Carl F. Bailey began his career in telephony as a student engineer for Southern Bell in 1952 in New Orleans. He took a military leave of absence and came back to Southern Bell as part of their college training program in 1955. He moved through the ranks to become General Marketing Supervisor, General Special Services Manager, Division Marketing Manager, General Marketing Manager, and Assistant Vice President.
In 1968, he became Assistant Vice President for South Central and then the Executive Assistant for AT&T co. in Washington, D.C. In 1971, he went back to South Central as the Assistant to the President and was promoted to General Manager – Operations, Vice President – Customer and Facility Services, Vice President – Louisiana, and Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs. Named President in 1982 and President and Chief Executive Officer in 1984, he retired in October of 1991 and became the Chairman of the Corporation for South Central and also Co-Chairman of the board for BellSouth Telecommunications.
One of the original USTA RBOC board members when Bell Companies were admitted membership in USTA after the divestiture of AT&T in 1984, Mr. Bailey also achieved the honor of being the first Bell Company representative elected an officer of the USTA and became the first Bell Chairman of USTA. During his service on the board and as chairman, Mr. Bailey promoted his vision for the association, which was based on the premise that local exchange carriers of all size had many more issues on which they agreed than disagreed, and that they should pull together and respond to the challenges raised by their adversaries.
Mr. Baily is an active supporter of his community and has worked over the years with the Bham Area Council of Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Eye Foundation Hospital, The Children’s Hospital, The United Way, Kiwanis Club of Bham, Bham Chamber of Commerce, Southern Research Institute, Baptist Hospitals Foundation, Inc., and was the President of the Louisiana World Exposition, Inc. He has also been active with the Telephone Pioneers of America for many years and under his guidance, the Region 13 chapter won numerous awards.
