Hayford, Eugene S.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Eugene S. Hayford was a naval architect and engineer by early profession, but since locating at New Orleans has qualified as a lawyer and handles a substantial volume of practice, much of his work being in maritime law. He also holds the position of professor in admiralty law at Loyola University. His offices are in the Whitney Central Bank Building.

Mr. Hayford was born at Millbridge, Maine, February 6, 1876, and represents an old New England family of Revolutionary stock, the Hayfords having for several generations been identified with ship building and other maritime activities along the main coast. His great-grandfather was Washington Hayford, his grandfather was America Bonney Hayford, both of whom were born at Salem, Maine. The father of the New Orleans attorney was Hannibal Leroy Hayford, a native of Maine and a Ship builder. He married Elmira Dyer, likewise of an old Maine family.

Eugene S. Hayford grew up at Millbridge, graduated from high school and then took the scientific course in the Maine Wesleyan College and had special training in engineering in time Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston. He had some years of experience and practice as a naval architect, and time work of this profession brought him to New Orleans in 1904. While engaged in other work he carried on his law studies at Loyola University, taking his degree in law in 1917 and received his Master of Science degree from the same institution in 1918. Mr. Hayford has practiced law at New Orleans since 1915. In 1918 he was appointed to the position of Professor in Adnmiralty Law at Loyola University.

He is a Master Mason and a republican: a member of the New Orleans branch of the Marine Officers Association and is southern director of the American Inventors Association at New York. He married in January, 1902. Miss Lydia Dery, of New Hampshire, and she is of French ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Hayford have three children: Beecher, born in 1903; Byron, born in 1907; and Dolores, born in 1908. NOTE: A signed photograph/painting accompanies this narrative in the referenced source.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 171, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.