Baker High School
1945- 1991
Lion Forums
| Forum: BAKER HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY | |||||
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Tez Nunnally Gutman
Class Of '73
 Joined: 03/29/09 Posts: 518 View Profile |
Baker History Discussions Posted Monday, January 10, 2011 04:51 PM Hey Baker Lions! Here is a place where all Lions can discuss, share, remember! Baker History together! Many thanks to our LEO Prez, John Crimmel, for sharing so much of Baker History with us via site emails! Thanks John! Some folks enjoy the history emails and others would rather not receive the emails, so we thought we'd create this "Baker History Discussions" so Lions who want to participate can subscribe to it. Click below to subscribe to this topic/thread! And you'll receive email notification of any posts to this forum. :> Click on reply below and share Baker history with us! Thanks!!! :> |
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Ismael S. Nazario
Class Of '61
 Joined: 04/11/09 Posts: 8 View Profile |
RE: Baker History Discussions Posted Monday, January 10, 2011 06:17 PM
Reflections on Baker High School over the Long Haul!
J. Foster Watkins, 1955 (Math Teacher, Counselor, Coach-1959-65)
My associations with Baker Elementary and High School go back to the very beginning. My parents moved us into “Newton D. Baker Village” in a unit right across the “ditch” from the school when it was being constructed in the early 1940s. I entered kindergarten the first day the school opened in the fall of 1942, along with my two sisters, Sara (Class of 1950) and Louise (Class of 1954). My wife remembers her childhood in “Vivid Technicolor” unlike myself who depends primarily upon “repeated tales” over time. Apparently, I had trouble adjusting in school and found my way back across the “ditch” to go home unannounced. My younger sister was allowed to spend a couple of weeks with me until I outlived that early fear of and dislike of school. The school originally carried the name as Baker Village High School (BVHS) in keeping with its association with the housing complex for which it was named.
I have fleeting glimpses in my mind of my early teachers in the second, fourth and seventh grades for some reasons who I recall as “caring and quite demanding” teachers. From the beginning, I lived with the high expectations set for me as both of my sisters were quite good students. I came to enjoy school in its fullest dimensions and looked forward to going to “high school” on the other side of the building. From the beginning the structure seemed huge to me as it was planned to handle the numbers which Fort Benning would eventually bring its way during the war effort and beyond. Somewhere along the way, the name became just Baker High School (BHS) in an effort to identify it with its larger service area.
Jumping way ahead, my love of schooling and working with students brought me back to BHS as a math teacher/counselor/coach after I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1959. I was there during the period of maximum student populations (1959-64) when we operated on double sessions that ran from 7:30 until 5:30 serving over 2800 students in grades 9-12. The elementary/middle school grades had been moved during my time at Tech.
My recollections and memories of my secondary school years at BHS are somewhat clearer than those referenced above from my elementary grades. Again with reference to individual teachers, coaches and administrators; I recall fondly being in pretty Ms. Greenhaw’s history class as a ninth grader along with Marvin Denny. Ms. Greenhaw became Mrs. Slaugher somewhere along the way as she married a local judge. Ms. Parker always stayed on my case and ensured that I took enough math classes to get into college if the opportunity presented itself. When that opportunity did come along with the scholarship offer from Tech, Mr. Reed taught me Chemistry at his home during the summer of 1955 that allowed my regular admissions to Georgia Tech. It was his strong preparation in Chemistry that really assisted me during my first quarters at Tech. I made an “A” in the three quarters of freshman Chemistry-a four credit hour course-that kept my early gpa above water.
