[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOHN BAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, history reminds us of people who made a 
difference, who used their talent to change things. John Baker is one 
of those rare persons whose life has made a difference.
  I first met John Baker as his classmate entering Williamette 
University in Salem, Oregon. We both joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity 
together. We studied science, religion, and history together. We played 
intramural sports and campus politics together.
  John was always special. I think he was the first person I met who 
constructively was questioning authority--asking, ``why not?'' whenever 
someone was treated unfairly he spoke up for them. When the Civil 
Rights movement began in the South, John made sure the injustice being 
done was brought to the attention of the Northwest. He was always the 
first to rise to the cause--in many cases began the cause--to fight 
evil.
  John's career brought him to the ministry to use it as a means of 
educating parishioners to the wrongs in society.
  To the farmers, he brought the issues of farm workers. To the 
warriors, he brought the sorrow of death and destruction of the 
families and their enemies. To the small, friendly and secure rural 
towns of California, he brought the hatred and prejudice of the towns 
in the South. John was always a teacher, a prophet, a motivator for 
justice. Truly a religious leader.
  That was not enough. He moved to education and a larger audience. He 
became a counselor of students and rose to statewide recognition in his 
field.
  John was always pushing--pushing people to think about options, to 
change their lives to do better. He didn't just influence the students, 
he had an impact on his peers as well. He pushed his community to 
participate in the electoral process. He didn't just preach, he also 
practiced his compassion.
  He was one of the first during the Vietnam War to adopt Vietnamese 
orphans. He didn't just tell people to vote for change, he ran for 
public office and got elected to the City Council.
  John practices what he preaches--and he preaches what he practices. 
His special style makes him an ideal counselor fitting ones passions 
with ones work.
  Public institutions will miss him because he makes those institutions 
do better. Teachers and students will miss him because he is the best 
of both. His friends will miss him because he makes friendship mean a 
lifetime of support. I'll miss him because he pushed me to push others. 
My public service as an elected county supervisor, state legislator, 
and now congressman, was made possible by John Baker's support and 
belief that ordinary people can rise to opportunity to do greater good. 
John personifies President Theodore Roosevelt's wise command, ``Do what 
you can, where you are, with what you've got.'' John's life and deeds 
are a model for how the torch should be passed to the next generation.
  As John departs his position as Vice President of Student Services 
from Gavilan College, I wish him all the best in his retirement. He 
will be deeply missed.

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