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- WHAT HAPPENED?
On September 17th, 2004, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. ("Gordie")
was found dead at the Chi Psi Fraternity house at the University
of Colorado at Boulder. On the evening of September 16th, Gordie
and twenty-six other pledges dressed in coats and ties for "bid
night", were taken blindfolded to the Arapaho Roosevelt
National Forest where they were “encouraged” to drink
four "handles" (1.75 liter bottles) of whiskey and
six (1.5 liter) bottles of wine around a bonfire in 30 minutes.
They were told, “no one is leaving here until these are
gone.” When the group returned to the Fraternity house,
Gordie was visibly intoxicated and did not drink anymore. He
was placed on a couch to “sleep it off” at approximately
11pm. Racial slurs and other demeaning sayings were written on
his body in another fraternity ritual. Gordie was left to "sleep
it off" for 10 hours before he was found dead the next morning.
No one had called for help.
WHO WAS GORDIE?
Gordie was 18 years old when he died. Just one month earlier,
he had enrolled as a freshman at the University of Colorado Leeds
School of Business. In his four weeks at the University, Gordie
had been named to the club lacrosse team and had become a pledge
at Chi Psi Fraternity. Gordie went to Colorado after three years
at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts where he excelled
in athletics, music and drama. In his senior year he was co-captain
of the varsity football team playing both middle linebacker and
offensive guard. His knowledge of sports, especially football,
was legendary. He also started at defense on the school’s
New England championship lacrosse team. At graduation, he received
the "Class of 2004 Award of Excellence in Drama" for
his memorable performances in the Academy’s musical and
dramatic theater productions. Since his death, this award has
now been renamed "The Gordie" at Deerfield, in his
honor.
While a senior, Gordie mentored younger students as a Proctor
in an underclass dormitory combining his leadership skills with
his constant sense of humor. In his spare time, he and his fellow
Proctor’s made humorous videos with their Proctees. Prior
to attending Deerfield, Gordie attended St. Mark’s School
of Texas and The Lamplighter School in Dallas.
Gordie’s interests were many and varied. He enjoyed traveling
throughout the U.S. visiting friends and family and made trips
to Europe and Africa. He especially enjoyed his time in Sun Valley,
Idaho visiting his father and step mother where he loved to snowboard
in the winter, and fly fish, hike and play golf in the summer.
He also vacationed frequently in Jamaica and was a huge fan of
its reggae music. Gordie taught himself to play the guitar and
songs from Kenny Chesney, Dave Matthews or Bob Marley could often
be heard coming from his room. Music and playing guitar had become
a passion.
The many people whose lives he touched remember Gordie for his
intelligence, leadership, compassion, humor and happiness. All
who knew him felt his joy for life. His goal to be a positive
role model and mentor to others was greatly enabled by his gift
of putting a smile on everyone’s face. At Deerfield, Gordie
and some friends started the "Hug Club," just one of
the many legendary "Gordieisms." All who were lucky
enough to receive a "Gordie hug" will miss it sorely.
Gordie was often likened to a giant golden retriever and in turn,
he cherished his special relationship with all his pets; Ziggy
and Sammy, his cats, and Max and Darla, his golden retriever
and corgi. He especially prized his family and friends but most
of all, his closest friend and sister, Lily.
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- Click HERE to view The Gordie Foundation website.
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