Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Thanks To Sheriff John Baker
Anyone remember this picture?
Most football fans have seen it. The 1964 photo shows former New York Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle kneeling in the end zone after receiving a crushing blow in a 27-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What you may not know about the photo is what player delivered the blow that essentially ended Tittle's career. The player was former Wake County Sheriff John Baker. You can see the corner of his #78 jersey in the photo.
After his playing days were over, Baker came back to Raleigh with the hope of making the capitol county of North Carolina safer and more secure. He won 4 terms as sheriff of Wake County and committed 24 years of his life to providing professional law enforcement to the many citizens of our county.
I had my first opportunity to meet Sheriff Baker last night at the Wake Democratic Men's Club, a club in which I'm currently the treasurer. He was truly remarkable in both stature and substance. I'm 6'1", 200 pounds (ugh!), but when I shook Sheriff Baker's hand I felt like I was about 6 years old. He talked of making the county safer, keeping children educated and out of trouble, and preventing tragedies like the one that recently claimed the life of Deputy Mark Tucker.
One of the most impressive things I took from last night's presentation was that during one of Sheriff Baker's campaigns, Y.A. Tittle joined him on the campaign trail. It says an awful lot that the two of them became friends after their experience on the football field.
Sheriff Baker hinted that he may once again run for his old job. The people of Wake County would be truly fortunate to have him back...
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