William H. Hay

William H. Hay
William H. Hay as commander of the 28th Division in World War I.
Nickname(s)	"Dad"
Born	(1860-07-16)July 16, 1860 Drifton, Florida
Died	December 17, 1946(1946-12-17) (aged 86) New York City, New York
Place of burial	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1886–1922
Rank	Major General
Commands held	3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry 15th Cavalry Regiment 184th Infantry Brigade, 92nd Division 28th Division Intermediate Service Section, Army Services of Supply Camp Custer, Michigan 1st Cavalry Brigade
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War World War I
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Croix de Guerre Legion of Honor (Commander) Order of the Black Star (Commander) Order of Leopold (Commander).
Spouse(s)	Edith Carman (1864–1958)
Other work	Construction supervisor, Camp Smith, New York

William H. Hay (July 16, 1860 – December 17, 1946) was a United States Army officer who attained the rank of Major General as the commander of the 28th Infantry Division in World War I.

William Henry Hay was born in Drifton, Florida on July 16, 1860. His father, Turner Hay, was an Army veteran of the Seminole Wars, and served in Harney's Dragoons. Turner Hay also served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, and took part in the battles at Olustee and Natural Bridge.

William Hay graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1886, and was a classmate of John J. Pershing. Hay was 22 years old when admitted to West Point, older than all his classmates by several years. As a result, his fellow cadets referred to him as “Dad,” the nickname by which he continued to be known.

Hay was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and served in Texas at Fort Davis, Fort Clark, and the Post at San Antonio. He then attended the School of Application for Infantry and Cavalry at Fort Leavenworth, after which he served with the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Custer, Montana.