Albert A. Baillis, retired ONU law professor, 94, died on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at 10:58 p.m. at his residence in Ada. He was a member of the law faculty for 35 years. He was a member of the Ada Kiwanis Club for 60 years.
He was born on May 11, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Roy and Leona (Nouser) Baillis.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Ada, and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a lifetime member of the Ada Kiwanis Club.
Surviving is a nephew, Dan (Debra) Baillis of Cleveland. He was preceded in death by two brothers: Fred Baillis and Louis Baillis.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at the Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Ada with Deacon J. Michael Hood officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Cleveland.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Ada.
Baillis received an honorary degree from Ohio Northern University during the College of Law graduation in May of 2015. His service to the university was described in the Ada Icon at that time:
In 1957, Baillis joined the law faculty at Ohio Northern, where he rapidly advanced to professor of law in 1962.
During this period, he spent three summers as a graduate student at New York University, which awarded him a Master of Laws (LLM) in 1962. Baillis served as a part-time county court judge from 1975-79, during which time he received two awards from the Supreme Court of Ohio recognizing his excellence in judicial office.
He served as president of the League of Ohio Law Schools, president of the Ada Kiwanis Club, and editor of the “Real Property Section Newsletter” of the Ohio State Bar Association.
He served on numerous university and law school committees; in particular, he chaired the important law school Promotion-Retention Committee for several years.
Baillis was named as the first holder of the Fisher Chair for excellence in legal scholarship and teaching in 1984. He also served the University as acting dean of the College of Law from 1975-77.
