970's John spent a couple of years teaching skiing on the weekends at Winter Park and Copper Mountain, but his heart was always in Vail.

In 1975 a move to the residential real estate business proved to be one of those life shaping decisions.  He achieved one of the highest levels of success with one of the largest firms in the Denver market.  He also served as the vice president of the board of realtors and on both the local and state association of realtors on the Professional Standards Committee.  In 1982 he bought a second home in Vail, and the seed was planted to make a move to the Vail Valley full time.  With the chance to join the finest organization in the Vail Valley, the Slifer Smith and Frampton Real Estate office, came the realization that it would be possible to combine his work and the place he most wanted to be.  21 years later, after working in the same office next to the Covered Bridge, it has become a dream come true.

John has enjoyed skiing, snowboarding, motorcycles, and golf, but his real passion has been hang gliding.