Dr. William H. (Bob) Bailey Middle School
Home of the Blue Jays
2500 North Hollywood Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89156
Phone: 702.799.4811 Fax: 702.799.4807
Principal: Dr. Karen Paquette

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Dr. William H. Bob Bailey


The Clark County School District named our school in honor of local resident Dr. William H. "Bob" Bailey for his lifelong contributions to our community and country. Bailey Middle School opened in the Fall of 2005 and was officially dedicated in the Spring of 2006.

While continuing to work in the real estate business Dr. Bailey finds time to visit the school as frequently as possible to work with students and attend special events.
Dr. Bailey helped pass civil rights laws years ago that help everyone today. He believes that learning the ropes of business, the professions, and technology will do the most to improve everyone's lives, not just minorities. Believing that “Education is the Light that Blinds Ignorance” he is a strong advocate for parent participation in schools and supports a school curriculum that prepares all students for high school and college. We are delighted that he is a part of our Bailey Middle School community and are very proud to have this true community leader as our school's namesake. Find out more about Dr. Bailey below.
The Early Years
Dr. Bailey was born in 1927 in Detroit where his father worked in an auto factory. His father lost his job during the Depression so the family moved to Cleveland where he grew up and learned to sing in church choirs. The Bailey family has a strong musical tradition; vocal star Pearl Bailey was Bob's second cousin, and Pearl's brother, Bill, was a professional dancer and singer. Dr. Bailey started a quartet called the Four Notes, and won many amateur shows in Cleveland. Bailey finished high school at 16, and his ambition was to be an international lawyer, intending music to be his fallback profession. His voice and high grades earned him a voice scholarship to Morehouse in Atlanta. He was working his way through college by performing in a local night club when bandleader Benny Goodman and John Hammond recruited him to sing with Count Basie. He graduated from high school early and went on the road the “Chitlin' Circuit” in the black communities of big cities and RKO theaters. He had three hit records: "Danny Boy," "The Worst Blues I Ever Had," and "Blue and Sentimental. "

In 1950, Basie broke up his big band and Dr. Bailey became a student at the School of Radio and Television in New York City. He received a scholarship from American Broadcasting Company. After he was not hired as on-air talent he tried for technical jobs, also without luck. Then, he heard about the Moulin Rouge casino and hotel in Las Vegas. Although Vegas was highly segregated, the Moulin Rouge was open to everyone. Clarence Robinson was hired to build a show with black entertainers and brought Dr. Bailey to Las Vegas as a co-producer and the master of ceremonies of the show. The Moulin show was a hit, drawing a hip, interracial crowd, particularly after midnight. The Moulin Rouge became the place to be after hours, but closed after six months succumbing to community and political pressure.
  
Television and Newspaper Years
Hank Greenspun owned KLAS television in the 50's and sponsored the first show that was produced, acted in and directed by African-American talent. Dr. Bailey's first program was a variety show that featured interviews with entertainers appearing in town. Bailey also did a Sunday show recapping and commenting on the week's news. One broadcasting job required Dr. Bailey to enter the service entrance of the Fremont Hotel. His complaints finally opened the front doors to him and others who followed. In 1957 he joined KTNV-Channel 13 where he hosted a variety show and developed the first local dance program for teens. He then left TV for two years to manage cousin Pearl Bailey’s road show, but returned to Channel 8 in 1961 to host current events talk shows and movies. From 1965 to 1971 Bailey was a newscaster and variety show host at Channel 13. He also wrote editorials for the Las Vegas Voice, the local Afro-American newspaper, and a column for Greenspun's Las Vegas Sun.
 
Government Service and Business Years
In 1956 Dr. Bailey was appointed local chairman of the Urban Renewal Advisory Commission, and numerous other appointments followed. Bailey was a Republican, and is again, but he changed parties to work for gubernatorial candidate Grant Sawyer in 1958. The Legislature of 1961 established a commission to find out whether discrimination existed in Las Vegas. It was the best tool for social change that Sawyer could get, so he appointed Bob Bailey commission chairman. Dr. Bailey’s investigation of job opportunities made him a natural choice to direct a federally encouraged Manpower Services program, which beginning in 1971 trained minorities in jobs traditionally reserved for whites. Dr. Bailey is shown on the left in one of the commission hearings.
 

Dr. Bailey persuaded former Stardust Hotel and Casino executive Al Benedict to loan the Manpower Services program gambling tables, space to set them up, and some experienced people who could teach in a dealers' school. At Bailey’s suggestion, Benedict recruited lower and middle managers from other casinos to work as dealing teachers. When dealers finished training, they typically were hired right away at different casinos which effectively integrated minorities into the dealing profession. Dr. Bailey also set up training programs in radio, television, and other fields. More than 1,000 jobs were opened to minorities in less than two years.

 
 

While pursing real estate interests in 1964 Dr. Bailey opened the Sugar Hill club in West Las Vegas. In 1965, Bailey bought the riot-damaged West Owens Shopping Center and converted it to the Pan-Afro Auditorium. It seated 5000 and featured great bands, including Sonny Charles and Ray Charles. Dr. Bailey also established the Nevada Economic Development Company which helped minority businesses get $300 million over 19 years. His success led to a job in Washington D.C. as an associate director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Later, President Bush (shown on the left shaking Dr. Bailey's hand) made him a deputy director of MBDA. Dr. Bailey was invited to stay in Washington when presidental administrations changed but wanted to return to Las Vegas to pursue other interests.

Dr. Bailey and Family
Dr. Bailey has been married to his lovely wife Anna since 1951.

Their son, John Robert Bailey is a local practicing attorney with Bailey Merrill-Attorneys at Law.

Their daughter, Kimberly Ann Bailey-Tureaud is a minority business developer.
 
Picture Gallery
 
“Education Is The Light That Blinds Ignorance” ~ Dr. William H. "Bob" Bailey

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