Dr. Hugh Bailey, former President of Valdosta State University, died on Friday, October 5.
Dr. Bailey was instrumental in bringing GHP to the Valdosta Campus and was one of our most avid supporters. It was his wife Joan Bailey who coined the phrase “The Magic Square” in a speech to students in the 1980s. Mrs. Bailey survives her husband, as do his daughters Debra and Laura, both of whom attended GHP.
From the online Valdosta Dailey Times:
The man who led a college to university status, who fielded the school’s first football team, who set the stage with academic programs and structures like the University Center for the Valdosta State University that South Georgia knows today, has passed.
Dr. Hugh C. Bailey died Friday night at South Georgia Medical Center. He had been hospitalized the past couple of weeks. During this past week’s groundbreaking for VSU’s Health Sciences and Business Administration building, participants were asked to applaud loud enough so Hugh Bailey could hear the cheers in his hospital room.
Bailey was 83 years old.
The Governor’s Honors family joins Valdosta State University in mourning his passing.
Dale, thanks so much for this remembrance of Dad and Mom – it totally meant the world to my mother when I read it to her. She was so happy that someone remembered she came up with “Magic Square!” My dad was very proud of having GHP on the VSC/VSU campus and celebrated all the benefits the program brings to the state of Georgia. He saw its benefits firsthand in me (GHP Comm Arts ’85) and my sister (GHP Music ’87)!
Best wishes to all associated with the program, now and into the future. Proud to be a GHP Alum!
Debra Bailey Helwig
GHP ’85 Comm Arts/Spanish