Samuel Hubbard Hays (b. May 18, 1864 - d. November 17, 1934) was born in Juneau, Wisconsin. His father, James B. Hays, was involved in politics and law, serving as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and later the Chief Justice of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court in 1885. Samuel attended school in Wisconsin until their family moved to Idaho Territory, when Samuel became the deputy clerk of the Bingham County circuit court in Blackfoot, Idaho.

In 1889, Samuel was admitted to the bar in Idaho Territory and began practicing law in Boise. In the 1890s, he served on the Boise City Council, and served as Idaho Attorney General from 1889-1901 during the administration of Governor Steunenberg. While attorney general, Hays authored the proclamation of martial law during the Coeur d'Alene riots.

On March 1, 1888, Samuel married Gertrude Lindsey with whom he shared six children (five survived past infancy). Their house, the Samuel Hays House (1892) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was remodeled in 1926.

One of his grandsons, also named Samuel H. Hays, became a Colonel in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He was born to Samuel D. and Gertrude D. Hays in Boise, Idaho in July 21, 1919. He attended Boise High School and graduated from Boise Junior College in 1937. From 1936-1939, he served in the 116th Cavalry Idaho National Guard and then he was appointed to the US Military Academy at West Point in 1938, graduating in 1942. Shortly after that, he attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and was assigned to the 94th Infantry Division during World War II.

During WWII, he participated in the investiture of the Channel ports of Lorient and St. Nazaire, and the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes-Alsace on the 3rd Army's drive across France and Germany to Czechoslovakia (1944-1945). For his participation during these campaigns, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.

In 1945-1946, he was assigned to the Allied Mission in Germany and was an observer to the Greek Plebiscite in 1946. For this, he received the Legion of Merit. From 1946-1947, he was assigned to EUCOM. From 1947-1950, while an instructor at West Point, he earned a Master's Degree in Political Science from Columbia University (graduating in 1950). After that, he commanded the 2/26th Infantry Regiment at Bamberg, West Germany from 1950-1953.

After that, he was a Professor of Military Science at the University of Montana from 1953-1956. After that, he was assigned to the Staff COMSEVENTH Fleet in Japan from 1956-1957. After that, he worked at the Pentagon at ODCSPER from 1957-1961. After that, he attended the Army War College, graduating in 1962. After that, he commanded the 34d Battle Group 6th Infantry in West Berlin from 1962-1963. After that, he was the Chief of Staff for the Berlin Brigade from 1963-1965, for which he received an oak leaf cluster to his Legion of Merit.

Samuel concluded his military career as a Professor and Department Head of Military Psychology & Leadership at the US Military Academy, from which he served from 1965-1969. Upon his retirement, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

After retiring from the Army in 1969, Samuel joined the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany, working as the head of the Public Executive Project. In 1980, he retired and moved to the San Francisco Bay area and contributed to numerous foundations and charities.