A recent scholarship gift from WVU College of Law alumna Kay Bayless benefits public high school graduates from West Virginia, with preference for students from Mercer, McDowell, Summers or Wyoming counties.
Today, future lawyers attending the West Virginia University College of Law can find one of their most passionate advocates birdwatching along the South Carolina shore. But five decades ago, Kay Bayless was a single mother in the mountains of West Virginia, putting everything she had into launching her career as an attorney.
“I loved being a lawyer,” Bayless said. “I loved practicing law. I loved the law school. Going to law school was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
The retired lawyer’s trajectory led to migratory paths and philanthropy. She recently made a $500,000 gift to the WVU College of Law to create the Kathryn Reed Bayless Endowed Scholarship.
“I want to encourage young people to open their eyes, dream big and go for it,” Bayless said. “I hope to see them fulfill that dream through whatever benefit the scholarship can provide.”
Recipients of the Kathryn Reed Bayless Scholarship must be public high school graduates from West Virginia, with preference for students from Mercer, McDowell, Summers or Wyoming counties.
“Every student at WVU Law walks in the footsteps of those who came before them,” Susan Brewer, interim dean, said. “As a leader in her community and supporter of our own, Kay Bayless has opened a path for future generations of Mountaineer lawyers to excel, regardless of their financial circumstances. We’re so grateful for her generosity and look forward to seeing students benefit from her gift for years to come.”
Nearly 70% of students, 220 of 317, attending the College of Law this year received a scholarship. As of fall 2025, 63% of first-year law students received scholarship support. Yet, only two students are currently enrolled at the law school from the counties Bayless targeted with her scholarship.
“I know that a lot of the kids from those counties who are looking at college or law school come from families with limited means,” Bayless, a Mercer County native, said. “They may be first-generation students. So, they may not have the confidence to just keep going forth.”
Bayless’ path to law school came with obstacles, but she found an abundance of opportunities after completing her law degree in 1979. She operated a solo practice in the Princeton area, where she represented boards of education, did trial work, and practiced administrative and employment law.
Bayless served on the board for the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, now known as the West Virginia Association for Justice, and she sat on the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors twice.
“These are experiences I never, ever would have had if I hadn’t gone to law school,” Bayless said. “Life is just a series of happenstance events in some ways.”
National professional conferences introduced Bayless to future presidents and revered human rights leaders. She heard President Barack Obama, a United States senator at the time, speak in Chicago. At a San Franciso event, she found herself on a bus seated directly behind civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.
“He was charming,” Bayless said. “He spoke to us that night about student debt and how tuition was crushing the opportunities and dreams of so many kids. It’s interesting how life circles back on itself.”
Bayless grew up in Princeton with five brothers and sisters. She had minimal financial resources for college, which began with a bachelor’s degree from Concord University. Even at just under $600 a year, law school was an investment that required loans and scholarships.
“I paid my own way. My parents did not help. They could not,” Bayless said. “A little boost, a little confidence, a little help along the way makes a heck of a lot of difference.”
Student debt for WVU law students is 34% lower than the national average. Still, all incoming College of Law students are automatically considered for scholarship aid based on academic achievement, leadership experience, community involvement and other accomplishments.
Though Bayless built her career among country roads, she headed to the coast upon retirement. These days she is more into birdwatching than approaching the bench.
Her mornings begin comparing notes with her son from their bird identification apps, but she still strives to make a difference.
“When you get to the point you’re retired, you might as well think about letting your money do some good for other people so they can repeat the cycle,” Bayless said.
Bayless made her gift through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University, in conjunction with Day of Giving. The 24-hour fundraising event, held March 25, raised more than $22 million through 11,202 gifts made by WVU alumni and friends.