Pat Bailey

Patricia Antoinette Bailey (born c. 1944 in Birmingham; died March 12, 2021) was a speech, drama and debate teacher and coach.

Bailey was the daughter of James H. and Chrystine P. Bailey, She graduated from Shades Valley High School and earned her bachelor of arts from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, and a master's in speech and theater from the University of Montevallo.

Bailey began teaching at Warrior High School and spent time at Dothan High School before joining the faculty of Homewood High School. In addition to teaching speech, Bailey directed the school's theater program and debate teams. She chaired the Deep South District of the National Speech and Debate Association for more than 10 years. She also founded a summer debate workshop at the University of Iowa and served as a Key Coach for the Barkley Forum at Emory University in Atlanta.

Bailey was inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame and to the inaugural class of the Alabama Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame. Homewood High School's auditorium is named the "Bailey Theatre" in her honor.

In addition to her academic work, Bailey was an active member of Southminster Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday School and serving on several boards.

References

• "Patricia Bailey" obituary (March 12, 2021) The Birmingham News