Joe Bailey was born and raised in Arlington, Texas. He graduated from Arlington High School. He then attended and graduated from National Business College in Fort Worth in the early 1920s. Mr. Bailey married Lillie Mae Ditto in 1925 and shortly began a long career at North Texas Agricultural College. He soon became the Business Manager and watched the college grow to become Arlington State College and then, just before he retired, the University of Texas at Arlington. He served the college for 42 years.
Mr. Bailey served on the Arlington School Board for 19 years. Since he was the Business Manager at the college and secretary of the Arlington School Board, he signed the paychecks of every teacher in Arlington. Joe Bailey loved children and was committed to ensuring their futures. Upon his retirement from the school board, Joe Bailey Junior High School was named in his honor.
At the 40th year celebration, his only daughter stated, “I truly wish that every student who graduated from Bailey could be influenced by knowing the honesty and integrity of this loving, giving man. I truly appreciate knowing that the name of Joe Bailey will live forever through such a fine institution of education.”
Joe Bailey passed away on July 15, 1971, at the age of 69.
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