[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JAMES K. BAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUKE MESSER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 2013

  Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
extraordinary accomplishments of one of my constituents, James K. Baker 
of Columbus, Indiana.
  James Baker became president and chief executive officer of Arvin 
Industries in 1981 and served until his retirement in 1998. During 
James' stewardship of the company, Arvin Industries was noted for its 
aggressive pursuit and success in building a globalized sales and 
supply infrastructure as the auto industry diversified globally in the 
1980s.
  In addition to building a Fortune 500 company, James served from 
1990-1991 as the chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was a 
former chairman of the DePauw University Board of Trustees, his alma 
mater, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the 2003 Indiana Government 
Efficiency Commission. James was a strong advocate of education reform 
efforts and higher educational standards as a means of building and 
sustaining a global and competitive workforce in our communities across 
the State. I know Jim was particularly proud of his involvement as a 
Member of the Board of Trustees with the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated 
School, an Indianapolis charter school.
  James Baker was my friend and an inspiration to people across the 
Hoosier State. I ask the entire 6th Congressional District to keep his 
wife, Beverly, in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate the life of 
James Baker.

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