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Basil Baker courtesy photo
Basil Baker was born in 1920 on a farm south of Bristow. He grew up on the family farm south of Bristow where he worked on the farm and worked for other farmers when they were in need. In 1940, at the age of 20, Baker joined the United States Army where he rode in the 1st Calvary Division, 7th Calvary Regiment until a bad knee injury made him leave the Calvary. He was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was a small arms instructor for five years. After this, Baker was sent to Santa Fe, New Mexico, as an advisor to their National Guard. His next military journey took him over seas through Germany to Austria. From there, he was sent to Fort Eustis, Virginia, in the transport division. Baker was then sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, as a first sergeant for a development company that dealt with small airplane drop analysis. He traveled to Topeka, Kansas, where he was an advisor for the Kansas Army Reserves. Next in his military journey, Baker went to Hawaii as a commander of classified documents for the U.S. Army Pacific. He was then asked by the General to return to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to once again be the advisor for the National Guard.
Baker retired from the Army in 1966 after going through both WWII and the Korean war during which time he acquired multiple medals and other acknowledgments of his service in the military. He became the Personnel Director for St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 11 years. He moved back to Bristow in 1977 and continued to work first at R & R Appliance as their repairman and later at Max Kemp’s horse ranch as his manager of the ranch. In 1990, he built their four bedroom home south of Bristow where they lived until 2000 when they had a house built here in town. They have since downsized, not needing the extra space, they switched homes with their daughter.
Baker says he had a long fulfilling life and has seen many things throughout his years such as the Spanish Flu, the dust bowl, and the Great Depression. He has lived through a lot of things and has now seen 19 presidents in his lifetime. Through all the hardships, struggles, losing friends and loved ones, he is still going strong. Baker says his secret to a long life is remaining active. He exercises everyday including pushups and bungee cord work, keeping his body strong. Baker said, “I remain good posture because if I slouch people will think I’m old.” Baker loves to work in his garden and still plays golf at 100 years old.