In Memoriam: M.W. Bro. Louis R. “Bob” Baker — October 13, 1917 - October 6, 2011

In Memoriam: M.W. Bro. Louis R. “Bob” Baker

October 13, 1917 – October 6, 2011

Stewart W. Miner

Grand Secretary Emeritus

Most Worshipful Brother Baker, the youngas Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia est of the four children in his family, was at the St. John’s Day Communication of the Grand born in Alborn, Minnesota and grew up in Lodge on December 27, 1986. Previous to his entrance Superior, Wisconsin. There he attended high school into the elective line as Junior Grand Steward for and the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where he the Masonic Year 1981, he had successfully served earned a bachelor’s degree. Later in life he attended terms as the Grand Pursuivant in 1979 and as Grand the George Washington University, in Washington, Historian in 1980. D.C., where he was awarded a Master’s degree in public personnel administration. His experience as a lodge officer and as a Grand Lodge officer, appointed and elected, M.W. Brother Baker entered served M.W. Brother Baker U.S. Government service in well as he adroitly handled all 1940 by acceptance of a posiof the issues, expected and tion with the National Advisory unexpected, that arose during Committee for Aeronautics, his term as Grand Master. In the predecessor of the National the process he set in motion a Aeronautics and Space Agency number of programs designed (NASA). In 1942 he took a to publicly project Freemaleave of absence from that sonry in a favorable light. It was position to serve in the U.S. largely because of his effort Army as a commissioned offithat the Grand Lodges of D.C., cer until 1945. Maryland and Virginia particiSubsequent to his military service, M.W. Brother Baker pated for the first time in the 1987 Cherry Blossom Parade. accepted employment as the During his term as Grand Masrecruitment and placement ter, M.W. Brother Baker hosted officer of the Naval Research a celebration of the 200th anniLaboratory. In 1946 he transversary of the signing of the ferred to the U.S. Information Constitution of the United Agency (USIA). There he States. By his invitation the became the personnel officer M.W. Bro. Louis R. “Bob” Baker Grand Masters, Deputy Grand of that agency, where he com1917 – 2011 Masters and their ladies of 12 pleted his career, in 1977, as the director of retirement of the original colonies of the country joined with the and insurance. brethren and ladies of this Grand Lodge to celebrate M.W. Brother Baker was raised a Master Mason in George C. Whiting Lodge No. 22 on April 12, 1951. His immediate acceptance of responsibility led quickly to appointment as an officer in that lodge, which he that event. Included in the festivities was an exclusive showing to the group of the original four pages of the U.S. Constitution in the rotunda of the National Archives Building. served as Worshipful Master in 1960. Following his One of the most lasting of his many contributions was service as Worshipful Master, he served as the lodge his effort to establish a leadership training program for secretary from 1963 until 1995, when George C. Whitthe information and training of leaders in the subordiing Lodge was consolidated with Potomac Lodge No. 5. nate lodges of the jurisdiction. At his invitation, on the M.W. Brother Baker served the Grand Lodge of D.C. faithfully for many years previous to his installation first weekend in October 1987, some 80 of the officers then serving the lodges of the jurisdiction gathered at the 4H Conference Center in Front Royal, Virginia, to

participate in the first Leadership Training Conference of the Grand Lodge. Though the venue is since subject to change, the Conference continues nevertheless to this day. Southern California Lodge of Research; the Pythagoras Lodge of Research in Washington, D.C.; the Masonic Veterans Association; the Knights of Mecca of Almas Temple; Capitol Forest No 104 of the Tall Cedars of

In his great respect for the maintenance of complete M.W. Brother Baker was very proud of his association and accurate records, M.W. Brother Baker took the with the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, which he lead in securing the approval of Grand Lodge to pubserved as Grand Representative of that Grand Lodge lish the 25-year extension of the history of the Grand near the Grand Lodge of D.C. for many years. Lodge that had been prepared by the Grand Historian, Carl R. LeVine. During his term he also assigned responsibility for the preparation and distribution of The Voice of Freemasonry to the Grand Secretary and his staff. He was no less proud of his long association with the Eastern Star as a member of Hope Chapter No. 30, where he served as Worthy Patron seven times, and as the Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter in D.C. in 1990. He was Upon completion of his also Worthy Patron in term as Grand Master, Sharon Chapter No. 63 M.W. Brother Baker made a number of recOne of the most lasting in McLean, Virginia in 1967 and 2006. ommendations, two of which, in retrospect, are especially worthy of note. The first of these resulted in the subsequent decision of the Grand Lodge to become involved in the provision of scholarships for D.C. High School graduates pursuing college-level educations. No less important was his recommendation that a search committee be of his many contributions was his effort to establish a leadership training program for the information and training of leaders in A few weeks before his death M.W. Brother Baker was presented his 60-year veteran’s award by Grand Master Jesse Villarreal and Grand Secretary Mansour Hatefi at the Renaissance Gardens Rehabilitation Center. Had he lived only seven more days, he would have celebrated his 94th birthday. M.W. Brother Baker appointed to find suitable space for the Grand the subordinate lodges and his wife Doris, who pre-deceased him, were Lodge office. Both recommendations were of the jurisdiction. members of the United Methodist Church in favorably received. McLean, Virginia, where M.W. Brother Baker’s fraternal interests were by no means confined to his lodge and the Grand Lodge. He was an active member of many Masonicaffiliated organizations, including those of the Scottish Rite, in which he served as the Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection; Mt. Pleasant Royal Arch the Thanksgiving service was conducted in 1987 under the direction of the pastor, our former Grand Lodge Chaplain, David Balcom. Upon moving to the Greenspring retirement community, they became faithful members of the Village Church in that community. Chapter No. 3; Adoniram Council of Royal and Select M.W. Brother Baker and his wife are now at rest, folMasters No. 2; and Washington Commandery No. 1, lowing services in the Demaine Funeral Home Chapel Knights Templar. in Springfield, at the National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee In addition, he held membership in High Twelve Club No 576; A. Douglas Smith Lodge of Research No. 1949; Washington and Lee York Rite College No. 93; Old Dominion Chapter No. 364 of National Sojourners; the Highway, in Falls Church, Virginia. They are survived by their son, Bruce, and daughter-in-law, Darie Donovan, of Stamford, Connecticut, and by 19 nieces and nephews. National Defense Masonic Club; the Pitman Masonic The will of God is accomplished. So mote it be. Club; the Masonic Book Club of Springfield, Illinois; the Amen. n Lebanon; and the Royal Order of Scotland.