The family of this late industry veteran aims to continue Hayden’s legacy through donations to diabetes research.
On Feb. 6, 2016, Lawrence “Hayden” Baylock passed away in Homestead, Fla. Hayden leaves behind a legacy in the industry. He was a member of the NASM Board of Directors from 1991-2007, and NASM chairman for two separate terms in 2000-2001 and 2003-2004.
Hayden also acted as chairman of his annual charity fishing tournament each April in Key West, Fla.
A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 in Homestead, Fla.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Diabetes Research Institute, http://www.diabetesresearch.org, as it was Hayden’s dying wish to find a cure for his grandson.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Blaylock family and all who were privileged to know Hayden.
Obituary:
The world lost a kind soul when Lawrence “Hayden” Blaylock passed away on Feb. 6, 2016. When Hayden spoke, you were never quite sure what would come flying out of his mouth, but you could absolutely be sure it was the truth. He lived by the motto: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. After meeting him for the first time, you knew you had a lifelong friend – if he liked you!
Hayden was born and raised in Miami, Fla. in 1930 attending Ponce de Leon High School; later moving to the Redlands, graduating from Redland High School with an amazing record as a baseball catcher. Many trips were made all over the Caribbean to play baseball, where he was affectionately known as the “old hen.” That name stuck with him throughout his entire life as he continued to take care of others.
After he met Josephine Hooker in 1962, they tied the knot, as he just couldn’t keep those late hours courting her. They were married 36 years until her passing in 1998. He was never quite the same after his partner in life (on all levels) left this earth. They shared many good times with lifelong friends, as he could often be found enjoying a “bourbon sandwich” and a good cigar on the deck of a cruise ship. If you could not find him on Wednesday or Saturday afternoon, you did not have to look far, he was at Redland Golf Club enjoying life and friends.
He started his career in the petroleum industry with Standard Oil Co. Opening his own fuel distributorship, Blaylock Oil Co. in 1962. Throughout his career he was a wholesaler for Sinclair, BP, Fina, Texaco, Chevron and Shell Oil Cos. He was well known throughout the petroleum industry for his integrity and work ethic. He was most proud of his charity-fishing tournament, which brings people together from around the world, to enjoy two of his favorite things: fishing and giving back. Hayden and Jo got together with friends and created the Texaco Hemingway Key West Classic raising more than $2.5 million for the National Mental Health Association. Upon his grandson Matthew’s diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, he vowed to continue the tournament until a cure was found, raising over $600,000 to date for the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami.
Hayden’s dry, but witty humor and his ability to find the good in anything will be missed dearly by his family: son Larry Blaylock, daughter Crystal Blaylock, son-in-law John Sanchez and the lights of his life, grandsons Matthew Hayden and Cameron Jared Sanchez. Coming from a large family, he was an uncle to many and had a special place in his heart for his nephew, Bill Hohn, Bill’s wife Kelly and nieces Lindsay and Lauren. He considered his employees at Blaylock Oil his second family and treated everyone with respect and kindness, often feeding the entire office. He loved his home where you could always find a German Shepard or two by his side.
He leaves behind an amazing legacy of a giving heart. His dying wish was a cure for his grandson. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Diabetes Research Institute www.drif.org. But if you don’t do that, do something nice for someone else today. No matter how big or how small, you are making a difference in someone’s life as Hayden did for so many. It doesn’t matter when you were born or when you leave this earth, what’s important is your dash. He had a hell of a dash!
