Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Creates Jennie Bailey Be Brave Scholarship Endowment
September 01, 2015 | Football
Texas Tech announced the creation of the Jennie Bailey "Be Brave" Lifetime Scholarship Endowment on Tuesday. The endowed scholarship will benefit football student-athletes for the generations to come.
Sept. 1, 2015
She was a mother to some, a mentor to others and an all-around role model who impacted nearly three decades of Red Raiders.
That type of legacy will be remembered and honored as Texas Tech has established the Jennie Bailey "Be Brave" Lifetime Scholarship Endowment that will benefit Red Raider football student-athletes for the generations to come.
"Mrs. Bailey was an incredible woman who left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten," Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "Her greatest contribution to this program was her motherly influence over each of the coaches, student-athletes and student-workers she touched. This endowment will be a small representation of her tremendous impact on the lives of nearly three decades of Red Raiders."
Jennie Bailey spent nearly 28 years as an administrative assistant with the Red Raider football program.
All those impacted by Jennie Bailey's love for Texas Tech, Texas Tech fans and former student-athletes can contribute to the scholarship endowment by donating onlineor by contacting the Red Raider Club directly at 806-742-1196.
Bailey, who was known by many former Red Raiders as "Mama Bailey" or "Mrs. Bailey," spent nearly 28 years as a football administrative assistant where she handled many of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the program, assisting with recruiting letters and setting up prospective student-athlete visits to campus while also helping the coaching staff prepare scouting reports and daily practice plans.
Few student-athletes passed through the football offices without stopping to see Bailey, who had a white board hanging in her office that featured autographs from several Red Raider greats during her tenure. Many former Red Raiders, on their return to campus following graduation, would make Bailey's office one of their first stops.
While there, the topic of football rarely came up. Bailey was more interested in how life was and if she could make each day a better one. Ultimately, her kindness and spirit left a lasting impact on the hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and support staff she impacted each day throughout her tenure.
Even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2013, Bailey was the epitome of bravery as she remained a consistent presence at Texas Tech practices and games until passing away on June 25, 2015.
Texas Tech will pay tribute to Bailey on Saturday afternoon prior to kickoff of its season opener against Sam Houston State.
