When notified of his selection as East Central Community College’s Alumnus of the Year, Bill Bailey of Decatur said, “I was stunned really to be recognized with this honor; however, my community deserves part of this recognition because without them I couldn’t have made it. The town, the local communities, schools, churches, and others have all been a part of my success.”

William Dunigan “Bill” Bailey, who will be honored Oct. 2, 2010, during Homecoming activities, and his wife, Louise, have owned and operated the Decatur Telephone Company since 1945 when they purchased it from Katie Perkins and Malley McWhorter. At that time, there were 46 magneto telephones. Mrs. Bailey worked the switchboard 24 hours a day, while Mr. Bailey performed the outside duties.

“We had some college girls who helped out some during the day, but she (Mrs. Bailey) would work the switchboard at night,” said Bailey. “We would have girls calling the switchboard and asking to speak to ‘Mama’ and she (Mrs. Bailey) would know exactly which one to ring just by the sound of their voices.

With the help of the people in the community they were able to take phone service to the more rural areas.

An updated magneto switchboard was installed in 1946, which was used until a new dial system was installed in 1950. Although supportive, not everyone was excited about the improved system.

“Dr. Ed Pennington was the local doctor at that time. When he would go out to see a patient, he would always call the switchboard and let Louise know where to reach him. He was upset when we went to the dial system because then he had to hire an answering service!” Bailey said.

Another major expansion was completed in 1964 to take care of a growing number of subscribers and to give extended area service to Newton.

In 1978, Bailey brought in a new digital system that gave Decatur the distinction of having one of the first all-digital telephone companies in the United States. It also brought the number of available lines up to 1,600.

 “We expanded and put in 275 miles of buried cable, which provided better service,” Bailey said. “We had to cross many property lines, but we never had much trouble with that. Once again, the community was very helpful and everyone was very cooperative.”

About this same time the Decatur Telephone Company began to offer all private lines instead of “party lines.” This was a day Mrs. Bailey especially enjoyed!

“That was one of the happiest days of my life,” said Mrs. Bailey. “When we had the party lines, kids would play on them and adults couldn’t make a call. So they would call the phone company. We didn’t have to worry about that once we went to all private lines.”

In a company memo from 1978, Bailey wrote,  “Our decision to go digital was two-fold. It provides a number of advantages immediately, but more important, it will allow us to incorporate new features as they become available, assuring our customers of the finest telephone service available in the years ahead.”

While keeping basic rates the same as they were more than 30 years ago, Bailey has also continued to keep up with the latest advances in telephone technology. Copper phone cables are currently being changed over to fiber ones, which will allow for better service.

“While the copper wiring allowed up to 24 private conversations per line, the fiber cable provides over 100,” Bailey said. “It also allows broadband and other newer services. They are developing new technology every day.”

The new wire takes specialized equipment to splice together and employees are being trained on the new technology to service the more than 2,400 current subscribers of the Decatur Telephone Company.

 “Our son (Dr. Mark Bailey) was in medical school and met a doctor from Columbia, South America who was trying to get different things sent back to his hometown. When he found out what Mark’s parents did, he ask if he would talk to us about setting up a phone system there,” said Bailey.

“We decided to fly down and see what they would need. Once we had evaluated the situation, then we called all the companies in the Independent Telephone Pioneers Association and told them what we needed to make this happen.

“Of course they were all so willing to help. Even the cable company donated the cable. Once everything was collected, all the donations were put in a school bus and the entire bus was shipped down to South America.

“We stayed two to three weeks and installed a phone company in the local school. The community went from having one phone to having 40! Then we taught the students in the vocational school how to install phones and cable.”

“While on active duty (in the  military), I attended radio school, which gave me a good background for communications.”

After completing one year at East Central Junior College, Bill Bailey hitchhiked to Meridian where he joined the Air Force on July 9, 1940. He served five years in the South Pacific and at the Panama Canal during World War II, before returning to Decatur where he completed his degree at East Central and enlisted in the National Guard.

Bailey served two additional years active duty during the Korean Conflict and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with 24.5 years total military service. He is the recipient of the Magnolia Medal for meritorious service in the Mississippi National Guard. Additional honors include Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, American Theater Operation, Air Offensive Japan, Air Offensive China-Southern Pacific and Ryukyus, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Theater of Operation and Philipine Liberation Ribbon.

As a student at East Central, Bailey said he had “a lot of fun.”

“There wasn’t much going on in those days,” he said. “The school had wagons and mules. I remember one time someone took the wagon apart and put it back together on top of a building!

“The train came through each morning about 2 a.m. Some of the students, and I won’t call any names, would put soap on the rails. When the train would try to leave the wheels would spin on the rails and the train couldn’t go until it was cleaned off.”

Like most students in those days, Bailey had a job.

“I would paint houses for Mr. Leon Eubanks (former ECCC English instructor) for 10 cents an hour to put myself through school,” Bailey said.

Bailey continues to support his alma mater and most recently helped provide funds to construct a new entrance and landscaping for the ECCC football stadium, which was re-named Bill and Louise Bailey Stadium.

He is a former president of the Mississippi Independent Telephone Association and the Mid-South Telephone Pioneer Association and was vice president of the Mississippi-Alabama Independent Telephone Association.

Bailey is a former president of the Newton Flying Club and holds a certified airman certificate. He has taught more than 50 people how to fly. He holds ratings as a Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine, Glider and Sea Plane pilot as well as a Certified Flight Instructor.

He helped to organize and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Newton County Academy.

Bailey helped to organize the Decatur Chamber of Commerce of which he is a past president, and was instrumental in Decatur being named a “Key Community.” He is also a former member of the Decatur Board of Aldermen and served many years as a volunteer fireman. He is also a past president of the Decatur Business Club and served as chairman of the Decatur Re-vitalization Program.

In addition to making a donation to help build a new fire station in Decatur and to help purchase new fire equipment, Bailey also donated 75 acres of land to the Town of Decatur for an Industrial Park.

“To show our appreciation to our subscribers in our community our basic telephone rate is the same today as it was in 1978.”

He also served his community as a Cub Scout leader and served as chairman of the Troop Committee for Eagle Scouts and the Boy Scout Review Board. He is a Master Mason and a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

A published author, he penned “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey,” a recollection of war stories, his personal favorite stories and stories of his many years in the telephone business.

He is a member of Decatur United Methodist Church and has served on the church finance, pastor parish relations and building committees and the Board of Stewards.

Bill and Louise Bailey have been married 67 years and have two children. Dr. Mark Bailey is a neurologist in Birmingham and specializes in pain management. He and his wife, Karan, have two daughters, Allison and Katherine. Dr. Esther Bailey Smith completed her Ph.D. in business management and helps run the family business. She has one daughter, Hannah.