Monday, April 9, 2018

Dr. Robert J. Baker

Robert James Baker passed away Friday, March 30, 2018, at his home in Lubbock, Texas. He was born April 8, 1942, to James Simeon Baker and Laura Cooper Baker in Warren.  His father was killed in action during WWII, and his mother married Theron Herring, resulting in Robert growing up with six siblings. Robert graduated from Warren High School in 1960, attended Ouachita Baptist University on a track and football scholarship, and received his B.S. from Arkansas A&M College, Monticello in 1963. He later received a Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University and a PhD from the University of Arizona.  Robert joined the faculty at Texas Tech University in 1967, where he spent 48 years in the Department of Biological Sciences. He was recognized as a distinguished teacher and research scientist by Texas Tech and several professional scientific organizations.  He was the recipient of the University of Arkansas, Monticello Distinguished Alumnus in 1981.  Robert was active in many scientific societies, including serving as president of the American Society of Mammalogists, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, and Texas Society of Mammalogists. In 1979, Robert received the Paul Whitfield Horn Professorship, which is Texas Tech's highest award for a faculty member. Beginning in the 1990s, he helped lead a team of scientists researching the effects of radiation on plants and wildlife surrounding the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.  Robert was known nationally and internationally for his scholarship, research productivity, and education of graduate students.  During his career at Texas Tech, he mentored 98 students to completion of Master's and PhD degrees. He also impacted the lives of hundreds of undergraduate students, especially through the non-majors biology course for which he is fondly remembered by many.  Robert also was the founder and Director of the Natural Science Research Laboratory of the Museum of Texas Tech University, a position he occupied from 1976 until his retirement in 2015. Robert was passionate about education, waterfowl and pheasant hunting, raising golden retrievers, and ranching.

Robert was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, and by his son, Robert Kyle Baker.  He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Laura Kyle Baker, daughter April Baker-Padilla and husband Michael Padilla, and grandchildren Jason Baker and Faith Padilla, all of Lubbock, Texas. He is also survived by two brothers, Randall (Rhonda) Herring of Warren and Rex Herring of Canon City, Colorado, and by four sisters, Regina (David) Stedman of Magnolia, Rose (Duane) Gantz of Benton, Ruth (Roger) Lephiew of Warren, and Retha (Eldon) Sawyer of Monticello, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held at Zapata Funeral Home, Spur, Texas, with a graveside service at Afton Cemetery, Afton, Texas, on April 3, 2018.  A memorial is planned for a later date. Memorial donations can be made to the Natural Science Research Laboratory Fund for Excellence, Texas Tech, to the Bobby Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund, or by planting a tree in remembrance of Robert's own enthusiasm for tree-planting.


No comments:

Post a Comment