John Bailey, a former president and CEO of the International Association of Business Communicators, died March 22 at home in Pebble Beach, Calif., after a battle with cancer. He was 76.
Bailey |
The son of a San Francisco Chronicle labor reporter who later bought a northern California newspaper, Bailey started out in the newspaper business before moving to association management atop IABC and other groups.
Bailey led IABC from 1974-84 taking over the group when it had fewer than 2,000 members and leaving with a roster topping 5,000.
“Upon his arrival, IABC was mostly known as an organization of “house organ” editors and employee communication specialists,” said Lou Williams, an IABC Fellow. “When he left, all areas and levels of communication were represented -- from communication specialists to mangers, directors and officers.”
Williams said the group developed its first code of ethics under Bailey, established its research foundation and kicked off its Excellence Study.
Bailey went on to lead the American Society of Association Executives, American Trucking Assn. and Financial Analysts Federation and Trial Lawyers Care, a group which provided pro bono legal services to 9/11 victims’ families.
Bailey received the Points of Light Award from President George H. W. Bush.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, three children, three grand grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services are slated for St. Mary’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove on April 10.