Dr. Richard Weld Bailey, the former Washtenaw Community College trustee for whom the library is named, died at his home with friends and family among him on Saturday, April 2.
He was 72.
Since a car accident in 2007, Bailey’s health has been on the decline, and he passed away under the care of Ann Arbor Hospice.
“Richard Bailey was truly the heart and soul of the college and insured continuity of mission and purpose for more than three decades,” said WCC President Larry Whitworth. “He cared deeply for the students and often referred to the college as ‘Democracy’s College’ because it provided an opportunity to many who wouldn’t otherwise be unable to pursue higher education.”
In 2005, WCC decided to honor Dr. Bailey by naming its library after him. Bailey believed that the library was one of the most important tools to a college student and could only further advance the learning habits of students.
“Dr. Bailey, a long-time trustee since WCC’s early days, had always believed in the integral role that the library plays in the college’s teaching and learning landscape,” said Dean of Learning Services Victor Liu. “It was therefore only fitting that on October 30, 2005, WCC library was named Richard W. Bailey Library in his honor.
“A consummate scholar with a heart for WCC students, Bailey exuded a love of learning and a dedication to service, values that the Bailey Library will carry forward.”
In addition to his work at WCC, Bailey was an active faculty member at the University of Michigan.
He held the Fred Newton Scott Collegiate Professorship and was a member of the University from 1965-2007. Bailey was the author of more than 20 books and has published more than 100 scholarly articles.
While an author of books such as “Images of English” and “Nineteenth-Century English,” Bailey also had a bit of a career doing some legal work. He was an expert witness in the 1979 Ann Arbor Black English Case. In addition, Bailey was also the co-author of an amicus brief with colleagues Dennis Baron and Jeffrey Kaplan for the District of Columbia v. Heller Supreme Court case.
In addition to his books, Bailey had an unmatchable passion of studying the English language. He possessed an interest in studying the history of dictionaries. He was intensely interested in how the English language was used worldwide.
Bailey was born on Oct. 26, 1939 in Pontiac to parents Karl and Elisabeth Bailey. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1961, where he studied English. Bailey also spent time studying at Edinburgh University and received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1965.
After his graduate work in Connecticut, Bailey moved back to Michigan in 1965, and found himself a job as a teacher at U of M.
The father of three children, Nony, Andrew and Oceana, and the husband of Julia, Bailey was a WCC trustee for 34 years, serving from 1974-2008. Bailey served as the board chair from 1985-1994 and 1999-2000.
In 1987, Bailey was named president of the American Dialect Society. In 2001, he was named president of the Dictionary Society of North America. Eventually, Bailey was named a Fellow of the Dictionary Society, the highest award given by the society.
Bailey was an avid member of the Episcopal Church throughout his entire life, and in 2003 he was named president of the Guild Scholars of the Episcopal Church. He held the role for four years, ending in 2007. Bailey just recently received the Genesis Humanitarian Award from St. Clare’s Episcopal Church and Temple Beth Emeth.
“Dr. Bailey will sincerely be missed,” said Whitworth.
Services for Bailey were held at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Clare’s Episcopal Church or to the Washtenaw Community College Richard W. Bailey fund.
Dr. Richard Weld Bailey, the former Washtenaw Community College trustee for whom the library is named, died at his home with friends and family among him on Saturday, April 2.
He was 72.
Since a car accident in 2007, Bailey’s health has been on the decline, and he passed away under the care of Ann Arbor Hospice.
“Richard Bailey was truly the heart and soul of the college and insured continuity of mission and purpose for more than three decades,” said WCC President Larry Whitworth. “He cared deeply for the students and often referred to the college as ‘Democracy’s College’ because it provided an opportunity to many who wouldn’t otherwise be unable to pursue higher education.”
In 2005, WCC decided to honor Dr. Bailey by naming its library after him. Bailey believed that the library was one of the most important tools to a college student and could only further advance the learning habits of students.
