Remembering Tom Baker

The former Times publisher's family recalls his humility and devotion to his community

WAITSBURG – It wasn't unexpected, but the void is large. Waitsburg is mourning the loss of former Times publisher and longtime civil servant Tom Baker, who passed away after an extended illness on Nov. 14.

Tom not only spent 27 years writing about life in Waitsburg, but he gave wholeheartedly to the town and its folk, becoming a local institution, and leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Tom grew up in Colorado and was 11 years old when America entered World War II. He had a great interest in the news coming out about the war and, at age 12, published his first newspaper. The one-page hand-typed tabloid bears the masthead, "Deuel Street Herald, Editor – Tom Baker, Thursday, Nov. 12, 1942."

The yellowed sheet, with hand-justified columns on the war, gas rationing, the beet shortage, and even a sports blurb, hangs framed in the Baker household today. A notice at the bottom of the paper reads: "If my subscribers will wait I will try to get out a full length paper 2 pages by the 23. It will have full front page with sports and comics on the back page. The editor."

Tom became editor of his high school paper and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Printing Management from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1953. He worked at the Bradford-Robinson Printing Co. in Denver, Colo. for several years, until he learned that The Times was for sale in Waitsburg.

Tom's wife, Anita, whom he married in 1951, said Tom also considered going into the ministry, and was even accepted to a theological seminary in 1960, prior to moving to Waitsburg.

"I've always said there's not much difference between being a pastor and a publisher. You have a weekly obligation, advertising is like passing the collection plate, you share prayers, joys and sorrows, and the editorial is the sermon," said Tom's son, Loyal.

Tom and Anita moved to Waitsburg in 1963 in anticipation of taking ownership of The Times. They were in their early 30's and were joined by their children Loyal (5), Peggy (7), and Charlie (10).

Tom worked with publisher Carl Dilts for one year before he and Anita took over. The first issue to bear his name as editor was the July 28, 1963 edition.

"The minute we came to town we joined things and went to meetings. Even if it was paper night [Tom] never missed Lions Club or Commercial Club," Anita said.

She said that many times, after meetings on publication night, people would want to talk, and he would be up until 2 a.m. getting the paper out. Eventually, he learned to go to the office and type in the dark until people were off the streets, she said.

"But if anyone got in he never turned them away or said he was too busy or that he needed to get the paper out," she added.

Putting out the paper was a true family affair in those days. The Times was printed on letterpress with Anita feeding the press, Charlie pouring "pigs," and Loyal as flyboy. Doris Hulce was the Linotype operator and Bettie Chase ran the wing mailer. Peggy stayed home and had a hot meal ready for the crew when they arrived.

Loyal said the first year solo was a bit rough, especially the Dec. 23, 1964 issue. Tom was preparing for the big Christmas edition when Waitsburg was hit by the flood of 1964. Water filled The Times' basement as roving reporter Vance Orchard, who worked for the Union Bulletin at the time, stopped in and snapped a picture of Tom ankle deep in water.

"That was 'the moment' that Dad gave up on trying to keep the water out," Loyal said.

Loyal said that even though the power stayed on, the basement was full of water and there was no heat, leaving the ink tacky. Doris Hulce, their faithful Linotype operator was out with the flu and Anita did her best to fill in though she said she "could never get the hang of it." They did get the paper out even though it was a bit smudged.

Oh! And it was Tom and Anita's wedding anniversary, as well.

"Professionally, that was one of his greatest challenges and yet he didn't despair," Loyal said. "He taught us that if something happens and you get upset, react, and lose your cool, the first thing you have to do is to get your emotions under control," Loyal said.

Loyal later found the photo negative in the Whitman College archives and had the portrait framed. A portion of the text under the portrait reads:

"In spite of all the obstacles, that week's issue, though a bit smudgy, got out, sprinkled with light-hearted anecdotes from the town's experiences during the flooding. Character, when forged in the crucible, sets one apart. Your perseverance is a monument which binds us, not just as keepers of the flame, but as family. We hope only to 'Carry On!' by your example."

Since Tom's passing, many people have commented on Facebook, describing him as "gentle" and "kind." Loyal said Tom also taught his children to make friends with someone that didn't like them rather than to fight back.

As a child, Tom delivered mail for the post office at Christmas time, and his approach to a snarling dog was to take dog biscuits and make friends with the animal. Tom maintained that tradition and always carried dog biscuits for the dogs he and Anita would meet on their daily Waitsburg bike rides.

In the newspaper business, it's hard to avoid having people not like you, but that was always a tough one for Tom, Loyal said.

Loyal said Tom was always studying efficiency and was first in line to update his technology.

When the new machines came out and the dailies bought them, Tom would buy their second and third generation machines, Loyal said. When computers came along he got right into that. We got a laser printer right off, then got PageMaker, then Pagination.

"He didn't skimp on having the best equipment because that paid dividends by saving you time," Loyal said.

Anita recalled that Tom used some of that extra time to take wedding photos, which provided the family with plenty of funny wedding stories through the years. One day the sheriff even tracked Tom down at home to deliver him to a reception where he was unaware he'd been expected to take photos.

Tom also taught journalism at the high school for several years. For the first period of each day, the entire family would be at school, with Tom and Anita teaching, and the children attending class.

"From a teacher's perspective, Tom was just too nice with the kids!" said Anita.

The words "thoughtful" and "spirited debater" have also been used repeatedly in describing Tom. His obituary boasts a list of public service activities, club memberships, and awards that few could rival.

Loyal said Tom had a strong philosophy of being involved and covering your town. While publishing The Times, he was on the Waitsburg city council for four years and served as mayor for five. When asked about a potential conflict of interest, Loyal referred to an article about Tom that ran in the Union Bulletin and was re-printed in the July 18, 1983 issue of Time Magazine. The article quotes Howard Smith saying simply, "It was his turn to be mayor."

The Baker home is filled with stack upon stack of books, providing testament to a man who was constantly learning. Tom belonged to the Walla Walla Inquiry Club and would spend a year researching and writing a paper to present to the group, Anita said.

He regularly read both The Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker.

"Even though he was conservative, he read both sides because his philosophy was that somewhere in the middle was the truth," said daughter-in-law, Charlotte Baker.

Always unassuming, Tom was as comfortable talking with a governor as with a vagrant. He was never boastful. In fact, son Loyal was surprised to learn, through conversation with an acquaintance, that Tom served on the Walla Walla County Board of Equalization. His dad had never mentioned it.

Just seven years after arriving in Waitsburg, Tom was appointed to the Walla Walla Community College Board of Trustees. And he was responsible for getting the China Pavilion moved from the World's Fair Expo in Spokane to the college campus, Anita said.

As president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Tom, joined by Anita, visited the White House and met not one, but three presidents – Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. In a twist of irony, the only presidential family the staunchly republican Bakers were able to have their pictures taken with was the Clintons.

"He wasn't in anything for his ego. He was in it for the betterment of the town and the community," Loyal said.

"If he was in it to glorify himself, he got brought down a notch or two when he got home!" said Anita, laughing.

"His was just a remarkable, exemplary life, and he got to do what he wanted to do, which was to be a small town newspaper editor," Loyal said.