Baker dies humble achiever
Collin Whitchurch/Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/20/09 Section: News
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Merv Baker knew them all.
The Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame member died Saturday at the age of 92.
"He knew all those guys," said Baker's son Ken, Eastern's director of student recreation. "He was also personal friends with every EIU president in history."
Merv Baker was a 1940 Eastern alumnus and was inducted into the Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983.
He won 13 letters during his playing career at Eastern while competing in football, basketball, baseball, golf, and track and field.
But while his accomplishments at Eastern are long and noteworthy, the Charleston native is best known for what he did after graduating.
Merv Baker became a prominent figure in the high school community, coaching football, basketball and baseball for four different high schools from 1940 until 1970, including 17 years at Charleston High School.
"He loved young people," Ken Baker said. "He had a lot of great teams and athletes, but it was more important for him to have a good kid than a great athlete. Occasionally, he would find someone who was both."
After his coaching days were over, Merv Baker served as the athletic director for Charleston High School through 1990 when he retired.
He compiled a 322-148 record in his basketball coaching career and a 97-33-9 record coaching football.
Along with being an Eastern Hall of Fame member, Merv Baker was inducted into three other Halls of Fame.
He is a member of both the Illinois High School Association's Football Coaches and Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He is also in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame.
But despite all the accomplishments, Ken Baker said his dad was always humble about it.
"His comment to that was, 'If you live long enough, you'll win some awards,'" Ken Baker said. "I guess he did that."
Tom Woodall, the Eastern cross country head coach from 1974-81, is also a member of the Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame.
He said he knew Merv Baker best from his time at Charleston High School.
"All three of my children went to school there," Woodall said. "He was always a very encouraging person for kids that were out for sports, always going to the second, third, fourth mile. He didn't cut corners."
Woodall taught Ken Baker when he attended Eastern and said his success has a lot to do with what he learned from his dad.
"The old saying is, 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,'" Woodall said. "I know (Ken) would be quick to say he's been successful because of the teachings and actions of his dad."
A visitation for Merv Baker is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Charleston High School Gym - named the Merv Baker Gym.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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