In Memoriam: Edgar R. “Ed” Bain
Edgar R. “Ed” Bain graduated from Wake Forest College in 1955 and Wake Forest Law
School in 1957. After law school he worked at the North Carolina Supreme Court as law clerk for
Justice Jefferson D. Johnson.
He began his law practice in Lillington with Attorney W. A. Johnson in 1959, and in 1961 he
opened his own law firm, the predecessor of Bain & McRae, LLP. He served as town attorney for
Lillington for 25 years and was President of the Harnett County Bar. He was a respected trial lawyer
for over 60 years until his death in 2021. During his career he represented clients from all walks of
life and was instrumental in the recovery of millions of dollars in retirement funds for workers at the
Burlington Industries plant in Erwin. (Davis v. Burlington Industries, Inc., 966 F2d 890 (4th Cir. 1992))
In his time away from the office he was an avid golfer and enjoyed flying as a private pilot.
He was also active in the community having served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher at
Lillington Presbyterian Church, a Little League baseball coach, the coach of a state champion high
school golf team and the chairman of the Harnett County Airport Commission.
Education
- Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina
LL.B – 1957 - Campbell Junior College, Buies Creek, North Carolina
A.A. – 1953 - Wake Forest University
B.S. – 1955
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1957
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 1965
- U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1967
Professional Associations
- Harnett County Bar Association, Previous President, 1959 to Present
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Eleventh Judicial District Bar
Past Positions
- NC Supreme Court, Research Clerk, 1957 to 1958
- Wilson & Johnson, Attorney, 1959 to 1961