On Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., WyoTech's Laramie Campus and Stevinson Automotive will unveil a restored 1959 Chevrolet Apache truck for the family of Captain Bruce E. Hays, a soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan. The presentation will be held at the WyoTech Street Rod building at 1889 Venture Dr. in West Laramie, Wyoming.
The ceremony will pay tribute to Desert Storm veteran, Captain Hays, who lost his life in 2008 serving with the Army National Guard of Wyoming. Prior to his deployment, Hays bought a 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickup truck and paid $17,000 to have it restored for his wife. After his death, the money was stolen and the pickup was left unrestored until Hays' friends decided to complete the mission that he never had the chance to finish.
Kent Stevinson of Stevinson Automotive worked with WyoTech and the fundraising team called, "The Friends of the 133rd" to restore the truck. In a combined effort of students, instructors, faculty, and volunteers, the truck was completely rebuilt. Since June 2010, WyoTech students and faculty have dedicated hundreds of hours to the project and learned many valuable life lessons by giving back to this deserving family. Students have also enhanced their education with hands-on collision repair training in rust repair, fabrication, dent removal and more. Many companies and private parties donated parts and labor to the project including Big-O Tires, Auto Weave Upholstery, D&D Performance, and Meineke Mufflers. For a complete list of sponsors, please visit www.captainhaysapacheproject.com/contributors.
The ceremony will include the presentation of the Bruce Hays Memorial Scholarship to a WyoTech student. Many local dignitaries and military personnel have been invited to attend the presentation, along with Bruce Hays' wife, daughters and parents. For more information about the Bruce Hays project, please visit: www.captainhaysapacheproject.com.