Stanley F. Bailey  (1906-1981)

Stanley Fuller Bailey, Entomology: Davis 1906-1981 Professor Emeritus Stan Bailey was one of the best known and most productive members of the faculty on the Davis campus where over a period of 36 years he went from Junior Entomologist to the Professorship. He headed the Department of Entomology for 11 years during an important period of growth starting in 1946. He was born August 1, 1906 in Middleboro, Massachusetts and died of a heart attack April 19, 1981. He graduated in Entomology from the University of Massachusetts in 1929 and received the Ph.D. from UC, Berkeley in 1931. Prior to World War II there were only four faculty members in Entomology at Davis. Of these Stan was the most strongly oriented toward helping farmers and contributing work of lasting benefit to agricultural entomology. His prime interests always centered on biology and ecology. As a result, his classical works on bean thrips, pear thrips and peach twig borer have stood the test of time whereas many publications by agricultural entomologists of the same period (1932-1948) emphasized insecticides and are now of historical value only. With the onset of World War II Stan was one of the first faculty members of the University to volunteer his services. He accepted a commission as Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Navy and served in North Carolina, Florida, and the Central Pacific Theater, eventually attaining the rank of Captain. He often recounted his experiences in the recapture of Saipan and the turbulent days which followed. However, he is best remembered for the dengue mosquito eradication program on Guam. This insect had been introduced during Japanese occupation and it was firmly intrenched in the many native villages. After some preliminary experimental studies on control Stan was put in charge of about 30 Guamanians, and a systematic source reduction and insecticide program was begun. Stan's organizational and administrative abilities were forcefully applied and the mosquito was eradicated in about a month. Concurrently, the number of ― 19 ― dengue or breakbone fever cases among the armed forces and natives declined from thousands to zero. After the war Stan returned to Davis to become head of the Department and to continue his teaching and research in agricultural entomology. In 1960 he was selected as a Faculty Research Lecturer. Stan published nearly 100 papers during his career. Agricultural and medical entomology accounted for about half of these. The other half were basic taxonomic studies of thrips, some of which were agricultural pests. From this work-hobby he became a world authority on the order Thysanoptera (Thrips) and the Department of Entomology Museum now has his imposing collection of meticulously prepared slides. Most of his later work concerned California mosquito vectors of encephalitis and malaria. He concentrated on habits and ecology, as always. He and his graduate students discovered many hitherto unknown facts. The most important findings were reported in a Hilgardia article on flight and dispersal of Culex tarsalis, the encephalitis mosquito. With all his activities Stan was a good family man, and he leaves his wife, Irene, daughter, Carol Anne, and several grandchildren. Stan and Irene were firm believers in a close-knit and congenial department. Consequently, staff and graduate students were frequently invited to dinner and other get-togethers at the family home. On the occasion of his retirement in 1967 Stan wrote with characteristic modesty: “My primary obligation I have always felt was to the citizens who paid my salary. I have helped solve some of the farmers problems and contributed to the needed practical knowledge of our mosquito disease vectors. Most of all I am proud of two things: (1) the buildings I had a part in planning during the eleven years I spent on the Campus Building Committee, and (2) my graduate students who have become my best and loyal friends. Here has been the best investment.” Stan Bailey set an example of productivity for his colleagues, and inspired some of their best efforts. He will be fondly remembered by his students and friends for his encouragement and sound advice. R. M. Bohart O. G. Bacon E. C. Loomis Calisphere, 2011

Affiliation	U.C. Davis (Faculty, 1932-1967), U.C. Berkeley (PhD, 1931), Univ. of Massachusetts (BS?, 1929)
Label Abbreviation	S.F. Bailey
Other Names	S.F. Bailey

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