Hawk, Hyett Guy (1872-1973)

Newton Kansan obituary: 1973 Oct 23

Birth date: 1872 Aug 27

text of obituary:

Pioneer Newtonian H. G. Hawk dead at 101

A Newton banker, civic leader and philanthropist, Hyett Guy Hawk, 101, 307 W. Broadway, died Monday night at Axtell Christian Hospital.

The son of homesteaders from Ohio, he was born Aug. 27, 1872, in Clifford Township near the Butler-Marion County line to Oliver Washington and Elizabeth Benson Hawk.

He married Ida Lathrop, July 10, 1917, at Burns. They moved to Newton in 1919. Mrs. Hawk observed her 100th birthday in August.

In 1907, Mr. Hawk organized the Walton State Bank, of which he was still a director. He was also an officer of Midland National Bank and honorary chairman of the board of 1st Federal Savings and Loan.

He served as state representative from Harvey County from 1919-1921. In 1931 he was elected to the Newton city commission, serving as mayor from 1932-1933. Again in 1947 to 1949, he served on the commission, fulfilling an unexpired term.

In 1927, he was appointed chairman of a Chamber of Commerce committee to raise funds for purchasing land for Methodist Children's Home, then an orphanage, now United Methodist Youthville.

Elected to its board of directors in 1928, Mr. Hawk served as president from 1939 to 1957. He was named president emeritus in 1958 and later, trustee emeritus.

Mr. Hawk also served on the board and was a benefactor for the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita and was a member of the board of the Kansas Crippled Children's Assn.

Having provided Camp Hawk for boy and girl scouts in the Newton area, Mr. Hawk was also named an honorary member and senior guardian of Quivira Council of the Boy and Girl Scouts. Later he deeded Camp Hawk to the Newton YMCA.

His other memberships include the Newton Rotary Club; Peabody Blue Lodge of the Masonic order; York Rite body, Newton; Scottish Rite and Midian Shrine, Wichita.

Besides his widow, he is survived by 2 sisters, Mrs. Edith Spangler, Walton, and Mrs. Ruth Neuman, Whitewater.

Services will be held Tuesday, 2 p. m. at Walton Methodist Church, of which he was a member, with the Rev. F. L. Nance officiating. Burial will be in Walton Cemetery.

Calling time at Draper-Cannon Funeral Home will be this evening and Wednesday.

The family has established a memorial for the Kansas Crippled Children's Assn.