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Member Spotlight: Connee Hays

Kathleen Morrow | Published on 8/3/2021


Where she’s from

Connee is proud to report that she is from Turner, Kansas. Although Turner is a neighborhood in Wyandotte County, it has its own school district (USD #202), is on a hill and is known by locals  as “God’s Country”.   


About her family

Connee her husband Marlin are both retired from teaching in the Shawnee Mission Schools. They have a son who is a musician and lives and works in the Westport area.


Why she joined the League

Connee joined the League in the 1970’s while a Civics teacher at Shawnee Mission North Junior and Senior High School. She had requested a speaker from the League for one of her classes. She reports that the speaker was excellent and distributed important information to her students. Knowing  how important it was for students to realize they are part of our government, and that they should communicate their concerns to their representatives, she was inspired to join LWV. Although she hadn’t been active in the League the entire time since she first joined, she  recently “rejoined” LWVJoCo.    


What she thinks the League does well

Conducting voter registration and providing information about voting and candidates is in Connee’s opinion the League’s greatest strength. A teacher for 57 years, she saw the importance of registering the unregistered and providing education about elections and voter education to all citizens, particularly young people.  


Where she would like to see the League focus in the future

Connee hopes to see the League become more active in Wyandotte County.  


What she does to strengthen our democracy

Connee has been involved in voter registration and continues to emphasize the importance of voting and learning about the issues through her work as a part time instructor for off-campus instruction with the Shawnee Mission School District.  


She has worked as a poll worker with the Wyandotte County election board and keeps informed about local issues.


Fun Fact

A horseback rider for many years, Connee works through the Due West Therapeutic Riding Center in Kansas City, Kansas. At the Center she helps students learn how to lead a horse and ride solo—fun and exercise for all! 


Connie with Casper, Best Horse Ever