Don Bailey: Football great, decorated soldier, state official, congressman, but also fun-loving dad

When Don Bailey’s six children were in trouble, he’d bring out the deposition recorder.

He would set the stage with the time and date for the recorded family meeting and detail the issue. Afterward, he would write up a contract and have them sign it.

“I was 7, and I was signing contracts,” said daughter Shannon Bailey of Harrisburg.

It may have been an unorthodox way of teaching a lesson — as many of the lessons were in the Bailey household — but the underlying message stuck.

“Stuff like that makes you realize you have to have a commitment to things,” said another daughter, Valerie Bailey of Philadelphia.

Friends and family gathered Saturday in Greensburg to remember former Westmoreland County Congressman and Pennsylvania Auditor General Don Bailey, 74, who died Monday. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 33 honor guard provided military honors outside Kepple Graft Funeral Home.

Bailey was a standout athlete at Greensburg Salem High School before graduating in 1963 and at the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the 1965 Rose Bowl championship team.

Two years later, he enlisted in the Army and spent 15 months in active combat in Vietnam. He was awarded three Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation medals, an Air Medal and the Silver Star.

“He was probably most proud about his military accomplishments,” said son Ryan Bailey of Harrisburg.

After earning a law degree in 1976 from Duquesne University, Bailey decided to run for Congress and won, serving in the county’s old 21st District from 1979-83. He lost the seat in a redrawn district and was elected state auditor general 1985-89.

Bailey was the most-decorated military veteran in the U.S. House of Representatives when he served in the 97th Congress. He also was well-known as a civil rights attorney.

But to his children, he was just a goofball.

He was the dad who wore a safari hat to their sporting events. They were lucky if he wore a shirt when he dropped them off at school if they missed the bus.

And he referred to himself as the “ace high No. 1 supreme kielbasa.”

“It was his preferred moniker,” Valerie Bailey said.

His children described him as a private person who enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, having debates, watching MSNBC and cheering on Michigan football on Saturdays.

“He’s a country boy at heart,” said Ireland Bailey of Philadelphia.

The six children agreed that their dad’s clothing choices often were suspect. He didn’t do it to embarrass them — it was just his personality.

But when he had to look the part in a serious setting, he had some help from his wife of 29 years, Adrienne Palarino Bailey.

“She dressed him for court,” Anna Bailey said.

They have so many memories of him that prompt all six to break out into laughter and complete each others’ stories — from him playing yodeling music to the clients who became family friends. It was anything but a typical upbringing.

“It had like an ‘Animal House’ vibe to it,” said Zachary Bailey of Harrisburg, referring to the 1978 comedy.

Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.