Bruce S. Bailey, 1967
B.A., Denison University
J.D., University of Toledo
Retired Attorney
San Diego, California
Though now retired, Bruce Bailey served as a practicing attorney for more than 47 years, primarily in general civil litigation, contracts, insurance defense, and other business transactional and formation matters. He specialized in legal medical equipment cases. Bruce tried 87 jury trials and negotiated many additional settlements. He was admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in California and Ohio, the Court of Military Appeals in Washington, D.C., and the United States Supreme Court.
After retiring from private practice, Bruce was hired by the City of San Diego in 2008 to oversee its lawsuit against San Diego Gas & Electric for damages in connection with the Witch Creek and Guejito fires of 2007. He settled the case for $29 million. He remained a deputy city attorney until he fully retired in 2013.
Bruce graduated from Denison in 1967, earning his Bachelor of Arts in biology. While at Denison, he was an ROTC cadet and a brother of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Following graduation, Bruce earned a J.D. from the University of Toledo in 1970 and joined the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Air Force. He served in California and Wiesbaden, Germany; and at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha; the Pentagon in Washington; and the Hickam Air Force Base at Pearl Harbor. He rose to the rank of colonel, was awarded the Legion of Merit medal, and was selected as a trustee of the Air Force JAG School Foundation.
His service includes appointments as judge pro tem for the San Diego County Superior Court and as an adjunct professor at Air University in Alabama.
In addition, Bruce served as the president and CEO of the Board of Trustees of the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, which maintains a prominent veteran’s memorial in San Diego. His vision and expertise were instrumental in creating the famed Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, and the association honored him as Veteran of the Year in 2015. Bruce is currently working very closely with a veteran’s court in California, attempting to guide U.S. military veterans away from the prison system.
Bruce also is deeply connected to his community. He is a certified Court Appointed Special Advocate and has volunteered his time to help children at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. He also has served on the board of directors of the Humane Society.
And, despite all that he has accomplished, he remains connected and committed to his alma mater. He has been a loyal donor to the Denison Annual Fund and has volunteered his time in a number of different ways. Bruce has served as an alumni fellows chair, a career advisor, a fundraising campaign volunteer, and an alumni club officer. He was also a member of his Class Reunion Gift Committee in 2001, 2007, and 2012, and most recently has served on his 50th Reunion Gift Committee.
He established the Bruce Bailey ’67 Pre-Law Scholarship Fund, an endowment providing support to students with financial need who are planning to attend law school following their graduation from Denison.
Bruce and his wife, Gail, currently reside in San Diego.
