ROCK OF THE YEAR
ROCK OF THE YEAR
FOR 1991
Colonel MARGARET E. BAILEY
U.S. Army, Retired
Colonel Bailey was born in Selma, AL. She graduated from Dunbar High School, Fraternal Hospital, School of Nursing, Montgomery, AL in 1938 and in 1959 from San Francisco State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Colonel Bailey’s civilian nursing career began at Mercy Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL. From Florida she continued her career at Sea View Hospital, Staten Island, NY. In June 1944 she entered the Army Nurse Corps.
The first black woman promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps, Colonel Bailey served in successive demanding positions that include assignments as Chief, Nursing Service of the 130th General Hospital, Chinon, France, becoming the first black nurse named Chief Nurse of a totally integrated hospital in the Army; Chief Nurse in Wurzburg, Germany and Fort Devens, MA. She also was assigned to the Job Corps Health Office, Manpower Division, Department of Labor, as a Health Manpower Training Specialist working with young people, ages 16-1, out of school and out of work. She considered this assignment highly rewarding.
During her 27 year career she traveled extensively, visiting more than twenty-four countries in Europe and the near and Far East for a total of nine years abroad. Upon her retirement in 1971, Colonel Bailey was awarded the Legion of Merit, the second highest non-combat award.
Since her retirement she has remained active in nursing, civic and community organizations. Colonel Bailey resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
ROCK OF THE YEAR
FOR 1992
Lieutenant General EMMETT PAIGE, JR.
U.S. Army, Retired
Lieutenant General Emmett Paige, Jr. was born 20 February 1931, in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1947, at the age of 16, he enlisted as a Private in the Army. General Paige is a “Distinguished Alumnus” of both the University of Maryland and Pennsylvania State University where he received both an undergraduate and a graduate degree. General Paige is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.
Upon graduation from Signal Officer Candidate School in July, 1952, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. One of his most significant assignments was Project Manager for the Integrated Wideband Communications System, Southeast Asia, during the Vietnam Conflict. His other key assignments included Commander of the 361st Signal Battalion in Vietnam and Commander of the 11th Signal Brigade at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
General Paige has commanded the Communications-Electronics Engineering and Information Agency, Fort Huachuca, AZ and concurrently the Communications Systems Agency, Fort Monmouth, NJ, the Communications Research Development Command, Fort Monmouth; and the Electronics Research and Development Command, Harry Diamond Laboratories, Adelphi, MD. Upon promotion to Lieutenant General in 1984, General Paige assumed command of the U.S. Army Information Systems Command, Fort Huachuca, the world’s largest information services organization.
Among General Paige’s many military awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Award, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
Since his retirement from the Army in August 1988, General Paige has served as president and Chief Operating Officer of the OAO Corporation, an Aerospace and Information Services Company with Headquarters in Greenbelt, MD. He is currently the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence.
General Paige is married to the former Gloria McClary. They have three children, Major Frank E. Paige-Davis, Mrs. Sandra Alexander, and Mr. Anthony Paige.
Back Next