![[photo, Walter M. Baker, State Senator]](/msa/mdmanual/05sen/images/msa12141.gif)
WALTER M. BAKER (1927-2012)
Member of Senate, January 1979 to January 8, 2003. Member, Joint Task Force on Catastrophic Liability Insurance Fund and Maryland Reinsurance Exchange, 1986. Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 1987-2003 (past vice-chair). Member, Rules Committee, 1987-2003; Legislative Policy Committee, 1987-2003 (management subcommittee). Senate Chair, Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Committee, 1988-93. Member, Executive Nominations Committee, 1993-2003; Senate Committee on Redistricting, 2001-02; Special Committee on Gaming, 2001-03; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures; Southern Legislative Conference of State Governments.
Member, Governor's Task Force to Review the Defense of Insanity, 1982-84; Governor's Task Force on Correctional Rehabilitation, 1983; Governor's Task Force on Time-Sharing, 1983-84; Task Force to Study the Maryland Tax Court, 1984-85; Joint Executive/Legislative Task Force on Medical Malpractice Insurance, 1985; Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 1985-95; Task Force to Study Revision of Inheritance and Estate Tax Laws, 1987; Sentencing Guidelines Advisory Board of Maryland Judicial Conference, 1987-99; Commission to Study Ways to Improve the Financial Viability of the Racing Industry, 1997-99; Commission on Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction, 1998-2000; Governor's Task Force on Childproof Guns, 1999; Governor's Task Force on Eastern Shore Economic Development, 1999-2001; Attainment Plan (federal air quality standards) Task Force, Department of the Environment; Anti-Terrorism Work Group, 2001-02; Mid-Shore Regional Council, 2001-03; Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, 2001-03.
Born in Port Deposit, Maryland, September 23, 1927. Attended Perryville High School. Barracks clerk, Maryland State Police, 1944-45. Salesman, Coca-Cola Company, 1945-46. Owner and operator, automobile repair garage, 1946-50. Served in U.S. Army, 1950-53 (staff sergeant). Insurance claim adjuster, 1957-61. Washington College, B.A. (political science), 1960; University of Maryland School of Law, LL.B., 1960. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1960. Attorney, Baker & Thomey, P.A., Elkton. Past president, director, Cecil County Bar Association; past president, Young Democrat Club of Washington College and Cecil County. Charter member, Elks Lodge, Elkton. Life member, American Legion Post no. 135, Perryville; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post no. 6027, North East. Member, Harmony Lodge, Port Deposit, and 32nd degree Mason of Nur Temple; Elkton Rotary Club (past director, president); Loyal Order of Moose Lodge no. 851, Elkton. Member, Chantilly Country Club, Rising Sun; Newark Country Club, Newark, Delaware. Sadler Award, Washington College, 1960. Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 1997, 2001. First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate, 2002. Honorary doctorate, Washington College, 2003. Married; two children, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. Died in Newark, Delaware, April 17, 2012.
© Copyright Maryland State Archives