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Biographical Statement

Dr. Hugh Coleman Bailey (1929-2012) was the sixth president of Valdosta State College. Appointed by the board of Regents in 1978, Dr. Bailey served fro 23 years (1978-2002). He was born July 2, 1929, in berry, Alabama. Dr. Bailey graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, with a B.A. in history in 1950. He went on to get his M.A. in 1951 and his Ph.D. in 1954 from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He married Joan Seever in 1962 and they have two daughters.

He began his career November 17, 1953, as a history instructor at Samford University and became a full professor by 1959. He was not new to administration positions; he held two at Samford University: the chairman of the Department of Social Sciences from 1967-1970, the Dean of Arts and Sciences from 1970-1975. He also served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of Faculty at Francis Marion College in South Carolina from 1975-1978 before becoming President of Valdosta State College in 1978.

As President, Dr. Bailey propelled significant growth within the University. In fact, it was under his reign that Valdosta State College became on of only two Regional Universities in the state. He also doubled enrollment and expanded everything from the degrees awarded to athletic programs. Dr. Bailey brought both football and doctoral programs to Valdosta State for the first time. He updated existing campus facilities, as well as constructed entirely new ones: the University Center was converted from a shopping center, the biology/chemistry building was constructed and is now named after Dr. Bailey. He built the large Student Recreation Center, the P. E. Complex, and rebuilt Converse Hall after its destruction in 1978.

During his professional career, Dr. Bailey published numerous books and over 30 articles in national, regional, and state journals. He served as a leader in national and state organizations. President Bailey Retired in January of 2002. He was succeeded by Dr. Ronald Zaccari. He and Mrs. Bailey remain in Valdosta, where the impact of his 23-year tenure is still felt.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Valdosta State College Founders Day Program, 1978 [Audio recording]

 Digital Work
Collection number: 142E47F9-F334-4ABF-44CB-7CA87D9DA0AC
Dates: 1978; Digitized: 2023-02-20

Valdosta State College Founders Day Program, 1978 [Cassette Tape], 1978

 Item — Box 1, Item: 1
Collection number: 1
Scope and Contents

Audio recording of the Valdosta State College Founders Day Program, 1978. Digitized from original audio cassette tape at Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections. Tape label reads: SP COL LD 5552 .V4 V3 1978. 1978 Founders Day Program at Valdosta State College. Valdosta State College Library.

Dates: 1978

Valdosta State College/University History

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Collection number: UA-22-6-2
Abstract This collection contains material from the 1950-1993 time period in Valdosta State University history.  During this time Valdosta State University was known as Valdosta State College. Renamed VSC from Georgia State Womens College in 1950, the school embarked on a new era as a co-ed campus. During the 1950?s the University expanded with the acquisition of the former Emory University campus at Valdosta in 1953, this became what is now known as North Campus. Greek organizations began to appear...
Dates: Acquired: 2010-06-09; 1906 - 2018

Video Interviews with Hugh and Joan Bailey, Valdosta State University (Electronic records), bulk: 1997-02-21 - 2001-01-18

 File
Collection number: UA-2-1-6-ER-001
Scope and Contents Two oral history video interviews with Valdosta State University president Hugh C. Bailey (1929-2012) and Joan S. Bailey (1940-2014), recorded at Valdosta State University, February 21, 1997 and January 18, 2001. Valdosta, Georgia. United States. Includes:1. Bailey, Joan. Oral History Interview on Valdosta State, February 21, 1997.2. Bailey, Hugh C. Oral History Interview on Valdosta State, January 18, 2001. Data copied from 2 DVD-ROM disks that were...
Dates: Majority of material found within 1997-02-21 - 2001-01-18