John Bailey

Firm Grip Expert

John Bailey 1972

Although John had a stellar year as a Benchie he unfortunately ended up being a real disappointment to each one of us. John ended his basketball career at WCHS not only as a starter on the varsity team but sadly received all conference and all district honors. A total disgrace in the eyes of his fellow Benchies. There still remains a rumor that once John saw that being a Benchie was a real chick magnet that he purposely put his b-ball skills on hold for a year. What else would explain how Coach Correll could put a future high school star and college player on the third string with the rest of us losers?

Where Are They Now

John Bailey's Family

We sent out a little survey to each benchie to find out where they are today and what they have done since graduation.  Below are the answers John sent to the question, where are you today.


Current State: MO
Current Town: Neosho
Graduated from Webb City? Yes

Places John has lived since his life as a Benchie:  
Norman Ok,  Colorado Springs CO,  Branford CT,  Joplin MO,  Neosho, MO

John's basketball career after 8th grade:
Do you fail as a benchie by becoming a starter?  1st team all conference-1st team all district as a Jr when we won the conference. 6’-4” center in High School - 6-6” small forward in College yes I kept growing. Played and rode some pine at Oklahoma Baptist University where I met my wife Karen. Told Jon of a story when I played against the Big 8 player of the year. 3 years ago played in a church league in Carterville and we went undefeated. Have not played since, wanted to go out on a high note.

Favorite memory as a Benchie?
I remember having a pair of $1.99 tennis shoes, my Mom bought at Grandpa’s out at Stone’s Corner and sliding around like I was on skates during practice. Jr. High was white shorts, white t-shirts, white sox, white shoes, white teammates. In 8th grade I broke my leg in football but Correll let me join the bench when I was able to walk again. I broke the other leg playing basketball in 10th grade. It wasn’t quite the Band of Brothers but it sure was fun to come of age in the Band of Benchies.

Family status, kids, jobs, life highlights, years on parole, etc:
Wife Karen from Coolidge, AZ will be married 30 yrs this July. Four children the oldest is a graduate assistant at Missouri State, 2nd daughter will be getting married in May. My son is 19 and finishing his associates at Crowder and my youngest daughter is a Senior in High School. We home schooled all the way through they never attended Public School. 

We live on a farm and raise registered Charolais cattle, 3 horses, 3 dogs and yes a big green tractor. Moved back to Joplin area after being away for 13 years and worked for the City of Joplin as the head of the Building Department for 11 years. I now work as a Project Manager for a company that installs security systems, voice and data cabling, phone systems, audio/video, basically any wiring system that is under 110 volts. I still have my building business and continue to wait on starting anything new until this economy turns. 

Karen and I have enjoyed a blessed life from living in Norman Ok. and becoming life long OU football fans, to being ski bums in Colorado and finally cattle ranchers in Missouri. The main highlight has to be the birth of our kids. We spent 3 weeks in the Philippines during a Muslim uprising in the late 80’s. Our house was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground in 01’ we lost everything except what we were wearing. I don’t have any yearbooks or old photos so I enjoy seeing the pictures that get posted. Obviously Norman’s story hit really close to home. We learned that things really aren’t that important, but family and friendships are, good to talk to you guys.