A former member of the Texas State University System Board of Regents, Hayley is president and chief executive officer of the Texas City—La Marque Chamber of Commerce. 

He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1959.   Named to the TSUS board of regents in 1999 by then-governor George W. Bush, Hayley assisted in obtaining regent approval for various projects on the SHSU campus, including three new dormitories, the Visitor/Alumni Center, and the baseball/softball complex, served as the local chairman for SHSU and was vice chairman of the Texas State University—San Marcos board.

“Jimmy had the respect of other regents as someone who was not only committed to his alma mater, but as a person who possessed the utmost integrity,” his nomination letter said. “It is safe to say that had it not been for Jimmy's persistent and effective support for the motions that we brought to the regents, Sam Houston State would not have achieved near the success that we have experienced in recent years.”

Among his endeavors are member and chairman of the board for Energy for Schools, member Texas City Rotary Club, member and former chairman of the Gulf Coast Chamber Executives and the Texas State Chamber Executives, member St. John's United Methodist Church, and former trustee of La Marque Independent School District.

In addition, he received the “Outstanding Chamber of Commerce Executive in Texas” award in 2005 by the Texas Association of Business, is a past recipient of the Texas City—La Marque Community Service Award in 1998, the Texas Bancshares Howard O. Payne Award in 1996, and Texas Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 2002.

He was named the Galveston County New Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1991 and an “Outstanding Educator of America” in 1982.

Hayley and his wife, Jane, have two sons, Jerry and Jason, and five grandchildren.