Information courtesy of Boise State Athletics Department
Lori Hays, a long-time communications and operations staff member at her alma mater, Boise State University, died on Oct. 25 following a 29-month battle with a brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme). Hays served in the sports information office for 20 years (1986-2006) before being named Assistant Athletic Director for Operations in the fall of 2006. She served in that capacity until May 2011 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Memorial service/Lori Orr Hays Memorial Scholarship information
As stated in the story below, Lori requested a party in lieu of a funeral. A celebra
tion of her life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Boise.
To carry forward the legacy at Boise State that Lori left behind, an annual scholarship has been established in her name at Boise State. The Lori Orr Hays Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding full time student in the College of Social Sciences & Public Affairs.
Gifts in memory of Lori can be made to the Boise State University Foundation with 'Lori Orr Hays Memorial Scholarship' written in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:
The Boise State University Foundation
2225 University Blvd.
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83707-9815
Memorial contributions can also be made online at https://giving.boisestatefoundation.org/. In the designation field, select "other" and enter 'Lori Orr Hays Memorial Scholarship' in the notes field.
Lori Hays, a long time member of the athletic staff at Boise State University, died on Oct. 25 (Friday) following a 29-month battle with a brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme).
Lori first joined the Bronco staff in November of 1985 as an assistant to the athletic director for promotions. In July of 1986 she became a sports information director where she would serve for the next 20 years. While working with all the different athletic teams at Boise State, her main sports responsibilities included volleyball, women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s tennis and golf.
As a member of the sports information staff, Lori served as the assistant media coordinator at NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Round tournament games in 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2005, the 1994 and 1999 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s National Track and Field Championships and the 2002 NCAA Women’s Basketball West Regional.
In 1994 and 1997, she was the media coordinator when Boise State hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s West Regional Gymnastic Championships, and in April of 2000 she again performed those duties when Boise State hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s National Gymnastics Championships.
In the fall of 2006 she was named assistant athletic director for operations and served in that capacity until May 2011 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
In her position as assistant athletic director for operations she assisted in game management of all sports, helped oversee conference and championship events, and assisted with special events including rental and community use of Bronco Stadium.
Lori requested a party in lieu of a funeral. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Boise.
“Lori was a great lady who loved her family, the Boise community, Boise State University and the Broncos,” said Max Corbet, associate athletic director for communications at Boise State. “She was a lady with an incredibly big heart who touched everyone she met in a positive way. She always lit up any room she entered, and was always there to help everyone. Lori was one of the first people I met when I started working at Boise State and I can truly say I’m a better person for having worked with her and being able to call her my friend for the past 28 years.”
Lori earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Boise State in 1983 and went on to earn a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. Before joining the Bronco staff she was a reporter, news anchor and promotions director at KFXD Radio in Boise. She graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in Boise in 1980.
She leaves behind her husband James and their two sons, Tim and Pat.