Larry Bailey jokingly says he’s ready to retire after receiving what he termed “a huge honor” from his alma mater.

Bailey, Clayton’s Parks and Recreation director for 16 years, is the 14th recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award presented annually by NC State University’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Alumni Association.

The award honors graduates of the department for, as Bailey’s awards plaque describes,“leadership, contributions, accomplishments and service to our profession.”

It’s a great honor, considering all the people who have gone through that program,” Bailey said. “It’s especially big for me since I’m doing what I’m doing because I went to NC State
(graduating in 1974), and to be recognized by your peers is tremendous.”

The award was presented at the annual NC Recreation and Parks Association luncheon, held this year in conjunction with the SC RPA on August 27 at the Embassy Suites Airport Convention Center in Charleston, SC.

“I had no idea I was going to get the award until they started the presentation speech – and I realized [after the first several sentences] they were talking about me,” Bailey said.

The Selma native said he was particularly honored that Kent Montgomery, current president of the PRTM Alumni Association and retired director of Wilson’s Parks and Rec Department, drove down to personally
present the award to him.

Bailey began his career as a cofounder, group leader, and counselor at Camp Chowanoc in Gates County, where he helped organize programs for emotionally disturbed children.

After two years, he moved on to Scotland County, where for three years he supervised the tennis and aquatic programs and summer playground camps as program supervisor for the county parks and recreation department.

Bailey came to Clayton in 1980, but left the Parks and Recreation Department briefly in 1985 to open a health club. He returned in 1990 and has been a fixture at the local and state level ever since.

In addition to his duties with Clayton, Bailey has served as chair, vice chair, and secretary for Region IV, of NCRPA; as Municipal division chair; on the NCRPA Conference Planning Committee and Southern Regional Conference Planning committee; and has been a Southern Regional representative for the past four years.

Bailey is also a member of the Clayton High School Advisory Board and has been the Johnston County Senior Games coordinator for 15 years. He was the event manager for the long jump for the State Senior Games for a number of years and, most recently, has become co-coach of Johnston County’s Special Olympics soccer team.

Beth Wilson, alumni distinguished professor in NC State’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department, said,“We have always been proud to claim Larry as our alumnus; proud of the quality job he has done in Clayton, proud of his leadership in our profession and honored to have such a quality person as one of our graduates.”

In addition to receiving a plaque recommemorating the honor, Bailey will also now have his photo displayed in Biltmore Hall on the NC State campus, where the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is based.

Thanks to Brian Rapp for this article which was written for The Clayton News-Star.