STEPHEN BAKER STATUE FUNDRAISING - Unveiling will be September 11, 2026 at the Homecoming Game

The Stephen Baker Memorial Fund Committee is updating the community on the status of fund-raising for the statue of Stephen Baker to be placed at Stephen Baker Field at Indian Stadium.  

The bronze casting company also was responsible for the horse and Indian statue located in front of the current middle school (formerly high school.)  The artist is working on the maquette for the committee to review and will be available within the next two weeks. “We met with the artist several weeks ago, and were impressed for the research he was performing on how the shoulder pads fit on the backside of the players at that time, and also researching what football cleats looked like in the early 1960s.  He is very detailed in his work and our expectation is a statue that will look like Stephen in 1964,” said Tona Batis, of the Memorial Fund Committee. 

“The Committee is very excited as we near the completion and installation late summer.  As of this date funds remaining to be required are a little under $14,000 from the total contract amount of $97,500.  We are very proud of the community who has an interest in preserving our history and remembering Stephen Baker with the beautiful 7-1/2 foot statue being placed at Stephen Baker Field at Indian Stadium.   

The statue unveiling will be performed at the Sanger ISD Homecoming game on September 11, 2026.  It is an event you will not want to miss.  

Do you want your name to be on the donor list to be published to the community?  Please consider donating if you have not done so and be proud of being a part of this.  .  

You can make payment to:   

SAHS, 

211 N. 5th Street, 

Sanger 76266,

     By check 

or PayPal and indicate your address in the notes

 “We appreciate each of you that have donated.   We are so proud of all that have jumped in to make this a part of Sanger ISD and Sanger history.”

Very sincerely from the Board Members:

Tona Batis

Bill Harberson

Linda Hewlett

Vickie Jenkins

Chet Switzer

Stephen Rory Baker is prominently remembered by the residents who resided in Sanger during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Stephen was beginning his junior year in high school when a tragic event occurred on August 27, 1964 that ultimately took the life of this outstanding young man. A quarterback-sneak was the final event of Stephen’s life He was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas late that Thursday afternoon, where the doctors performed surgery to release pressure in his brain. However, early Saturday morning, he succumbed to his injury. Classmates crowded the emergency room of Parkland, awaiting good news from the doctors, but it was not to be.