As a student-athlete at Tech, I had obviously benefitted from some good high school coaching in football and basketball. Coach Screws (who later served many years as principal of Jordan High School), who also taught me history in the eleventh grade, was my line coach and had me prepared to play on both sides of the ball. Coach Ball had dealt with my disappointment when I did “not get a football uniform” during my ninth grade and was encouraged to “go back to the gym and concentrate on basketball with Coach Ball”. I did just that at the time, but did try again as a sophomore with a bit more success as Coach Wolf gave me a second chance. Coaches and athletic participation was a big part of my enjoyment of my high school years. I played everything that came around on the calendar and served as bat boy in baseball when it was determined that I was never going to hit a curve ball. Coach Ball brought a new optimism to the athletic program when he came to town from Bessemer, Alabama. He had an immediate impact on our football efforts in his work as an assistant coach and provided state championship leadership during our years in basketball and baseball. He also brought a past friendship with a former Georgia Tech football player from Bessemer who moved into the apartments that paralleled our football practice field. Johnny Vines, then serving a military assignment at the Post, was the primary reason that I had the opportunity to go to Tech on football scholarship. After breaking my hand in the first game of our senior year, I played again only in the last three games. Johnny moved in and saw those three games and got Coach Dodd to take me on his word that I might be able to play at Georgia Tech.
We had 100 graduates in our Class of 1955. Personally, I have always thought of it as the “Best of Baker”, but I am sure others will argue that point. Our class has been “held together” by a group of “Local Lions” who have made our class reunions over the years such special events. While not mentioning everyone by name, I am aware that Sylvia Booth Crawford, Peggy Culpepper, Georgia Lou Green Wise and Marvin Mills are four with staying power in that planning group. These get-togethers have been well attended over the years and have provided opportunities to bring back the “past” in meaningful ways and to update cherished friendships. It continues to amaze me how real friends can meet, not having seen each other in five or ten years, and it seems like “just yesterday” that we embraced and visited. There was some discussion that the 55th Reunion of 2010 might have been the last one. The less than positive response when that possibility was floated, I for one hopes, put those thoughts to bed. I look forward to another good gathering of the old crowd in 2015 and pledge my individual support and efforts to make it happen. Of course, we are all saddened by the loss of our classmates over time as we were at the last event in the passing of Sue Yawn Lewis and Larry Chestnut rather close to the event’s date. Larry had made his reservations and had planned to join the group for the first time from his new home Florida. Reflecting again on a personal note, Larry and I were “study buddies” over the years. He made Foster a much better student than he would have been otherwise. We were all pleased that Alvie and their daughter were able to be among the group and had the opportunity to reflect on how much Sue was valued and loved by so many.
I have been involved to a degree with the quarterly “Luncheons” that Ish Nazario and others have coordinated as a means of keeping the “BHS Spirit Alive and Well”. I had the “challenge” of teaching and coaching “Ishmo” in the early 60s. He was about as hard charging back then as he is in his leadership role with us now. I have been encouraged to see the range of years represented at those gatherings. Henry Hicks, the fullback that I blocked for on Friday nights and University of Alabama football foe when Tech used to play a bit even with those folks, and I try to get down from Atlanta when we can. We always go by to bring Coach Ball along to the events as a high degree of participants are former athletes who had the opportunity to play for Coach Ball. All of us old athletes are pleased to see those former cheerleaders, majorettes and band members in attendance as well. I encourage those of you who may not have taken advantage of these events to consider adding them to your “social calendar” along the way. You will find them to be rewarding and positive experiences.
I noted earlier that it was my pleasure to work at BHS for five years early in my career as a professional educator. Those five years remain the highlight of my employment experiences from the standpoint of being meaningfully involved with and touching the lives of so many young people. Janice and I never pass up an opportunity, if possible, to make the reunion events of those five classes. We will do so as long as we stay on the invitation lists!
After working at BHS for those five years, I returned to school at Auburn with the career goal of possibly replacing Dr. Kirby as principal. That is a misuse of the word—replacing—as no one could replace Dr. Kirby. He was an educator well ahead of his times and moved BHS forward in the academic arena to a level not expected by many in Columbus. I recall with a smile, the story he told when Dr. Shaw, then superintendent of education in the county system, tried to move him to Columbus High School. He responded: “Dr. Shaw, I will gladly be principal of both schools, but I am not leaving BHS.” He had been “bitten” by the Baker Spirit in a very short period of time.
