David L. Bailey, 81, of McConnelsville, passed away on Mon, July 21, 2025 at the Genesis Hospital in Zanesville.  He was born on Feb. 24, 1944 in Zanesville to the late Don L. and Bettie Demster Bailey.  A true servant-leader, David dedicated his life to others - through education, public safety, and community service. He was a proud Battalion Chief in the Malta & McConnelsville Volunteer Fire Department, serving over 55 years. For 60 years, he served both as a Master Mason with the Scottish Rite Free Masonry and in the Corinthian Lodge.   He retired from American Electric Power, where he was a master electrician on the legendary Big Muskie, the world's largest dragline, before serving with distinction in the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He also served multiple terms as Mayor of McConnelsville, always working for the good of his neighbors and community.  During his later years, he poured his energy into building and advancing both county and now state of Ohio Next Generation 9-1-1 systems, modernizing emergency communications to serve future generations. But above all, he was the heart of our family. A loving husband for more than 50 years, a dedicated father, and a proud grandfather - his grandkids were his pride and joy. No title meant more to him than Dad and Poppy.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pat Spencer Bailey of the home, 2 sons, Dustin Bailey of Cincinnati and Darren (Kristina) Bailey of Leesburg, Vir, a daughter, Dawn (Austin) Cable of Austin Lake and 6 grandchildren, Anthony, Dominic, Gage, Leila, Petrina "Pippi" and Gabrielle "Gabby" .  He is preceded in death by his parents.  Services will be held on Fri, July 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at the Matheney Funeral Home in McConnelsville with burial following in the McConnelsville Cemetery.  Friends may call on the family on Thurs, July 24 from 5-7 P.M. at the funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the M&M Vol. Fire Dept.

David L. (Dave) Bailey is a distinguished public safety professional, technical expert, educator, and civic leader whose life has been defined by service to others. A lifelong resident of McConnelsville, Ohio, Dave's exceptional career has spanned more than 55 years and includes impactful work in emergency services, education, telecommunications, electrical engineering, and public governance. His achievements have shaped not only his community but also advanced public safety infrastructure statewide.

Professional Career and Technical Leadership

Dave Bailey began his professional journey in technical trades, becoming a Master Electrician. He served as Manager of Safety, Health, Training, for American Electric Power (AEP) and retired after years of leadership.

His qualifications include certifications from:

• The United States Department of Labor

• The State of Ohio Department of Industrial Relations

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• OSHA, MSHA, FEMA, and the Ohio Fire Academy

He is also a certified Nuclear Radiation Safety Officer, safety instructor, mine examiner, and electrical instructor for low, medium, and high voltage systems, as well as a credentialed instructor in accident investigation, hazardous materials, emergency operations, and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Education and Teaching Career

Dave's education includes attendance at McConnelsville Elementary and Malta-McConnelsville High School, followed by studies at DeVry University, Ohio University, and The Ohio State University. His passion for learning and teaching led to a 13-year career as a high school educator at Morgan High School, where he taught technical and safety courses. He holds various teaching certifications from the State of Ohio and national agencies.

Fire & EMS Service

With over 55 years in public safety - spanning law enforcement, EMS, and firefighting. Dave rose through the ranks of the Malta–McConnelsville Fire Department (M&M FD) to become a Battalion Chief. The department, founded in 1930, began offering EMS services in 1972. Dave's tenure helped expand its scope and reputation, and he was instrumental in shaping both operational readiness and training.

He has been recognized numerous times by local and national institutions, including:

• M&M FD Firefighter of the Year

• Officer of the Year (seven times)

• Officer of the Decade

• Multiple Life Saving and Bravery Awards

• VFW Ohio Firefighter of the Year (1997–98)

Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) Leadership

Dave is widely celebrated for his pioneering leadership in advancing emergency communications. As Morgan County's NG9‑1‑1 Director, he led the county through one of the first full implementations of NG9‑1‑1 in the nation between March 2013 and July 2014. In partnership with the Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, he transformed Morgan County's call-handling infrastructure by deploying cutting-edge GIS-enabled spatial call routing.

Key accomplishments include:

• Leveraging OARnet's state fiber backbone and State of Ohio cloud infrastructure for enhanced redundancy and reliability

• Achieving zero downtime since going live on July 9, 2014

• Reducing emergency response times through precise GIS-based call routing

• Serving as a state model for NG9‑1‑1 implementation recognized by the Ohio ESINet Steering Committee and NASCIO

His leadership in this area was so impactful that Morgan County became one of the first ten counties in Ohio to implement NG 9‑1‑1, influencing statewide rollout strategies.

Civic and State Service

Dave's service extended into governance, where he was elected to three 4-year terms as a McConnelsville Council Member and three additional terms as Mayor. As Mayor, he was honored by military units such as the 2nd Battalion 174th ADA OANG for outstanding community support and public safety contributions.

In addition, he has held influential state and regional positions:

• Chairperson, Ohio Homeland Security Region 8 Interoperability Committee

• Voting Member, State of Ohio Interoperable Communications Executive Committee

• Chairman, Ohio EMS Communications Committee

• Member, Ohio Governor's EMS Council

Awards, Affiliations & Honors

Dave Bailey's contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including:

• Ohio Safety Professional of the Year

• Special Recognition for Honorable, Loyal, and Dedicated Service from the Ohio State Highway Patrol

• Commendations from multiple state agencies and professional bodies

He is a proud member of:

• The Ohio Firefighters Association

• The Buckeye State and National Sheriff's Associations

• The Ohio State Troopers Association

• Fraternal Organizations including Corinthian Lodge #111 F&AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge, Aladdin Temple Shrine, Zavi Shrine, and Iota Lambda Sigma at OSU

On March 23, 1968, Dave married Patricia A. Spencer, his lifelong partner in service and community. Together they raised three accomplished children:

• Dustin – A mechanical and construction engineer in Cincinnati

• Darren – An MBA and Chief Operating Officer in Washington, D.C.

• Dawn Lea Ann – A master's-level professional educator in English and literature at Edison local schools.

Dave continued to live and serve in McConnelsville, Ohio, demonstrating unwavering dedication to the people of Morgan County and the advancement of public safety across the state.