Carl William Bailey, BHS 1983

Carl William Bailey, BHS 1983

Burbank Leader, January 18, 1983

Carl William Bailey, 17, died January 13, 1983 in a Glendale hospital. He was born in Burbank and lived here all his life. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Bailey; brother, Michael; two grandmothers and one grandfather. He was a senior at Burbank High School.
Rosary was 7:30 pm Sunday at the Valley Funeral Home. Mass was 10 am, Monday at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Interment was at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.

Burbank Leader, January 19, 1983
FREAK GRIFFITH PARK accident leaves friends grieving.

What stands out in Carl Bailey’s senior class picture are the eyes and the mouth. That’s the way Carl’s family and friends and teachers remember him. “He was well-liked and popular in school, but not from being a top shot daredevil or from having a lot of girlfriends or from being a football hero.” Said Pippi Ramsay, Carl’s aunt.“I don’t know anyone who ever said an unkind word about Carl. He was really full of love.”

The 17-year-old died Thursday when his jeep overturned in Griffith Park. He and about 40 classmates had gathered at Crystal Springs Road and Zoo Drive to celebrate the start of a three-day weekend. Police say it was a freak accident. Carl was only driving about 8-10 miles when he started to turn, hit a patch of wet grass and rolled the car. He died instantly of a blow to the head. His passengers – two girls and a boy, all local high school students – walked away from the accident.

“The police told us there were no drugs, no drinking.” Ramsey said. “They went to the park because there is no place in Burbank for kids. These were good kids, the clean-cut kids who have cried out to the teachers, “There is no place for us to go- no movies, nothing.”

About 500 people, including 300 of his friends attended the funeral, one of the largest ever held in the city. A procession of 100 cars passed by the Burbank High School before Carl was interred Sunday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

His teachers say Carl was a good student who wanted to do something- he didn’t know what yet- in the medical field. He planned to attend college. Carls’s high school weight-lifting teacher, Frank Kallem remembers his student as “a real bright kid. He was just brilliant, that’s all.” “He was well-liked by the kids, he was real inquisitive and worked real hard.”

But he was self-conscious about his slight frame and wanted to build muscles so he could join the football team. “Carl had a weight-training set in his garage and he was a member of the YMCA. He went to the Y every day to work out, even after he had the weight-lifting class here.” Kallem said. He was a small kid, but he had a well-developed body. It was strong and healthy.

His classmates are still mourning Carl, Kallem said. “They’re taking it hard,” he said. “Young kids just don’t think that can happen to them. They think they are immortal. When one dies it’s just a shock to them, they just can’t fathom death. “His close friends still are broken up about it today. They are still tearful and quiet.” “He was interested in other people, genuinely interested. Kids can pretty easily spot who is sincere and who isn’t.”

Kallem had known Carl since he was about 8 years-old. The youth was Kallem’s assistant in an aquatics class. “He always willing to help you out. All the teachers liked him.” He said.

Todd Hershey took some of the same classes as Carl in the 11th grade and they became close because they shared the same interests in sports, cars, music and art. “He was the kind of person you would like immediately,” he said. “He was outgoing and friendly, always there for a friend.”

Though Carl never got big enough to play football, he excelled in individual sports. He surfed, bowled, hiked, golfed and skied, his friend said. But until a year ago he remained self-conscious, Hershey said. “He was shy with girls until recently,” his aunt agreed “He just started dating.”

He had just got his own phone. He paid his brother a nickel to answer the phone when he wasn’t there and his mother got him a special book to take messages. His younger brother, Michael looked up to him like an idol.

“He didn’t have one enemy in school. Everyone liked him,” said Teri Ramsey, Carl’s 18-year-old cousin. “Unless you really knew him, he was shy. But he had a sense of humor. He was having so much fun his senior year. He told me how he was starting to get popular with his jeep and about all the girlfriends he has.
This year he was especially conscious about his looks, especially his hair. If it was not brushed right he would take a shower and do it again. Carl played piano and loved new wave music, Ramsey said.

He started a silkscreen business in junior high school and charted the stock market as a hobby. He worked part-time as a driver at his father’s Burbank business, West Coast Propeller Co.

Carl is survived by his father, Keith Bailey, his mother, Teresa, and brother, Michael.

Burbank High School is accepting contributions in Carl’s memory for a scholarship fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute may contact Dr. Art Golden at the school.