I am sure those alumni who knew Mr. Boyles as the “Principal of the Place” have similar thoughts about him and his multiple “imprints” on students along the way. I have really admired his staying power with reunions and luncheons as they occur. He rarely misses anything about BHS that draws a crowd. While on the subject of principals, it should be noted that this is another area in which BHS is unique. I was a student under the first principal, Mr. E. W. Cook and a close friend of his only son. Janice and I bought their home which backed on Victory Circle as our first residence after his untimely death. I believe I am correct that Dr. Kirby and Mr. Boyles were the second and third principals of the school, respectively, somewhat amazing if one knows anything about the tenure of principals at large high schools these days.
I have found it a bit difficult to reflect on BHS without letting things spill over too much into Foster’s personal associations and feelings about the place. I recognize such, but do not apologize for it, as much of what Foster has had the opportunity to do in life can be traced back to BHS and the impact that his multiple involvements with it and its people have had on his life. In a manner not unlike, Dr. Kirby’s response to Dr. Shaw, I responded to Dr. Shaw when he questioned me about why I wanted to go back to BHS and not to Columbus High School where they also had a teaching/coaching vacancy: “Dr. Shaw, I have been against those people on the “HILL” for so long, that I do not think, I could ever be for them”!
While it was not obvious to me during my student days, it became very clear later in life to me, that the city/county leadership did not operate back then from a level playing field for BHS when compared to other high schools, especially CHS. Regrettably, not much may have changed over the years. CHS was restored after the fire and still sits high on the hill, but BHS will eventually stand no more except in the minds of those of us who love it so much. I am very appreciative of John Crimmel and other leaders of the Baker Alumni Association for their multiple efforts to keep a place in the “History Books of Muscogee County and Fort Benning, Georgia” for Baker High School. His regular communications with the Lions from the past indicate that working relationships with current county personnel seem to be open and supportive of his yeoman efforts to do so.
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Ismael S. Nazario
Class Of '61
Joined: 04/11/09 Posts: 8 View Profile |
RE: Baker History Discussions Posted Monday, January 10, 2011 07:55 PM
Reflections on Baker High School: How it altered my life.
(Robert) Wayne Richie, (Student-1956-60)
Before providing my reflections on Baker, I want to offer my humble thanks to Ish, Elva, John and the many others who have provided heroic efforts in the past and present to keep the memory of Baker alive for its alumni. Few, if any, high schools can boast of having such dedicated individuals who would work so tirelessly for so many years for a school that is no longer in existence. It is a credit to these guys, as well as all of the alumni, that we all still value the contributions that this school made to our lives.
My reflections of Baker are from the years of 1956-1960. Although I was born in Louisiana, I grew up at various locations in Columbus, as my father, like many others in the area, was military. I attended elementary at several schools in the area, but with the exception of a couple of teachers, I have little memory of those days. However, all of that changed when I went to high school. I have vivid memories to this day of my high school years.
When I first went to Baker, I was definitely a little fish out of a small pond put into a bigger pond. Like a fish, however, from day one the big pond was always to my liking. In those days, after first finding my way around, I believe that my main priorities in life were in order: 1. Hanging out with the guys (Mike and Nicky Hood, Bill Bremen, Jim Norman, Jim Dunagan, James Dunlap, and Walter Gilbert just to name a few); 2. Girls (I am giving no names here to protect the innocent); 3. Sports (football and basketball primarily); 4. a dozen or so other trivial interests; and 16. Academics (yep, I wasn’t thinking too much about this). Unfortunately (or actually fortunately as it has turned out) my innate talents and aptitudes were not well matched for my priorities. While I was always pretty good at Math and Science (and to some lesser degree with other HS subjects, etc.), I was, at best, a mediocre athlete, and had even lesser ability with girls and my other interests. (I was and still am pretty good at hanging out with the guys though). I remember also at that time, however, that ALL of the faculty and administration at Baker were constantly pushing all of us (me included) to consider what lay before us in life. In addition, they all were working hard to provide us opportunities to improve our chances by adding new advanced courses in some subjects that might help us in college. Since you have seen what my priority system was, and given the fact that no one in my family had ever attended college, going on to college wasn’t exactly forefront in my thoughts even though I was an avid science and science fiction nut.
