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Text Box: On September 25, 2004, Hanford Lodge No. 279 conferred the Hiram Award to WB Johnny Baker, PM as an acknowledgement of his long, faithful and dedicated service to the Lodge.  Text Box: Hiram Award Night  Hanford Lodge No. 279   Johnny Baker, PM Text Box: Text Box:

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Text Box: WB Johnny Baker, PM receiving the certificate signed by the Grand Master Howard Kirkpatrick and WM Bryan Cochran from Gerald Cypert, KYCH who officiated the ceremony.

Text Box: Virgil Baker, the 97 years old father of the recipient pinning the Hiram Award lapel pin to his son as the Baker brothers, Cecil and Mike observed.

Text Box: Guest and family enjoying WB Johnny's stories as he introduced the Baker's family.

Text Box: The Baker's family consented a group photo shot request from the author. (L-R). Cecil, Mike, Virgil, Johnny, Wanda, Emily and Joan.

Text Box: Text Box:      On September 25, 2004, Hanford Lodge No. 279 conferred the Hiram Award to Johnny Baker, PM for his long, faithful and dedicated service to the Lodge.  Following the wonderful dinner prepared and served by Lemoore Bethel No. 288, International Order of Jobs Daughters under the guidance of Ms. Wendy Welsh, guests, family and members of the Lodge listened as the Master of Ceremony, Gerald Cypert, KYCH officiated the proceedings.  WB Gerald started by explaining the significance of the highest award that the Lodge can conferred to its members.  The following was the speech given by WB Gerald during the presentation:      We’ll begin with John’s dad—Virgil Baker— was not born in the United States, but in Indian Territory Oklahoma in 1907.  Virgil, who is 97 years old, will be making a presentation this evening.  John’s mother – Opal McElrath, who since passed away, was born in 1912 at Guernsey which is about 10 miles south of Hanford.  Virgil and Opal were married in Hanford in 1928.  They moved to Corcoran area and farmed for many years.  John, the youngest of five children, was born on June 18, 1943 – five and a half years after his older brother Mike.  Johns says his Mom told him that they carefully checked his body parts when he was born because he was a mistake and was made out of leftovers.      John first attended school in Corcoran and transferred to Hanford when the family moved in 1955.  He continued in Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Hanford High School.  In 1960, John joined the US Navy and spent 18 months on a missile tracking station on the island of Barbados.  He subsequently transferred to USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39) where he participated in recovering the first US man in space and blockading the Russians during Cuban Missile Crisis.   After his active duty, John returned home to Hanford, married the love of his life Louise, and went to work at Diamond Lumber Company.  There he met several Masons who were also employed by the company.  They included but were not limited to; Ray Lee, Marshall Winn, Howard Passmore, Roland Dillon, Clea Hall, Jim Matias, Wayne Dillon and Waymon Gipson.      John was initiated on May 10, 1978, passed on September 20, 1978 and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on November 8, 1978.  He was appointed as Junior Steward of Hanford Lodge in December 1978.  After passing through the chairs, he was installed as the Worshipful Master in January 12, 1984.  John has served on several committees during his 26 years as Master Mason, such as Chairman of the Christmas party for 20 consecutive years and chairman of Past Master’s Night for 19 years.  Among other things, he also delivered Christmas flowers for widows, coached candidates, helped remodel the Lodge building, and “at times, made a general nuisance of himself.”       Several brethren spoke about their personal experiences and acknowledged the countless times WB Johnny’s actions for which the honor that the Lodge bestowed that night was splendidly deserved and earned. 

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