John Baker (runner)
Encyclopedia
John Willard Baker was a runner for the University of New Mexico
(1967) where he received his degree in physical education. After he graduated he became the first physical education
teacher at Aspen Elementary in Albuquerque
, New Mexico
when it opened. John Baker also started a running team called the Duke City Dashers.
John Baker was later diagnosed with cancer
. He died soon after.
The students in the school petitioned the school board to change the name of Aspen Elementary to John Baker Elementary. The school's name was changed the next year and is still called John Baker Elementary.
John Baker was told told he had 6 months to live, at the time of diagnosis. Through his determination, he lived a year and a half after diagnosis.
also made a movie about John Baker in 1976 entitled John Baker's Last Race. A DVD of the movie is available through BYU's Creative Works Office.
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
(1967) where he received his degree in physical education. After he graduated he became the first physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher at Aspen Elementary in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
when it opened. John Baker also started a running team called the Duke City Dashers.
John Baker was later diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He died soon after.
The students in the school petitioned the school board to change the name of Aspen Elementary to John Baker Elementary. The school's name was changed the next year and is still called John Baker Elementary.
A Shining Season
Bill Buchanan wrote a full length biography of Baker called A Shining Season. A TV movie based on the book was created in 1979.John Baker was told told he had 6 months to live, at the time of diagnosis. Through his determination, he lived a year and a half after diagnosis.
John Baker's Last Race
Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
also made a movie about John Baker in 1976 entitled John Baker's Last Race. A DVD of the movie is available through BYU's Creative Works Office.
External links
- John Baker Foundation
- Lobo's WAC Championships include WAC Mile Champion & two time Cross-Country Championship.
- Coach at John Baker Elementary School
- Television movie A Shining Season adapted by William Harrison from the biography by William Buchanan
- John Baker at Find-A-Grave
- IMDB page for Baker's Last Race