“Dr. Bailey, a long-time trustee since WCC’s early days, had always believed in the integral role that the library plays in the college’s teaching and learning landscape,” said Dean of Learning Services Victor Liu. “It was therefore only fitting that on October 30, 2005, WCC library was named Richard W. Bailey Library in his honor.
“A consummate scholar with a heart for WCC students, Bailey exuded a love of learning and a dedication to service, values that the Bailey Library will carry forward.”
In addition to his work at WCC, Bailey was an active faculty member at the University of Michigan. He held the Fred Newton Scott Collegiate Professorship and was a member of the University from 1965-2007. Bailey is the author of more than 20 books and has published more than 100 scholarly articles.
While an author of books such as “Images of English” and “Nineteenth-Century English,” Bailey also had a bit of a career doing some legal work. He was an expert witness in the 1979 Ann Arbor Black English Case. In addition, Bailey was also the co-author of an amicus brief with colleagues Dennis Baron and Jeffrey Kaplan for the District of Columbia v. Heller Supreme Court case.
In addition to his books, Bailey had an unmatchable passion of studying the English language. He possessed an interest in studying the history of dictionaries. He was intensely interested in how the English language was used worldwide.
Bailey was born on Oct. 26, 1939 in Pontiac to parents Karl and Elisabeth Bailey. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1961, where he studied English. Bailey also spent time studying at Edinburgh University and received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1965.
After his graduate work in Connecticut, Bailey moved back to Michigan in 1965, and found himself a job as a teacher at U of M.
The father of three children, Nony, Andrew and Oceana, and the husband of Julia, Bailey was a WCC trustee for 34 years, serving from 1974-2008. Bailey served as the board chair from 1985-1994 and 1999-2000.
In 1987, Bailey was named president of the American Dialect Society. In 2001, he was named president of the Dictionary Society of North America. Eventually, Bailey was named a Fellow of the Dictionary Society, the highest award given by the society.
Bailey was an avid member of the Episcopal Church throughout his entire life, and in 2003 he was named president of the Guild Scholars of the Episcopal Church. He held the role for four years, ending in 2007. Bailey just recently received the Genesis Humanitarian Award from St. Clare’s Episcopal Church and Temple Beth Emeth.
“Dr. Bailey will sincerely be missed,” said Whitworth.
Services for Bailey were held at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Clare’s Episcopal Church or to the Washtenaw Community College Richard W. Bailey fund.
Richard Weld Bailey, the former Washtenaw Community College trustee for whom the library is named, died at his home with friends and family among him on Saturday, April 2.
Since a car accident in 2007, Bailey’s health has been on the decline, and he passed away under the care of Ann Arbor Hospice.
Bailey was born on Oct. 26, 1939 in Pontiac to parents Karl and Elisabeth Bailey. He graduated from Dartmouth College in1961, where he studied the English language. Bailey also spent time studying at Edinburgh University and the University of Connecticut.
The father of three children, Nony, Andrew and Oceana, and the husband of Julia, Bailey was a WCC trustee for 34 years, serving from 1974-2008. Bailey served as the board chair from 1985-1994 and 1999-2000. In 2005, the college named the library after Bailey in honor of his commitment and dedication to working for WCC.
In addition to his work at WCC, Bailey was an active faculty member at the University of Michigan. He held the Fred Newton Scott Collegiate Professorship and was a member of the University from 1965-2007. Bailey is the author of over 20 books and has published over 100 scholarly articles.
While being an author of books such as “Images of English” and “Nineteenth-Century English,” Bailey also had a bit of a career doing some legal work. He was an expert witness in the 1979 Ann Arbor Black English Case. In addition, Bailey was also the co-author of an amicus brief with colleagues Dennis Baron and Jeffrey Kaplan for the District of Columbia v. Heller Supreme Court case.
Services will be held at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 6 at the church. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Clare’s Episcopal Church or to the Washtenaw Community College Richard W. Bailey fund.
