When Reformed Theological Seminary officially adopted burgundy and gray as its primary brand colors, it designated the shades as “RTS Burgundy” and “RTS Warm Gray.” Used in official communications and materials, the stately colors represent the seminary’s commitment to excellence, academic integrity, and service to the church. They are frequently seen in the RTS shield and other brand marks.
In early 2024, RTS announced that colors had been renamed in honor of two former administrators: Robert “Bob” Bailey and Pauline “Polly” McReynolds Stone. Chancellor Ligon Duncan retitled the colors “RTS Bailey Burgundy” and “RTS McReynolds Stone Grey.”
The new designations honor the faithful service and commitment of two longtime friends of the seminary who came to embody the values represented by the colors.
RTS Bailey Burgundy
After 26 years as a banker in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Bob Bailey wasn’t looking for a career change. But the opportunity presented itself in 1995 when Dr. Luder Whitlock, then president of RTS, began the search for a vice president of development. 
Bailey and his late wife Amanda were longtime friends and supporters of the seminary. In fact, Amanda had been auditing classes since the mid-1980s. They were also members of First Presbyterian Church in Yazoo City, a congregation that had been stricken by tragedy in 1992 when its pastor was killed in a car accident. Fortunately, a young theology professor, Dr. Ligon Duncan, began service as the interim pastor and became close with Bailey.
“Over some period of time, they began looking for a chief development officer down here for the whole system. And so Ligon recommended to Luder Whitlock that he might want to talk to me,” said Bailey in a 2022 interview.
The rest was history. Bailey wore several hats under Dr. Whitlock and later under Dr. Ric Cannada: “When we got a chancellor, we kind of changed our structure. And so I became chief operations officer and assistant to the chancellor, and that’s what I was for the rest of the time I worked here.”
Bailey retired in 2008, but that wasn’t the end of his involvement with RTS. After the board of trustees announced the relocation of RTS Jackson in 2022, Chancellor Duncan recruited Bailey to return as a consultant for the transition process. In this role, he has been an advisor to Dr. Duncan and played a major role in documenting and preserving the historical assets of the original campus. Among those assets were an art collection and countless photographs dating back to the 1960s.
The project was well-suited for someone with as deep of a connection to RTS as Bailey. Post-relocation, the RTS family has him to thank for the echoes of the original campus that ring throughout the new.
RTS McReynolds Stone Grey
Polly McReynolds, a Yazoo City and Starkville, Mississippi native, arrived at the RTS Charlotte campus in the early 1990s. She was a product of Mississippi State University, where she earned an English degree, and Clemson University, where she worked for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). She married Bob Stone in 1993 and earned her Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree from RTS in 2001.
Before finishing her degree, she joined the fledgling RTS Charlotte staff as registrar. Stone would eventually advance to become chief institutional assessment officer for RTS. As CIAO, she helped to maintain the seminary’s accredited status with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Stone was well-known for her attention to detail and love of learning. These qualities served her well as she served on accreditation teams for other schools and on the ATS board for six years. She also wrote several articles related to improving academic quality at theological seminaries.
Stone entered her eternal rest in August 2020 after a nearly four-year battle with cancer. Amanda Bailey would succumb to complications from COVID-19 mere weeks later.
“Amanda Bailey and Polly Stone were godly women who were much beloved by the RTS family. They are sincerely missed by all who had the opportunity to know them and serve alongside them,” said Dr. Duncan. “Additionally, both Bob Bailey’s and Polly Stone’s faithful service to RTS has enabled it to send forth many men and women to share his gospel and serve the church. RTS would not be what it is today without each of them.”