Robert (Bob) Bailey - Class of 1958
September 22, 2008
Robert (Bob) Bailey - Robert (Bob) Bailey graduated from
Vermilion High School in 1958. Over the years, he continued to be a
part of the school system by donating his time, making personal
contributions, providing hardware materials for school projects and
events, and assisting students with their class and personal
projects.
Bob believed it was important to employ high school students from
Vermilion, providing these young lives with work experience and
technical knowledge.
While a student at VHS he was active in many ways, from helping the staff around the school to participating in four years of varsity football as a lineman, two years of basketball and one year of track. He taught shop for Vermilion High after graduation until a new instructor was found. Bob enjoyed many friendships during his lifetime, but he always valued his classmates of 1958, for whom he was Class Vice President. Outside of school he was a member of the Piston Pushers hot rod club.
Bob was involved with his community and held offices in the following: The Friends of Harbour Town 1837, Fraternal Order of Police Harbourtown Lodge #125, Vermilion Fish and Game, Masonic Temple Ely Lodge 424, Lorain County Scottish Rite Society, and Lake Erie-Firelands Tourist Council.
Bob served his community as a part-time police officer for the Vermilion Police Department on the night shift from 1965 to 1978 while also working daily at the family owned Vermilion Hardware. He dedicated 36 years of community service to such projects as: the development of the historic district of Harbour Town 1837 and their buildings including the Old School House, Commodore’s Place, Nickel Plate Railroad Station, Old Jib’s Corner and the city comfort station in Exchange Park. Bob worked on many other projects helping to better the community, including planting of trees that now line the streetscape, installing benches in Exchange Street Park, installing trash containers along Liberty Avenue and maintaining the fountain in Victory Park. Bob Bailey served as a fine example of what can be accomplished through hard work and caring for others until he passed away on August 4, 2006.
Walking across the field for Robert Bailey are his two nieces Denise Fahrney and Debbie Hansen. They will be escorted by Senior Class Treasurer and President of Student Council Ryan Schreiner and Senior Class Representative and Student Council Vice-President Courtney Jordan. Accepting the award for Mr. Bailey will be his sister Diane Chesnut.
