osage connection winter spring 2009.indd - Orange Grove Center

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Bon Voyage, Hal!
Hal Baker dedicated 34 years of his forty-year career in Special Education to the students and clients at Orange Grove. He came to the
Center in 1975, after being a classroom teacher and program director in Florida, as the Assistant to the Director for Client Services with
the charge to reform the curriculum into a developmentally-based individualized model and to pursue National Accreditation.
He was instrumental in the expansion of the vocational program into community businesses and industries, the development of residential
programs under the HUD and ICF/MR support systems, the foundation of the Recycling program and broadening Health Care
Services. As Mike Cook, the long-time Executive Director said, “Hal has been deeply involved with every major move forward Orange
Grove Center has made during his tenure.”
His skill in writing proposals and grants and his community affi liations
brought many resources to the Center to allow for innovative and unique
programs as well as continuing a solid base for ongoing operations.
Hal is well recognized in the area as a representative of Orange Grove
and as a champion for its mission. He was often called on to deal with
sensitive community relations and to clarify the Center’s position on
matters ranging from funding to neighborhood zoning.
He always worked in close association with the Board of Directors and
was tapped on two occasions to be the lead staff in major capital
campaigns, one of which is in the fi nal stages of reaching the $4.775
million dollar goal.
Additionally, Hal became involved in community affairs; he was an
active member of many boards, commissions and civic organizations.
His foresight in the redevelopment of the Fort Wood Neighborhood
helped put the area on the National Register of Historic places and
secured major funding for revitalization. His Chairmanship of the City Human Rights and Relations Commission under three mayors
is one of the affi liations he is the most proud as well as establishing Orange Grove’s Human Rights Committee and chairing it for thirty
years.
He has received national recognition in his chosen fi eld, being named a Fellow of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities. Hal was a frequent presenter of professional papers and addresses and held offi ces at the state, regional and national
levels and is now a member emeritus.
“My early indoctrination to the fi eld of intellectual and developmental disabilities was largely based on articles Hal had in his bottomless
bottom draw, and his stories of what it was like being there,” said Dr. Rick Rader, a close friend and colleague of Hal. “His footprint is
on every brick and in every nook and cranny at Orange Grove. From human rights, to healthcare, to community placement, residential
horizons, employment opportunities, pioneering legislation that made mincemeat out of prevailing beliefs, and the need to be not merely
“in the community,” but “of the community,” Dr. Rader said.
The now former Deputy Director has traded his offi ce for a seat behind the wheel of his beloved boat. He and his wife, Cheryl, will set
sail to destinations they’ve dreamed of exploring prior to his retirement.
Jenny Foster, who goes back to the early years the two started at Orange Grove, said he was “a great mentor. He was a great advocate
for the individuals we served and for Orange Grove as a whole. As has been stated, much of what we have now he had the thought and
did the initial work behind it, but never cared about the credit. He was satisfi ed in just seeing it accomplished.
He will be missed, but will always be a friend,” she said.
Orange Grove says farewell to Hal Baker, who will always have a stake in its history and development!
Left: John Germ and
Tom Caldwell recognize
Hal at a reception at The
Mill.
Right:
Representing exactly 100 years of
leadership at Orange Grove, Hal, Fred
Galletta and Mike Cook literally grew
up at the Center.
Wolf Wolfensberger, an international leader in the fi eld, and
Hal share experiences at a recent presentation.