Washington College Magazine
In Memoriam: William Michael Bailey
William Michael Bailey
William Michael Bailey, professor of economics for 31 years and one of the longest-surviving heart transplant recipients, died of cancer May 20, 2006, at the age of 68, just three days after the retirement party where he was named professor emeritus.
As chair of the Department of Economics for twelve years (1975-1987), he helped to shape one of the College's most popular majors. In recognition of this achievement, he was named the inaugural Hodson Trust Professor of Economics in 1977.
Dr. Bailey had served as chair of Washington College's Finance Committee and as a faculty advisor to the Young Democrats Club and the Investment Club. He had also served on the Governor's Council on Libraries.
After a successful heart transplant in 1988, Dr. Bailey became a community advocate for organ donation and often spoke with students in the philosophy department's medical ethics class about his personal experience of benefi ting from someone else's loss and the ethical responsibility that came with that gift. He often said that he wanted to live his life in a way that would be "some small recompense" for the life of the 25-year-old heart donor whose life was lost.
On campus, he was highly regarded among his peers for his keen intelligence, his passion for economic history and his philosophical grounding in economics. In the Chestertown community, he had distinguished himself as chairman of the Kent County Historical Trust. A proud liberal Democrat, he served for eight years on the Chestertown Town Council, which his wife, Margo, now leads as Mayor.
He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from North Texas State University and a Ph.D. in economics from University of Maryland College Park. Before coming to Washington College, Michael served as a professor of economics at both the University of Maryland and at American University.
In addition to his wife, Dr. Bailey is survived by his father, a brother, eight children and ten grandchildren. His youngest son, Owen, is a senior at Washington College.
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