Professor James E. Bailey was not only a world-renowned leader and pioneer in biochem. engineering but also a mentor to the many graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in his group. To provide non-"Bailey-ites" with an impression of Jay as a mentor, a brief review of his career, focusing on the dynamics of the research group, is provided. Typical student experiences of being part of the Bailey group are then discussed, including the recognition of a particular research style and Jay's expectations for hard work. Finally, Jay's mentoring style, which was marked by an ability to foster independence, a sense of quality, and passion for research is provided. Jay's contributions as a mentor can perhaps be recognized as being as significant as his research achievements. [on SciFinder (R)]