North Arkansas College is mourning the loss of its founding president. Dr. Bill Baker, who was also instrumental in the opening of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, died Friday at his residence in Gilbert at the age of 84.
According to the Harrison Daily Times, Baker was a graduate of Marshall High School and an all-conference basketball player at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He later worked at Arkansas Tech as a faculty member and administrator for 17 years
Baker became the president at Northark in 1974 and remained in that position until his retirement in 2001. Northark's off-campus programs during his tenure led to the opening of ASU-Mountain Home and Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
Funeral services for Bill Baker will be Thursday morning at 11 at the Gene Durand Center on Northark's center campus in downtown Harrison. A visitation will follow with the family and a light lunch reception. Burial will be in Osborne Cemetery in St. Joe. Memorial donations may be sent to North Arkansas College Foundation. Arrangements are by Coffman Funeral Home in Harrison.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI