Donald Thomas Bailey

Don Thomas Bailey Sr. in the U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current Name: Don Thomas Bailey Sr. Gender: Male Death Age: 93 Birth Date: 27 Sep 1911 Birth Place: Washingtonville, Ohio Marriage Date: 1935 Residence Place: SALEM, 1916 S. Lincoln Ave., Salem Death Date: abt 2004 Spouse: Clara Waddell Bailey Child: Sandra Borrow Don T. Bailey David A. Bailey Joyce Berney

Donald Thomas “Don” Bailey, Sr BIRTH 27 Sep 1911 Washingtonville, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA DEATH 19 Feb 2005 Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA BURIAL  Yonah Memorial Gardens  Demorest, Habersham County, Georgia, US Don Bailey was born in Washingtonville, Ohio and grew up on the Leetonia farm of his parents, Mont and Sarah Bailey. He graduated from Leetonia High School in 1929. Don played semi-pro football for a few years, playing for teams from Sebring, Salem, Lisbon and Washingtonville. He played center, halfback, fullback and safety. "We got maybe $3 a game - from passing the hat in the stands - and we split that among the team." He quit football in 1935 and married Clara Rebecca Waddell. He tried to enlist in the Navy in 1942, but they did not take him because he had four children by then. "I thought a lot of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and wanted to get into the fight. In 1944 I went into the Army and was sent to Knoxville. But at 34, I was too old." By then, he and his family were residents of Hanoverton, Ohio (Columbiana County). He worked as a press operator at the Mullins plant in Salem, Ohio for a total of 42 years. In 1946, he was convinced by a local Trustee, Mansell Ridgeway, to run for Mayor of the Village of Hanoverton, and he won the election. A problem and ongoing complaint of the residents in the town was that the dirt roads were barely drivable in nice weather and nearly impassable during rain or snow. Mayor Bailey went to the town Council to see what could be done, but there was no money. However, after reasoning out a solution, he convinced the Council that if they gave up their Village wages, as he would, the money could go for repairs to the roads. Don's salary was $300/year and each member of Council was $200/year, so when they all agreed, the treasury became $1100 richer, but that still was only a portion of the funds needed. A tenacious Mayor Bailey then went to the Columbiana County Treasurer, C. R. Vodrey, and after persistent attempts (and because Vodrey liked what the young Mayor was trying to accomplish), the county agreed that if Hanoverton would buy the slag, the county would supply the blacktop and the labor. As a result, the main roads were blacktopped, and soon thereafter the side streets were also paved with a similar agreement with the county. The solution that Don Bailey and the Council had come up with had a lasting effect on the Village of Hanoverton. Don served as Mayor for three terms until 1952. He was also a part of the 10-man volunteer firefighters contingent for 14 years.

SOURCE: 'Yesteryears' Supplement to the Salem News, Salem, Ohio, dated 6 Jan 1998, "Mayor's solution in 1946 still felt", by Lois Firestone

Donald Thomas “Don” Bailey, Sr BIRTH 27 Sep 1911 Washingtonville, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA DEATH 19 Feb 2005 Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA BURIAL Yonah Memorial Gardens Demorest, Habersham County, Georgia, USA MEMORIAL ID 129368091