Republican Party of Dane County           

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Do you know … Dave Baker?

Submitted by RPDC Media Coordinator Bill Richardson

We all know Dave Baker as an approachable guy with a dry, ready wit who as Vice Chair of RPDC runs an efficient Caucus and as acting Chair kept us all on track until Mike Herl was elected Chair last May to complete Eric West’s term.

Dave’s Republican activities, besides being a lifelong Republican, include getting fully involved in the 2004 presidential campaign when he joined RPDC.  He’s worked on campaigns for: Bush (twice), McCain, Green, Darrow, Magnum (twice), Hanson, Van Hollen, Gableman, Augustine, Theron, and Ripp and is now helping the nonpartisan Nancy Mistele campaign for Dane County Executive. Election: April 7, 2009.

At RPDC he’s been an Assembly District Chair, Vice-Party Chair, Acting Party Chair, member-Events Committee, Resolutions Committee, Credentials Committee and has assisted with several Lincoln Day Dinners, Caucuses, Christmas Parties, Picnics and other events.  At the state level he has served the Republican Party in the Second Congressional  District, been a member of the Executive Committee, Chair, Resolutions Committee, and has assisted with candidate development.

But … Do you know Dave Baker?

David Merle Baker was born and raised in Iowa and moved to Wausau in his junior year, where he graduated from Wausau East in 1956 (Dave still meets quarterly with old HS buddies).  Dave joined the Army Reserves right after high school and enjoyed the ‘beautiful surroundings’ and 90 plus heat of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  Dave attended UW, Univ. of Minnesota, and Hamline Univ.  He majored in Sociology and later took professional training at UW -Madison School of Business.

Dave met at college a lovely, intelligent and devoted girl who was the daughter of a Lutheran minister, Carol Marie Horn. In 1959 they married (this year is their Golden Wedding Anniversary).  Today, their children are:  Greg 48, Doug 46, Cindy 40 and Brad 35, and their nine grandchildren range in age from age 20 down to age 2 and are among the many joys of Dave’s life.

I asked Dave what his priorities in life were and who were the most influential people in his life. He replied instantly: “My wife-Carol Baker; my father-Merle Baker.”

His priorities:

• God.  Active member Mount Olive Lutheran Church for over 35 years, Sunday School Teacher, Usher, Elder, Communion Server.  Served on several board and held several directorships.  Three terms as Assistant Executive Director. Currently serving as Executive Director. Chairman-Executive Committee. Function as Chief Executive Officer of parish. Through morning devotions, evening prayers, and putting my life in God’s hands, I ask Him to guide me to be an instrument        to do his work here on earth as best I can.

• Family.  Spends time daily with wife, Carol, who was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease at an early age and has been in a nursing home for the past six years.  Keeps close to children and grandchildren with lots of love and TLC.

• Boy Scouts of America.  Volunteer Scouter for over 40 years.  Held many volunteer positions at Unit, District and Council Level.  Current positions:  Member -Council Executive Board, Chair- Council Risk Management Committee, Assistant District Commissioner, Assistant Scoutmaster- Troup 628 in Madison.   Honors include:  Silver Beaver Award (highest award to volunteers from Council), District Award of Merit, Distinguished Commissioner Award, Scoutmaster Key and Commissioner Key.  Earned a Master’s Degree from Five Star University of Scouting.  Completed coursework for a Doctorate and working on Thesis.

• American Red Cross. Donated over 20 gallons of blood. Past five years served as a volunteer driver for the blood services unit, 2-3 days a week.  (We call Dave “Dracula” since he collects from blood drives all over the state). Helped organize training classes.

Dave’s professional career includes management positions at Retail Credit Company/Equifax (20 years) and Wisconsin Physician’s Service Insurance Corp. (16 years).  He retired in 1995 but kept a “Post Retirement” career at Sears West Towne and has a full time “job” as a volunteer (See below)

His hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating, genealogy research, reading (3-4 books/wk), restoring cars, auto racing, music, politics, travel, winters in Florida and  cleaning apartments!  “Two Men and a Bucket” Dave and Bill Richardson were so labeled on WIBA AM by Brian Schimming in late December when he substituted for Vicki McKenna while she moved from her old apartment that they volunteered to clean up.

Dave’s volunteer activities would fill pages. Here’s a sampling of his other volunteer activities:

• Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition: Chair-Membership Committee, Member-Steering Comm.

• American Cancer Society:  Conducted numerous smoking cessation courses over 15 years.

• United Way of Dane County.  Member- Allocations Committee, fund organizer.

• Interfaith Hospitality Network (now The Road Home).  Served as Coordinator for several years for this agency which helps Homeless families.  Donated time doing free auto repairs for clients.

• Baker Family Society.  Founder and President of this family organization for over 20 years.  Publishes newsletters, organizes reunions, maintains genealogy records (over 80,000 names).

• Spring Valley Cemetery Association.  Administrator of this family cemetery in Dodgeville.  Maintains grave records and financial accounts.

• Claims Association of Central Wisconsin.  Past President.

• Cavemen*.  Charter member and on Executive Committee!

       *Citizens Against Voting for Endless Madison Area Nonsense.

Thanks for all you do Dave!

Copyright © 2009 Republican Party of Dane County
Authorized and Paid for by the Republican Party of Dane
County, Jon Freund Treasurer
437 S. Yellowstone Dr. Suite 102 Madison, Wisconsin 53719
Phone: 608-288-0059 | Fax: 608-288-8570
E-mail: info@danegop.org