Danny Hales Jr. holds his Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award he received in 1996.

After a 35 year tenure that led to the construction of seven libraries and the upgrading of four other buildings, Suwannee River Regional Library Director John D. “Danny” Hales Jr. has turned over the reigns to Betty A. Lawrence.

Hales first came to Live Oak in 1976 and was reminded of his hometown of Fulton, Kentucky. He saw people waving at one another across the street and it just felt like home. For a young man seeking to start his own family and give them a place to call their home, Suwannee County did not look like a bad place to stop.

“This was the kind of place I wanted to be,” Hales recalled his first thoughts of Live Oak.

The Kentucky native’s work had already earned him respect at the public library in Jacksonville and he was looking to take charge of a library system, propelling it into the 21st century.

The SRRL included seven counties at that time and was headquartered at the old library in downtown Live Oak. The board of directors was searching for a director and they found a good fit in Hales.

It wasn’t until Hales was a senior at the University of Kentucky that he discovered his love for working in libraries. He began working in the campus library after a friend told him about the job opportunity.

“I ran track at the University of Kentucky for three years,” Hales explained. “After that, I worked in the library.”

With a stately Kentucky drawl, Hales shared how he discovered a new world working in the library. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business accounting, Hales earned a master’s degree in library science.

“I had an advantage over my classmates,” Hales admitted with a chuckle. “I had learned how to find the research material for papers by working in the library.”

After successfully completing graduate school, Hales’s professors suggested that he work in a large public library for a period of time, to gain experience. Although he had experienced working in a library while in college, his work had been limited to an academic library.

“I had several job offers after college,” Hales recalled. “But it was Jacksonville that I chose to go to and I’m so proud that I did.”

Hales readily acknowledges the reason he is so pleased that he chose Jacksonville is because there was a young lady there who stole his heart. It was while working in the Jacksonville Public Library’s business department that Hales met his wife to be, Sheila Hiss.

After time, they both decided to look elsewhere for opportunities in their respective careers. That is when Hales first entertained the thought of coming to Live Oak, as the director of the SRRL.

“Laura Helvenston, and Doris Tedder served on the board and were both instrumental, along with others, in my decision to come to Live Oak,” Hales said.

Hales accepted the position and decided to stay here for a while. If he did have any reservations, it took him 35 years to decide not to stay. After many years of dedicated service and enjoying numerous accomplishments, Hales’s last official day as director of the SRRL was Friday, Oct. 28.

“Sheila served as the director of the library at North Florida Community College and retired a couple of years ago,” Hales said of his wife’s career.

Although both Danny and Sheila Hiss have officially retired, they show no plans of slowing down. While they plan to spend more time at their Amelia Island beachfront property, they will also enjoy time with their children and friends.

Hales speaks with much affection when he mentions his children.

“JD is now in his first year of the College of Medicine at Florida State,” Hales said. “And Nina (Heringer) is VP of marketing for First Federal (Bank of Florida).”

Nina lives in Lake City with her husband, David Heringer.

“I am thankful to the library for opening a whole world to our children,” Hales commented.

Hales is also appreciative to the community for offering much support to his family.

“We have enjoyed the small town atmosphere and sense of community the area offers,” Hales acknowledged.

Hales has been a vital part in contributing to the community that he credits as having contributed much to his children’s happiness and success.

He will remain active, continuing his work in the community through his involvement with the Suwannee County Historical Commission, the Foundation for Excellence in Education and Kiwanis. Hales will also remain involved with the Take Stock in Students Mentoring program, the Florida Folklife Festival and a few other community projects.

Hales has realized much satisfaction through his civic work through witnessing the fruits of his labor, but it has also yielded him personal rewards. In 1996, Hales was selected as the Citizen of the Year by the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce.

Hales’s reputation as a visionary extends well beyond the Suwannee Valley area. Hales has also earned a state and national reputation as a rural library guru. That reputation has landed Hales on some very impressive boards and committees over the years.

He has served as president of the Florida Library Association (FLA), along with several terms on the FLA executive board of directors. In 2009, Hales was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the FLA. Another highlight of Hales’s career came through being awarded a Lifetime Membership by the FLA. There have been only eight lifetime memberships awarded in 85 years, according to Hales.

In 2006, Hales was asked to serve on the Bill and Melinda Gates, U.S. Libraries Initiative Partners Advisory Council. The council advises on library assistance programs, which has provided hundreds of millions of dollars for computers, software, training, and Internet connectivity to rural libraries throughout the United States.

He was also one of only six Florida librarians selected for the White House Conference on Libraries in Washington, D.C.

The list of Hales’s local, state and national accomplishments continues, but perhaps one of his greatest accomplishments is the mentoring of his staff. Several staff members, under Hales’s influence, have pursued graduate degrees in library science and are now active leaders in the FLA.

The staff of the SRRL have been much more than employees to Hales. The SRRL offers a family-like atmosphere, Hales maintains.

“Every time I interviewed a new employee, I looked for what I call the library gene,” Hales explained with a smile. “The library gene includes an inquisitive nature, the desire to help people and caring for people.”

Hales is adamant in his understanding that the staff of the library, are in large, responsible for its continued success. Together, under Hales’s leadership, they have built seven libraries and remodeled or converted four other buildings and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars outside of government funding. Under Hales’s direction, the SRRL has received over $18 million in state grants and over $2.5 million in federal grants.

It has truly been 35 years of pursuing visions, hard work and accomplishments for Danny Hales. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that he has no intention of relinquishing his drive when it comes to pursuing excellence and sharing his abilities.

In addition to traveling more, along with his wife and friends, Hales hopes to follow Kentucky basketball closely, read and play golf. However, Hales is sure to be found working behind the scenes, encouraging others to read more, learn more and give more of themselves. Ultimately, Hales will continue his contributions in this community that he calls home.

Betty A. Lawrence feels that she has been afforded a wonderful opportunity in carrying on the work of Hales as the new SRRL director.

“We will strive to continue with the legacy Mr. Hales has built,” Lawrence said, who started in her official capacity Monday.

The Friends of the Library, along with the library staff, invite the community to join them at the Suwannee River Regional Library on US 129 South Sunday, Nov. 6 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., for a retirement reception in honor of Danny Hales Jr.