JUDGE ROLLA WILL HAILEY

     Judge Rolla Will Hailey, b June 12, 1902 in Lott, Falls County, Texas, d April 4, 1972 and buried in Lott in Clover Hill Cemetery - was the eldest of four children of Rolla G. Hailey, b September 23,1872, d October 8, 1965, and his wife, Etta (Moore) Hailey, b August 5, 1884, d March 3, 1970 in Lott and buried in Clover Hill Cemetery. The other children of Rolla G. and Etta (Moore) Hailey were: Marietta Hailey, b October 10, 1904; Robert Hailey, b October 26, 1906, d January 22,1927; and Margaret Hailey, b 1911.

     Rolla Will Hailey grew up in Lott, where his father and Robert Ruble had established the Hailey Department Store. Rolla Will was very active in school and community affairs, and became active politically. He was elected Falls County Judge, serving several terms before he retired.

     Judge Hailey also became a merchant in Lott, developing The Hailey Department Store into a business that draws customers near and far. "The Fair," featuring Western attire, has been enlarged until it covers a city block. It is still owned by his widow, Bobbie (Ruble) Hailey, and is operated by a grandson, Chester Rolla Springfield, and other family members.

     In 1920, Rolla Will Hailey was married to Bobbie Ruble, b February 17, 1902 - a daughter of Robert E. Ruble, b February 17, 1879 in Falls County, d January 27, 1974, and his wife, Mary E. McCreary, b 1879, d 1933, and both buried in Clover Hill Cemetery. Bobbie's father and Rolla Will's father were the pair who established the original business at the turn of the century.

     Judge Rolla Will and Bobbie (Ruble) Hailey had three children:

     Helen Hailey, b July 19, 1921- married in 1943 to William Grady Ligon, II.

     Billie Ruth Hailey, b January 27, 1923, d October 2, 1981 and buried in Clover Hill Cemetery by her husband, Eugene Fletcher Springfield, b January 10, 1923, d February 9, 1959.

     R. W. Hailey, b May 7,1925 - married Connie Gwynn, and they have Robert Hailey, b June 9,1950; Bert Hailey, b July 26, 1953; and Barry Hailey, b April 16, 1957.

     Rolla Will and Bobbie (Ruble) Hailey were both natives of Lott, and lived there throughout their married life. Bobbie continues to reside there in the family home.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 208 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.