[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE MEMORY OF JOSEPH HENRY BAKER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the state of 
Alabama lost a dear friend this week, and I rise today to honor Joseph 
Henry Baker, Jr. and pay tribute to his memory.
  Known affectionately as ``Bobo,'' he was a native and lifelong 
resident of Mobile. Bobo graduated from Murphy High School and entered 
the U.S. Army at the height of World War II at the age of 17. He would 
ultimately retire from the U.S. Army Reserves with the rank of colonel.
  As part of his military service, he attended both North Carolina 
State University and Oregon State University and earned his bachelor's 
degree in electrical engineering. Following the war, Bobo earned an 
accounting degree from the University of Alabama. He was also named to 
the University of Alabama School of Commerce and Business 
Administration's All Time All Star Academic Team.
  After finishing at the University of Alabama, Bobo began his career 
in the Mobile banking industry. During this time, he attended the 
National Trust School at Northwestern University, the New York State 
Trust School and Rutgers Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
  In 1955, Bobo joined the auditing department of the First National 
Bank of Mobile, now AmSouth Bank. The following year he was promoted to 
assistant trust officer and then to trust officer in 1960. In 1965, 
Bobo was named assistant vice president. He was elected vice president 
in 1967, senior trust officer in 1969, senior vice president in 1974 
and head of the trust department in 1975.
  He was active in a number of professional banking organizations. He 
served as chairman of the Southern Trust Conference Planning Committee, 
president of the trust division of the Alabama Bankers Association, and 
member of the American Bankers Association.
  Bobo was also active in a number of civic and community 
organizations. He was a former secretary and director of the Lion's 
Club of Mobile, former president of America's Junior Miss, former 
president of the Mobile Preschool for the Deaf, a founding member of 
both the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Family Counseling Center, 
and a member of the Senior Bowl Committee, the M.W. Smith Foundation, 
Quarterback Club, Mobile Touchdown Club, Coastal Conservation 
Association, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the 
Mobile County Wildlife Association.
  Bobo also gave much of his time to his beloved parish, St. Ignatius 
Catholic Church. He was a member of the Equestrian Society of the Holy 
Sepulchre, Legatus, the Serra Club of Mobile as well as Catholic Social 
Services. He has also served as treasurer and member of the board of 
directors of the McGill-Toolen Foundation.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a 
dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. 
Joseph Henry Baker, Jr. will be dearly missed by his family--his wife 
of 48 years, Mary; his children, Laura Blakely Cooper, Leigh Eleanor 
Givhan, Joseph Henry Baker III, and Mary Lucille Green; his 12 
grandchildren, James Lucien Hinton Ill, Laura Blakely Hinton, Russell 
Baker Hinton, Mary Virginia Givhan, William Bowman Givhan, Jr., Eleanor 
Frances Givhan, Mary Deas Baker, Elizabeth Frances Baker, Charles 
Lansing Green, Jr., Mary Eleanor Green, Julia Baker Green, and Henry 
Harmon Green; his sister, Frances Baker Lauten; and his brother, 
William Costello Baker--as well as the countless friends he leaves 
behind.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult 
time.

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