Mary Rose Turner Baugh Bacon Scholarship
Dr. Mary Rose Baugh Bacon was a hero to many in her long life.
"She was a hostess with the mostest," laughed former colleague and dean, Dr. John Lounsbury. "She always opened her house and her heart to her students." Another former school of education dean, Dr. Les Crawford, noted, "She was a very kind person and thoughtful of others. She did a lot of favors for me. She even hosted with delight the International Students for a Fall Welcome when another spot had fallen through. Always generous and hospitable! She had been active in Phi Delta Kappa and hosted many a dinner at Rosehall.
Bacon was known by many because of a distinguished career as an educator at Georgia College and State University where she retired as professor emeritus in 1996 after 27 years of teaching. She served as a professor and coordinator of graduate programs in the education department.
She also is well known for founding and pioneering a freshmen development course that spread across the nation to universities everywhere. "Rose developed the CG 101 class that provided a class for college freshmen to introduce them to the college life and get them oriented," said Lounsbury. Bacon was also recognized for her role in childhood teacher education throughout the state.
"Even after retirement, Rose supervised student teachers here at the college until last year," said Lounsbury. "She taught education classes as well as drug education and human growth and development."
"She did so much for everyone she was involved with," said Lounsbury. "But I think her teaching spoke the most for her." Lounsbury described Bacon as a great teacher who was student centered. "Not only did she teach them, but she was able to connect with them, and many came to her for counseling and advice. She entertained and provided for all," he said.
Bacon was also among the first women from Georgia to accept a reserve commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. She served on active duty from 1957-60. She was selected to promote inter-service cooperation during a tour of duty in France where she often escorted then French President Charles de Gaulle.
Not only was Bacon active in her teaching career, but she served on the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Recreation Parks and Allied Arts Commission for 24 years including a term as chairwoman where she played a key role in the development of Little Fishing Creek Golf Course.
Bacon was also a past chairwoman of the Wesley Foundation Board, First United Methodist Church, past president of the Milledgeville Music Club, Georgia Master 4-H Club life member, Rotary Club and many other service organizations.
Bacon was a native of Emanuel County where she attended Emanuel County Institute and was a member of the class of 1953. She graduated from ABAC in 1955 and continued her education by earning a BS in Home Economics Education from the University of Georgia. She traveled extensively around the world in the U. S. Air Force, eventually earning the rank of Captain. While stationed in Washington, DC, she earned a Master's of Education in Counseling from the University of Maryland. She started teaching at Georgia College in 1969, and earned a PhD in Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia in 1978. In 1989 she was given the GCSU Honorary Alumnus Award. During her tenure at Georgia College she helped educate teachers and nurses for 36 years.
She was married for 34 years to the late Marvin H. Baugh who was a native of Milledgeville and a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. The Baughs had four children: Franklin W. Baugh, Rosemary Warren, James E. Baugh, and Marvin T. Baugh. They had eight grandchildren. She also was married to Col. Franklin C. Bacon.
List of Mary Rose Turner Baugh Bacon Scholarship Recipients
