SHS field being renamed Stephen Baker Memorial Field at Indian Stadium
The Stephen Baker Memorial Fund Committee was formed for the purpose of memorializing a young 16-year-old young man for what he meant to many people and to maintain his memory in Sanger through the Sanger ISD. The committee has identified a source to purchase a larger-than life-size statue to be placed at the entrance to the Sanger High School football field which is being renamed “Stephen Baker Memorial Field at Indian Stadium” agreed to by the Sanger ISD School Board. . Now the task is to raise $100,000 for this and they need the publics help.
“Stephen was our classmate and we lost him so very young,” said Tona Batis. “We feel like our Class of ‘66 is not getting any younger, and now is the time to provide a memorial to Stephen which is a part of Sanger’s history. Stephen is the only student to ever lose his life playing a sport for SISD.”
The committee has met with the Sanger ISD School Board this past year asking for the field to be renamed and now in the process of raising funds to purchase the statue to place by the football stadium. The statue will be represented per the photograph of Stephen at the top of this letter.
Stephen Baker, age 16, was to enter his Junior Year of Sanger High School. A scrimmage game with Carroll High School was held on the afternoon of Thursday, August 27, 1964 which was to become known as Stephen Baker Field in 1965. Stephen was the quarterback and after a quarterback sneak play, he was hit and went down. He was transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas and surgery was performed that evening. Stephen died early Saturday morning on August 29, 1964. Stephen had suffered a concussion in Alvord during the previous football season but had been cleared to play again in the 1964-65 season.
“Stephen was a member of the Class of 1966. It was 60 years ago this past August that we lost Stephen.” The class set up a Stephen Baker Scholarship fund which still is awarded each year to a deserving student, and an additional award was implemented, The Stephen Baker Award. Stephen’s scholarship was the second scholarship to be awarded in the Sanger ISD beginning in 1965 with Eddie Romines being the first recipient. The award has been awarded since that time and is fully endowed with the Sanger Education Foundation. The Sanger ISD also renamed the football stadium “Stephen Baker Field” in his memory. With the building of the current high school and stadium, Stephen Baker Field was dismantled and no longer used.
Stephen had many admirable qualities: Christian young man, athletic, good student, good friend to all, funny, liked by all teachers, loving young man to parents, freshman and sophomore class favorite, president of class, FHA Sweetheart to name just a few.
The committee sent out nearly 200 letters to individuals and Batis was in town this week to hand-deliver letters to businesses that are located in the area. They are hoping to raise the funds quickly and would like to have the statue made to mount at the beginning of next school year but timing is tight.
“We are fund-raising with a goal of at least $100,000 and we’re asking the community for their help. The donations will go to the Sanger Area Historical Society which is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization who will be working with the Stephen Baker Memorial Committee. Your contribution will be tax deductible and after receiving the donation, you will be given information to claim on your tax information for the current year of the check. A money-market account will be available to deposit the funds.
A check can be made as follows: Sanger Area Historical Society; Note on check: Stephen Baker Memorial Fund; 211 N. Fifth Street, Sanger, TX 76266.
A QR code is also provided for PayPal should you wish to donate in this way. Please make a note on your PayPal entry of your address and specify for “Stephen Baker Fund”. QR listed below.
They appreciate your gift to memorialize this young man.
Contacts:
Tona Batis
972-977-5106 email:
Bill Harberson
940-600-2451 email:
Vickie Jenkins
940-390-1072 email:
Chet Switzer
940-736-4072 email: chetswitzer58@gmail.com
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