Wink Baker

2018 Inductee

Mr. Baker is a 1960 graduate of Rossville High School. During his career as a Rossville Bulldog, Mr. Baker was part of the 1959 state championship baseball team and the 1959 state runner-up football team. During that historic 1959 season, Mr. Baker was named All-State Quarterback. He went on to attend East Tennessee State University where he earned his MA in school administration. He was an all-American Quarterback in 1962-63, and was the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year for 1962-63, and was ultimately drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

In conjunction with Mr. Pete Summers, Baker and Summers, Inc. have provided homes and lots for over 1000 residences in the Ridgeland High School school zone. They have helped construct and light the Ridgeland High School Baseball Stadium. They have helped with acquiring turf for Bowers Painter field. They have provided new lockers for the RHS football Field House and dressing rooms, and provided audio-visual instant replay technology for the football team. Mr. Baker and Mr. Summers are living examples of the adage it takes a village to raise a child.” WE are deeply indebted to them for the generosity and their unwavering support for the Panther nation. On behalf of the selection committee, I am proud, for the first time ever, to make an official induction into the Ridgeland High School Hall of Fame, and I couldn’t be more proud of the fact that our first two inductees are Mr. Wink Baker and Mr. Pete Summers!

-Rob Stinson, 2018