08/19/2026
It is with profound sadness that the African American Museum Bowling Green Area mourns the passing of our beloved board member, mentor, historian, trailblazer, civil rights advocate, and community pillar, Howard “HB” Bailey.
Mr. Howard Bailey was an early board member of the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, helping to lay the groundwork for an institution dedicated to preserving, honoring, and sharing the rich history and contributions of African Americans in our community. In more recent years, he continued that commitment by serving faithfully as Secretary of the Museum’s Board of Directors.
His service to the Museum was a reflection of the life he lived: committed to education, history, justice, equity, and the advancement of others.
Affectionately known as “HB,” he devoted more than four decades to Western Kentucky University and to the Bowling Green community. As a student, administrator, civil rights advocate, and mentor, he consistently opened doors for others. He became WKU’s first Black male Residence Hall Assistant, co-founded the Epsilon Rho Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which was one of the colleges first Black Greek Letter Organizations, and rose through the ranks of university leadership before serving as Vice President for Student Affairs until his retirement in 2015.
HB was a trailblazer. He broke barriers, created opportunities, and helped pave the way for generations who followed. He was unapologetically black, he spoke his mind, and often delivered hard truths. His impact reached far beyond the university, touching higher education, civil rights, community leadership, and the preservation of African American history.
We will remember his wisdom, his institutional knowledge, his commitment to preserving our history, and his belief that our stories matter. His presence around the Museum’s board table, will be missed, but HB represented a living connection to the struggles, achievements, sacrifices, and triumphs of those who came before us.
The African American Museum Bowling Green Area extends our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Bailey family, and to our community.
Rest well, HB.
-The Board & Friends of the African American Museum Bowling Green Area
