[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ALAN BAKER

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, August 7 marks the 95th birthday of 
Maine's Alan Baker, a truly remarkable journalist, community leader, 
and public servant. It will be a pleasure to join Alan's friends and 
family in celebrating a remarkable life of adventures, accomplishments, 
and lasting contributions.
  Alan's commitment to service began when he was growing up in 
Orrington, ME, during World War II. Spending more than 250 4-hour 
shifts in a tower above the town office to spot enemy aircraft 
targeting the vital Dow Army Airfield in nearby Bangor taught him the 
importance of individuals stepping forward in times of need.
  After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1951, Alan launched a long 
and successful international career in publishing. He brought his work 
ethic, vision, and experience back to Maine in 1986 and joined the 
staff of the legendary Ellsworth American, one of the oldest newspapers 
in Maine. He purchased that newspaper 2 years later and later founded 
the Mount Desert Islander. Under his leadership, those two publications 
demonstrated the value of community newspapers by keeping readers 
informed and helping them to become involved citizens.
  Alan was recognized with many industry awards over the course of his 
career, including the National Newspaper Association's James O. Amos 
Award for outstanding achievements in community journalism. In addition 
to being named Maine Journalist of the Year, he is a member of the 
Maine Press Association Hall of Fame.
  Throughout his life, Alan led by example to encourage civic 
engagement. Following in his mother's footsteps, who served seven terms 
in the Maine State House, Alan ran for and won a seat as a citizen 
lawmaker in order to do his part and to better understand the 
legislative process. Despite his busy professional life, he has served 
his hometown on many community boards, from historic preservation to 
cemetery upkeep, and was named Orrington's Citizen of Year in 2017.
  The remote island communities of Downeast Maine are beautiful yet 
challenging places to live. One of Alan's most significant 
contributions has been his strong and generous support for the work of 
the Maine Seacoast Mission. Founded in 1905, the nondenominational, 
nonprofit organization began delivering a minister to isolated 
communities where there were no churches and books where there were no 
libraries via a sloop called Hope. Today, the Mission's motor vessel 
Sunbeam V carries on that work and also serves as a mobile health 
clinic, bringing medical services to four islands. In 2017, the Mission 
presented Alan with its Sunbeam Award for his steadfast commitment to 
the island and coastal communities of rural Maine.
  Alan Baker is an extraordinary journalist, a treasured friend, and a 
true asset to the State of Maine. May his birthday and the days to come 
be filled with joy.

                          ____________________