About this time (1959) a new faculty member came to Baker (Foster Watkins) who was both my line coach in football and also one of my teachers. He was an earlier graduate of BHS and had returned to his high school to teach/ coach and work in guidance after graduating from Tech. At that time, a chance event changed my thinking and priorities and, ultimately, my life. Coach Watkins took a small group of us. I cannot remember exactly who they were although I think Jan Tilton, maybe Bill Mize, and a couple more to Atlanta to compete in a Math contest of some kind. I do not remember how we did in the contest so probably not well, but I do remember vividly that day on the campus of Georgia Tech with Coach Watkins. This visit to Tech awoke a desire and ambition for me, and from that point onward, I started thinking seriously about the possibility of going to college.
Given the late start at planning to go to college, I really had a lot of catching up to do, but I remember that all of my teachers (Coach Watkins, Mrs. Weaver, Mr. Hardy, Mrs. Owens, and many others) were very helpful in guiding me to make big and small late adjustments in preparations to go. For examples, although I knew I wanted to go to college I had absolutely no idea as what might be a suitable Major, and what requirements I might need to get into this Major. Finances were, of course, also another hurdle, but again with the guidance I was given (and I suspect some extra help by Coach Watkins in that I got a partial scholarship at Tech), I developed a plan for that. I was even pushed to take a typing class in my senior year (I may have been the only boy in the class), so that I would have at least enough skill to type my essays and lab reports if I got to college!
Ultimately, with everyone’s help, I DID go to Georgia Tech where I received my degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. Getting the degree was not easy, and I struggled mightily at times, but this may of not ever happened had I never gotten the push and support from Baker and Coach Watkins in particular. Getting to that milestone enabled me to go on in my life to do a whole lot of things that may never have happened without it.
I am now retired from NASA where I had a long and very interesting and exciting career, including working at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA Headquarters, and the Langley Research Center until December 2004. Throughout my career and life I have always been able to do the things that interest me most and get paid for doing it…launching men and rockets to the Moon and Earth orbit, managing space projects and programs, and traveling and seeing a lot of the world. Looking backward in time, it is easy to see that all of these things were enabled by the push given to me at Baker. While I certainly remember fondly all my Baker classmates and good times I had there, I am most thankful for the wise role models there who pushed me into looking beyond high school. The Baker buildings may come down this week, however, I believe that the foundation we received there is indestructible.
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Ismael S. Nazario
Class Of '61
Joined: 04/11/09 Posts: 8 View Profile |
RE: Baker History Discussions Posted Thursday, January 13, 2011 10:26 AM
Patricia Quinn Franklin---Patricia Gail Quinn when at Baker from 1961-1964---I loved Baker dearly and was so sad when my family moved across town and I had to transfer and graduate from Jordan----I remained a loyal Baker Lion then and remain so to this day---I have attended one of Baker's reunions in the past and really enjoyed seeing folks and reliving memories of those grand old days--I am in the 1962, 1963 and 1964 yearbooks.----thank you for wanting to share this with others---I don't know much about navigating the computer so feel free to post it wherever you think someone might like to read it---and they may send me an email if they would like to respond---would love to hear from other Lions----and just as a postscript--I have published a book of poetry--Poetry in Everyday Life--and it is on sale at the Sanctuary Christian Bookstore in the Landings here in Columbus if anyone is interested in reading any other of my poems-------God Bless you and the Baker family----GO LIONS!!!!!
Poem by Patricia (Quinn) Franklin '66 Baker Lives On
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