Recognizing the Retirement of Mayor Bill Baker

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of William John ``Bill'' Baker, mayor of the City of Piedmont, Alabama.

Bill was born in Far Rockaway, New York, to Edna McCracken Baker and Fred Stephenson Baker on October 27, 1949. He was awarded the Eagle Scout Award for Troop 501 in June 1962. He graduated from Piedmont High School in 1967 and graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973.

After graduation, he worked at the Department of Human Resources as a social worker for 36 years. He also worked at Piedmont Health Care Center as the Alzheimer's Coordinator and Activity Director after his retirement from DHR.

Mayor Baker was awarded a State of Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Civic Award in 2008 and received the Piedmont Journal Citizen of the Year award in 2013.

Mayor Baker has served the City of Piedmont since 1988, when he was first elected to city council. He was appointed mayor August 4, 1996, after the death of Mayor Vera Stewart and served until October 7, 1996. Bill was appointed to the city council on November 15, 1999, after the resignation of Councilman Rick Freeman. He continued to serve on the council until October of 2013. He was appointed Mayor of Piedmont on October 4, 2013, after Mayor Rick Freeman resigned. He was reelected as mayor in 2016 and 2020.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing my friend, Mayor Bill Baker, and thanking him for his service to the City of Piedmont. Congratulations.

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