Robert Baker - Class of 1927

Robert Baker was born on May 15, 1908 in Colussa, California. During high school, Robert got a job at the little grocery store down on Victorian Avenue, which at the time was “B” Street. As Robert continued to work for the grocery he took a liking to the business and also enjoyed providing for the people. During Robert’s senior year, the owner of the grocer put the store up for sale. Robert went to his mother and fortunately, she had enough money to spare that the property could be paid for. At only eighteen years old, Robert owned his own business.

In 1932, Robert married his beautiful fiancee, Margaret, who graduated from Sparks High in 1927. Robert decided to open up a furniture store at his grocery’s old location. Naturally, he called it Baker’s Furniture. Through all of the good times and the bad times, Baker’s Grocery and Baker’s Furniture lasted from 1927 until 1965, thirty-eight years.

While running a very successful business, Robert still had time to raise a family. He and his wife had four children, Neil, Carma, Milton, and Karen. Robert owned his own plane and sometimes after the store was closed he would take some of his young employees out for joyrides just for fun. The airport was located on Greenbrae, where Shelly’s Hardware is.

During his later years, Robert was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer organization that would help look for down planes. He was also an original member of the Sparks Chamber of Commerce as well as a City of Sparks Volunteer Fireman. He was so dedicated to his fireman position that he had a fire bell in his home and often, day or night, it would ring off the hook.

Robert challenged and conquered many feats modern businessmen never even dream of, and for this he must be praised as well as honored. Mr. Baker is deserving of this great honor and is, without a doubt, a great representation of the wonderful people that built and maintained the City of Sparks and Sparks High School.

Inducted 2004