John H. Baker Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Baker Jr.
|
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baker in 1959
|
|||||||||
| Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina | |||||||||
| In office December 4, 1978 – 2002 |
|||||||||
| Succeeded by | Donnie Harrison | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | June 10, 1935 Raleigh, North Carolina |
||||||||
| Died | October 31, 2007 (aged 72) Raleigh, North Carolina |
||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||
|
Football career |
|||||||||
| No. 73, 78 | |||||||||
| Position: | DE / DT | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Raleigh (NC) Washington | ||||||||
| College: | North Carolina Central | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1958 / Round: 5 / Pick: 56 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
John Haywood Baker Jr. (June 10, 1935 – October 31, 2007) was an important American leader. People often called him "Big John." He was a talented football player in the National Football League (NFL) for over ten years. After his football career, he became the sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina. He was the first African-American sheriff in North Carolina since the time after the Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John H. Baker Jr. was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 10, 1935. His father, John H. Baker Sr., was also a very important person. He was the first African-American police officer in Raleigh. John Jr. grew up in the Oberlin neighborhood of Raleigh. He went to Ligon High School. Later, he attended North Carolina Central University. He graduated from college in 1958. While there, he played football with Herman Boone. In 1959, John Baker Jr. married Juanita. They stayed married throughout his life.
Playing Professional Football
John Baker Jr. was a great football player. In 1958, the Los Angeles Rams picked him in the NFL Draft. He was the first player from a mostly black college to be drafted into the NFL. He played as a defensive lineman for eleven seasons.
He played for several teams:
- The Los Angeles Rams (1958–1961)
- The Philadelphia Eagles (1962)
- The Pittsburgh Steelers (1963–1967)
- The Detroit Lions (1968)
He was known for his strong tackles during games.
Becoming a Community Leader
After retiring from the NFL, John Baker Jr. continued to serve his community. He worked for U.S. Senator Robert Morgan. In 1970, he was appointed to the state Parole Commission. He was the first black person to hold this position.
Baker was also part of a group called the "Oval Table Gang." This was a group of black community leaders in Raleigh. They met to talk about how to make schools fair for everyone. They also planned ways to help black candidates get elected to public office. John Baker Jr. also spent time talking to young people. He visited community centers and prisons to help them make good choices. In 1976, he helped with Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign in North Carolina.
Serving as Sheriff of Wake County
In 1978, John Baker Jr. decided to run for sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina. He won the election and became sheriff on December 4, 1978. He was re-elected many times and served for 24 years.
As sheriff, he made many positive changes. He created a program for young people in jail to continue their education. He also helped start the John H. Baker Charter School. This school was named after him to honor his work. In 2002, he lost his re-election bid to Donnie Harrison. He tried to win the office back in 2006 but was not successful.
Later Life and Passing
In September 2007, John Baker Jr. and his father were honored. They were both inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame. John Baker Jr. passed away on October 31, 2007, at his home in Raleigh. His funeral was held at St. Matthew AME Church in Raleigh. He was buried at the Carolina Biblical Gardens.
Legacy and Honors
John Baker Jr. is remembered for his important contributions. He received many honors for his work in football and public service:
- 1972: He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
- 1999: The Football Stadium at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School was renamed the John H. Baker, Jr. Stadium.
- 2007: Both John Baker Jr. and his father, John Baker Sr., were inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.
- 2008: The Wake County Public Safety Center was renamed after John H. Baker Jr. This was to honor his many years of service as sheriff.
