Dr. T. Wayne Bailey: A Florida Original

Political science professor T. Wayne Bailey, Ph.D., has been inspiring students at Stetson for 50 years and we plan to celebrate his service during Homecoming 2013!

Bailey started teaching at Stetson in 1963 and since that time has taught nearly every political science course ever offered at Stetson. Bailey, who is one of the founders of Stetson’s Model U.S. Senate and the annual International Symposium, has served as director of the Washington Semester at American University program and he chaired and continues to serve on the Pre-Law Advisory Committee at Stetson.

Many of Bailey’s former students have gone on to serve in state legislature and congressional positions, including former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, a 1964 Stetson graduate, and at least three alumni currently serving in the Florida Legislature. Dr. Bailey is well known for volunteering his expertise for local, state and national groups. He has held various leadership positions in the Florida Democratic Party and was a Florida delegate to the Democratic National Convention from 1972 to 2012, attending 10 National Conventions. He has done extensive work with local government – cities and counties – upgrading their charters and reforming their governments.

Bailey has been an active member of the American Lung Association for over 40 years, and in 2004, was the first person in the United States to receive the Discovery Health Channel Medical Honor for his work with the ALA, in making Florida’s public areas officially smoke-free.

Celebrating 50 years at Stetson, Bailey was inducted into Stetson University’s Gold Circle in April 2013.

On Friday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m., Hatters are invited to the Rinker Field House in the Hollis Center for a keynote address, “Explaining Leadership in the Obama Presidency,” by Stetson alumnus George C. Edwards III ’69. Edwards is University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies at Texas A&M University. The lecture is free and open to the public. A light reception will immediately follow the lecture, giving guests a chance to mingle and give Bailey their congratulations.

A dinner, starting at 6:15 p.m., in the Rinker Field House will then be the next location for testimonials by special guests wishing to share their stories about the honoree. Guests wishing to attend this event need to register by contacting the Office of Alumni Engagement at 800.688.HATS or by using the online Homecoming registration form: https://www2.stetson.edu/forms/administration/alumni/events/homecoming/rsvp/

And, don’t forget 10 classes are planning class reunions for Homecoming 2013, in comparison to the two classes that celebrated last year. Those classes celebrating reunions with special events planned during Homecoming weekend are: 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 2003 and 2008.

The Class of 1963 will be celebrating their 50^th Reunion by having a reception on Friday evening and then a dinner on Saturday evening where they will receive their half-century diploma and pin.

Alumni celebrating reunions can find their reunion information, including a list of committee members and your event information on the Reunion Information tab on the Homecoming website: http://www2.stetson.edu/alumni/homecoming/info.php

To see a full schedule of events, visit the Homecoming website: http://www2.stetson.edu/alumni/homecoming/index.php

To register for your Hatter Pass and for Homecoming 2013, use our online form: https://www2.stetson.edu/forms/administration/alumni/events/homecoming/rsvp/