Harry "Hank" Albert Haines was born on May 22, 1926, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. In 1928, he moved with his family to Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas.
In 1943, Haines joined the United States Army Air Corps and began his studies at the University of North Carolina. The following year, he was called to active duty and deployed to the Pacific during World War II. Upon his discharge from the military, Haines completed a degree in journalism and later earned a master's degree at Memphis State University.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Haines returned to Blytheville to work for his father's newspaper, the Courier News. During his career with the newspaper, he more than doubled the readership and began offering a second edition. Haines was known for his editorials. He was active in Arkansas politics, working in Dale Bumpers's gubernatorial campaign and in Bill Clinton's campaign for attorney general. Bumpers appointed Haines to the Arkansas State Board of Education, where he served for thirteen years.
Haines volunteered in the Blytheville community as a scoutmaster and as a football coach for the local public schools. In 1983, after a thirty-three-year career, Haines sold the Courier News. He moved to Memphis and later to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he continued to write for the local newspaper.
Haines passed away on January 31, 2016.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Hank Haines and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Portrait of Hank Haines's father, Harry Wilmer Haines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Portrait of Hank Haines's mother, Florence Gallup Haines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Postcard showing Harry Wilmer Haines (back row, right), father of Hank Haines, with the S & D of J baseball team; December 14, 1911
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Back of postcard showing Harry Wilmer Haines (back row, right), father of Hank Haines, with the S & D of J baseball team; December 14, 1911
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Hank Haines's maternal uncles, the Gallup boys, harvesting wheat with a Hart Parr 30 in Friend, Nebraska
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Hank Haines with his mother, Florence Haines, ca. 1926
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Hank Haines as a toddler in sailor outfit
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Hank Haines with his dog
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Hank Haines in World War II army uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Hank Haines on World War II army deployment ship
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Hank Haines holding his daughter, Elizabeth Haines, ca. 1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Hank Haines's daughter, Elizabeth Haines, at typewriter, ca. 1953
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Hank Haines's parents, Florence and Harry Haines, with their granddaughters, Harriett and Elizabeth Haines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Hank Haines with his daughters, Elizabeth and Harriett, at Bull Shoals Dam, Arkansas, ca. 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Hank Haines with his daughters, Harriett and Elizabeth (standing); Norfork Lake Ferry, ca. 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Hank Haines with his daughters, Harriett and Elizabeth; Easter, ca. 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Hank Haines with his wife, Nancy, and daughters, Elizabeth (center) and Harriett, at the Courier News offices
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Hank Haines with his daughters, Elizabeth (left) and Harriett, at the Courier News offices
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Hank Haines with his daughters, Elizabeth (left), Margaret (center), and Harriett; Easter, ca. 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Hank Haines (right) with Ross Dillon Hughes and dogs
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Hank Haines at his desk in the Courier News office
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Hank Haines's family; (clockwise from left) his wife, Nancy S. Haines; his mother, Florence Haines; his daughters, Elizabeth, Harriet, and Margaret; and his father, Harry W. Haines; Thanksgiving, Blytheville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Hank Haines with his wife, Nancy, ca. 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: The Courier News office building, Blytheville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Hank Haines's boyhood home, City Beautiful Yard of the Month, Blytheville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Hank Haines's boyhood home, Blytheville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Hank Haines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Hank Haines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Hank Haines (right) with his wife, Melinda Haines, and David Pryor; photo signed by David Pryor, March 9, 1982
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Hank Haines at the Flippo residence; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Hank Haines at the Flippo residence; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Hank Haines at the Flippo residence; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
