Hall of Fame
The late Sue Bailey served Southern Arkansas by volunteering to work as a secretary for the late and former athletic director and head basketball coach, W.T. Watson, and served in that capacity from 1980-1995.
Mrs. Bailey graduated from Draughn Business College in Camden with an emphasis on office management. She worked for Dr. Henry Hearnsberger in Stephens, where she self-trained as his nurse and doubled as office manager. She then worked for Dr. John Wilson in Magnolia as his nurse, where she was fondly referred to by many patients as “Dr. Sue”. In 1978, she suffered a back injury while at work, and after back surgery and partial recovery, was told by doctors she would not be able to continue as a nurse.
During her time at SAU, Mrs. Bailey not only served as secretary to Watson, but assisted with pre-game receptions, often bringing food and refreshments from home to serve guests. Twice each year, Sue and husband, Welton Bailey, would host a fish fry for the entire SAU coaching staff and their spouses, serving fresh catfish harvested from their farm pond.
Mrs. Bailey was honored with an award of merit in recognition and appreciation of her loyalty and 15 years of voluntary service without compensation to the Southern Arkansas athletic department, and she was also selected as radio station KVMA’s citizen of the week in August of 1991.
An excellent cook, Mrs. Bailey baked many pies to serve as dessert at dinners, including her famous burnt caramel pies, one of which sold at a church auction for $110.
Mrs. Bailey passed away March 1, 1996, with SAU coaches serving as honorary pall bearers.
Mrs. Bailey and her husband, Welton, who still lives in Magnolia, had three children, son Alan Bailey of Rockwell, Texas, and daughters Connie Hendrixson, and Regina Watkins, both of Little Rock, with all three graduating from Southern Arkansas. The Baileys also had six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
