|
 President
Hugh Bailey To Retire at Valdosta State
Dr. Hugh C. Bailey '50, former
Samford history professor and dean, will retire June 30 after
22 years as president of Valdosta State University in Georgia.
He is the senior four-year college president in the University
System of Georgia.
Dr. Bailey guided Valdosta State through a period of unprecedented
growth in its 94-year history. The south Georgia institution-which
became one of the state's two regional universities in 1993-enrolls
8,800 students from 48 states and 53 nations.
Among Bailey's accomplishments at Valdosta: the addition of graduate
programs, leading the school to university status; more than
$60 million in building additions, including a new science center
opened this spring; and the spreading of university educational
and cultural programs to a wide area of south Georgia. He awarded
more than 26,000 degrees to students.
Always modest, Bailey noted that much of the work "would
have happened regardless. . . . The only thing I did was not
hinder it."
After earning his B.A. at Samford, Bailey completed M.A. and
Ph.D. degrees at the University of Alabama-all in history. He
joined the Samford faculty in 1953. A popular lecturer, Bailey
won both "Friendliest Professor" and Buchanan Excellence
in Teaching awards. He served as history department head (196770)
and arts and sciences dean (197075).
Bailey left Samford in 1975 to become academic vice president
and dean at Francis Marion College in Florence, S.C. He was named
Valdosta State president in 1978.
He is the author of six books and numerous scholarly articles
on historical subjects.
A Berry native, Bailey is married to the former Joan Seever '62
M.S. '67, and they have two grown daughters.
'51
Sen. JACK BIDDLE III of Gardendale is in his 26th year as a member
of the Alabama state legislature.
'52
THELMA COFER of Dothan retired after a career in teaching and
real estate.
JIM MYERS recently
opened Jim Myers Drug South in Tuscaloosa. He and his wife, Carol,
have six grown children. The store is a member of the American
Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc.
'53
ROBERT M. WILSON of Philadelphia, Miss., retired from the Social
Security Administration.
'54
Rev. GORDON T. WALKER lives in Franklin, Tenn.
'55
EUGENE DOUGLAS SMITH is a greeter for the Wal-Mart in Fort Payne.
He retired after teaching public school for 37 years.
DOT SHEELEY WILLINGHAM of Hoover is executive director of the
Jefferson County Child Development Council. She recently completed
three years as president of the National Association for Family
Child Care.
'56
LAMAR JAMES COST of Clanton retired as teacher and coach in Shelby
County.
ANNA MORRIS HITE of Leesville, S.C., is a nurse practitioner
in Batesburg, S.C.
SARA GAMBRELL HUTCHINSON is a life-skills instructor in an outreach
program at the helicopter training center at Fort Rucker, Ala.
'57
Dr. JOAN PAUL retired from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
in July.
'58
ANITA H. BRIDGES of Covington, La., retired from teaching but
remains active in organ, piano and voice performance as well
as student testing/evaluation.
CHARLES L. GODWIN of Meridianville is chaplain for the Huntsville
Police Department.
JACK '59 and BABS MCCORQUODALE MERRILL live in Charlotte, N.C.
WILLIAM SPARKS works with the athletics department of Birmingham
City Schools. He retired after 39 years as teacher, principal
and superintendent of Shelby County schools.
'59
C. THOMAS BODKIN is associate pastor of Hayes Barton Baptist
Church, Raleigh, N.C.
SHIRLEY GARLAND is director of the Midfield Public Library.
Dr. GERALD HOWARD LORD of Killen is interim president of Mainstream
Alabama Baptists.
WILLIAM and GLORIA K. SLAUGHTER '60 live in Thomasville, Ga.
He retired in 1999 as psychiatrist and medical director of Northside
Psychiatric Hospital.
|
