Ralph Bailey was born on January 11, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia to Ralph Bailey and Emily Gertrude Hanckel. Ralph grew up in Charleston, SC, and was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. A graduate of The Citadel in 1948, he earned a degree in Civil Engineering.
While at the University of South Carolina School of Law he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the SC Law Review. He graduated from law school in 1950 and relocated to Greenville, SC becoming the first patent lawyer in the State of South Carolina.
He practiced intellectual property law from 1950 until his death in 2003. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court in 1951 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 1960. He had a national reputation as a brilliant and resourceful litigator and dedicated his life to serving his clients. His work had a tremendous impact on the development and practice of intellectual property law.
Mr. Bailey served his community as a member of the Rotary Club, was a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America as well as the York Place Episcopal Church Home for Children. He was a religious scholar and was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church until his death.
He is survived by his three children, Edward Whaley Bailey, Anne Bailey Seymour and Ralph Bailey, Jr. He has three grandchildren: Caroline Sanders Seymour, Grace Heriot Bailey and Ralph Bailey, Ⅲ.