Harold Bailey
Dr. Harold Bailey is a man of excellence, education, and equality. He has succeeded on the track, in the classroom, and in African American advocacy. He wass a three-time track and field letterman, a three-time University of New Mexico graduate and he has over three decades of public service for the State of New Mexico.
Dr. Bailey’s track career began as a bulldog at Albuquerque High School. Once he graduated high school, Bailey received an athletic scholarship and attended to the University of New Mexico where he earned an athletic letter in 1965, 1966 and 1968. He placed third in the high hurdles at the 1968 Western Athletic Conference Championships and he was also on the UNM team that held the fastest combined time in the United States in the 120-yard hurdle shuttle.
Upon graduating from UNM, Bailey began giving back to his community by coaching basketball and track at Albuquerque High School while working on his Master’s degree. During his coaching days, he led the Albuquerque High School Bulldogs varsity basketball team to a state championship in 1971. Alvin Meadors, one of Bailey’s student athletes, said that he “always admired him because of his character and his love to give back to the community as well as his athletic ability and his attitude about life.” He also explained how Coach Bailey would always be willing to help his athletes with homework or offer advice about issues at home.
During Dr. Bailey’s academic career, he was nominated for the Phi Kappa Phi honor society for his 4.0 GPA in graduate school and also in his Ph.D. program. While raising his family and working full-time, he received his Ph.D. very quickly with the highest honors.
The Honorable Tommy Jewell described his accomplishments as “remarkable and inspirational to those who see athletic and academic excellence connected.” His achievements in academics extend far beyond his own education. He has been an inspiration to a generation of young African American students by having more than 20 years of teaching in Albuquerque Public Schools. He has taught classes from D Level Behavioral Disorder to gifted programs.
Reverend Charles Becknell, Sr., Ph.D. said that Dr. Bailey “is a man of outstanding character and impeccable integrity” which is showcased by Dr. Bailey’s strong support of African American Affairs. While working on his Ph.D. in American Studies, he was the Assistant Director of the Afro-American Studies Program at UNM.
Upon receiving his doctorate, he became Director of the Afro-American Studies Program. His strong background in teaching and his passion for underrepresented African Americans made him the ideal candidate for Governor Richardson to appoint to director of the African American Affairs building. Throughout his career Dr. Bailey has severed on many different national and local committees focusing on the advancement of African Americans. He also has received numerous awards from Citizen of the Year to Community Service awards. He was also an Honorary Base Commander at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque.