Service Missionary’s Shot Makes ESPN

Elder David Bob Bailey, known as “D-Bob,” has Down Syndrome.  The Moroni, Utah native had always wanted to serve a mission, and his parents David and Eddi Bailey applied to serve a full-time mission and received special permission from the first presidency to bring D-Bob with them.  The Baileys were assigned to serve in Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and D-Bob also got to be a team manager for BYU-Hawaii’s men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams. D-Bob completed his mission on December 3rd.

The Seasiders’ senior night on November 28th was D-Bob’s final game. The team gave him a special jersey with his nickname on the back and a lei. When D-Bob made the shot, the audience cheered and his team carried him off the court triumphantly. The amazing shot was featured on ESPN’s “Why We Love Sports Today.” D-Bob was also accorded the honor of the final at last season’s closing game, and scored successfully.

D-Bob’s mother Eddi Bailey said the following about her son:

[pull_quote_center]He spreads the Gospel and he spreads love and he doesn’t even know it. If people can see that and even give them hope for their own special needs children to see what their abilities are and how they’re loved.[/pull_quote_center]