Biography of Don Bailey

Don was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on July 21, 1945. He was the eighth child of Glenn & Anna Bailey. The family moved to neighboring Westmoreland County where Don entered Greensburg Salem H.S.. He was a member of the National Honor Society and enjoyed an outstanding athletic career. He was a County wrestling champion, set a number of records in the discus, and in his senior year was selected as a first-team all-state football player.

Widely recruited, Don accepted an athletics/academic scholarship to the University of Michigan graduating in 1967 with a B.A. in political science. He then joined the United States Army, volunteered for service in Vietnam, and returned to attend Duquesne University law school in Pittsburgh. Don graduated from Duquesne in 1976 earning his Juris Doctorate and then began his political career.

Breakdowns regarding his military service and political career appear below.


Vietnam War service

After college Don Bailey joined the United States Army. He graduated from Infantry OCS (officer candidate school – Fort Benning Georgia) and then served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg North Carolina. He volunteered for service in Vietnam where he joined the 101st Airborne Division in Northern I Corp. He began service in Vietnam as a platoon leader with A company 1/502.

Seeing extensive combat he was awarded the Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars, 2 with “V” for Valor and one for meritorious achievement. He was additionally awarded 2 Army Commendation Medals, 1 with “V” for Valor,and one for meritorious service. He  also earned the Air Medal for successfully completing at least 30 combat assaults.

He has always emphatically asserted the great pride he has in being a Vietnam Veteran, declaring that he is proud of his service, and that he would not hesitate to serve again.


Law school education

During high school and college Don worked at a number of “blue collar” jobs, including as a steelworker at J. & L. Steel Corp (Southside Pittsburgh) on the labor gang and as 3rd helper on the specialty furnace. During that time he became a member of the United Steelworkers of America.

He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1967 with a degree in Liberal Arts, joined the Army, and later attended Duquesne University School of Law earning his Juris Doctorate in 1976, relying on the G.I. Bill. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar association the same year.


Political career

United States House of Representatives

After an extremely close and highly contested primary, and a more comfortable general election, Bailey was elected to the United States House of representatives as a US Congressman  from the state’s 21st Congressional District in 1978. He won an impressive reelection bid in 1980, despite the general Republican victory that year, garnering about 70% of the vote.

Bailey served initially on the Education & Labor, and Armed Services Committees and then was honored to be selected by his colleagues for service on the Ways and Means Committee. He was generally considered  a moderate-to-conservative Democrat.

In 1982, after redistricting by the state legislature, Bailey’s district was one of two eliminated as a result of slow-growth in Pennsylvania compared to other states. Most of his district, including his home in Westmoreland County, was merged with the 12th District of fellow Democrat and fellow Vietnam veteran John Murtha, who had been serving since 1974.

Even though the primary was closely fought, Bailey lost largely because Murtha retained nearly all of his old district. Interestingly, when the Republican nominee for the seat withdrew the same year, Bailey was seriously considered as a replacement; he came in a very strong second at the Republican nominating convention held that year.

Auditor General of Pennsylvania

In 1984, Bailey won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Auditor General in a hotly contested primary; he handily won in November. He was the only Democratic nominee to win statewide that year. During his tenure as Auditor General, Bailey established the first work-site child daycare facility in Pennsylvania government, established minimum education standards for state auditors, and generally modernized auditing procedures.

United States Senate and Pennsylvania Governor Races

Despite Bailey’s electoral success in 1984, he lost a bitter primary battle with then Congressman Bob Edgar for the Senate seat of Arlen Specter in 1986. In a close race in 1988, he lost his reelection bid for Auditor General to then-Republican Barbara Hafer (her first statewide run).

Bailey ran for Auditor General again in 1992, and lost the Democratic primary. He also lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary to Ivan Itkin in 1998.


Legal career

Don Bailey currently practices law in Harrisburg, PA.


It is with great sadness that we must add the following…

Obituary

Donald A. Bailey, 74, of Harrisburg, formerly of Greensburg, passed away, Monday, March 9, 2020. He was born July 21, 1945 in Pittsburgh, a son of the late Glenn Barnes Bailey and Anna Mable Cox Bailey.

Don was a graduate of Greensburg Salem High School Class of 1963 where he was County wrestling champion, held numerous discus records in track and field, was All County, All WPIAL, first team All-State in football, 1963 Big 33 game, and was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Westmoreland Chapter. He earned his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan where he lettered three times, was 1965 Rose Bowl Champion, the 1966 Meyer Morton Award recipient, 1966 First Team All-Big Ten and also played in the North/South All Star game. Don received his Juris Doctorate JD in 1976 from Duquesne University School of Law where he was known as the “phantom”. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1967. Don graduated Infantry Officer Candidate School (OCS), where he was chosen Leadership Graduate by peers and instructors. He graduated Airborne Jump School, joining the 82nd Airborne Division, then after brief training, joined the 101st Airborne Division. Don volunteered for service in Vietnam and served 15 months active combat for during which he received three Bronze Stars, two with “V” for valor and one for meritorious achievement. He also was awarded two Army Commendation medals, one with “V” for valor. Don also received the Air Medal for successfully completing over 30 combat assaults and received the Silver Star for “bravery beyond the call of duty”.

He continued to serve his country through his political and legal careers. Don served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979-1983 where he was a House Member of the Ways and Means Committee, House Member of the Armed Services Committee, House Member of the Education and Labor Committee, and House Member of the Ethics Committee. Don was the most decorated military veteran in the United States House of Representatives during the 97th Congress. He served as Auditor General of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 1989. Don was a prominent Civil Rights Attorney.

But of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of his children who he loved dearly. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Adrienne Palarino Bailey; his children, Zachary, Ryan, Anna, Valerie, Ireland, and Shannon; his brother, Glenn; beloved niece, Elizabeth Ann Bailey Washburn and her husband, William Washburn and nephew Robert Speakman and his many other surviving nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, David, Charles, and Bernard; sisters, Laura, Valerie, and Jane; and beloved pet beagle, Bailey.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, March 14 from noon until 4pm in the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. Military Honors will be provided by Post 33 of Greensburg and held at the funeral home on Saturday at 4pm. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.