Community Awards Spotlight: Rodney Bailey ‘55

The annual Cretin-Derham Hall Community Awards celebrate several alumni and friends from Cretin, Derham Hall, and Cretin-Derham Hall, honoring their significant achievements and contributions. 

Each month, we will spotlight one or two of these award recipients. The full list of 2025 Community Award winners can be found on our website. Please consider nominating members of our community for a 2025 Community Award.

Rodney Bailey ‘55 (click for video)

Rod Bailey ’55, past president of Bailey Nurseries in Newport, Minnesota, has dedicated a lifetime to excellence in the gardening industry. A graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall, Rod’s early experiences with athletics, friendships, and community instilled values of responsibility and respect that guided him throughout his career. After studying at St. John’s University and the University of Minnesota, he joined the family business, which boasts a 115-year history, and played a key role in expanding its national reputation. Over a 65-year career, Rod served as Head of Propagation, guided the company’s expansion to the West Coast, and ultimately became CEO, introducing beloved plants like the Endless Summer Hydrangea and pioneering products distributed worldwide. His favorite part of the work was watching both crops and people flourish.

Rod and his late wife, Marcia, raised four children, and their family legacy continues with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including daughter Terri Bailey McEnaney, the current CEO of Bailey Nurseries. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Rod has generously supported Cretin-Derham Hall, contributing to campus beautification and fostering a sense of growth and care throughout the community. 

In recognition of his lifelong leadership, vision, and generosity, Cretin-Derham Hall proudly presents Rod Bailey ’55 with the Richard R. Engler Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a legacy that has enriched both gardens and lives for generations.

Richard R. Engler Lifetime Achievement Award

The Richard R. Engler Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to one recipient to honor a lifetime of exemplary service and dedication to Cretin-Derham Hall and the broader CDH community.  This award is presented in recognition of the long history of service by Dick Engler, the President of Cretin-Derham Hall between 1990 and 2015, whose commitment and hard work impacted generations of CDH families.