Harry Baker wins Golden Apple award

EARLENE WARD - SPECIAL TO THE SIERRA STAR

Harry Baker (center) received the Yosemite Joint Union High School District’s Golden Apple Award at a dinner in Madera recently. He is shown with YJUHSD Superintendent Bill McCabe (left) and Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp. The Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by the Mariposa/Madera County Association of California School Administrators Charter.

Elizabeth Tucker was honored recently as the Yosemite High School scholarship winner for the Mariposa / Madera County Charter of the Association of California School Administrators. Elizabeth is one of the valedictorians in the YHS Class of 2003. She was honored at the Golden Apple Awards Dinner in Madera earlier this month. She is pictured above with Yosemite Joint Union High School District Superintendent Bill McCabe (left) and YHS Principal Steve Raupp (right). (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Kari McCully was recognized by the Coarsegold Union School District as its Golden Apple Award recipient recently. Mrs. McCully was selected for her extraordinary efforts to secure new playground equipment for Coarsegold Elementary School. She is pictured above with CUSD Superintendent Bill McCabe (left) and CES Principal Randy Haggard. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Forty years of dedication to Mountain Area schools was recognized recently when Harry Baker was presented with the Golden Apple Award from Yosemite Joint Union High School District.

Mr. Baker started actively working to have a high school in the Oakhurst area in 1963 when he was president of the then-Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce. At that time, students from throughout Eastern Madera County were riding a bus up to four hours a day to attend Sierra High School in Fresno County. For a time, there was consideration of Sierra High building a second high school somewhere in Eastern Madera County. When that did not happen, efforts were begun to form a separate high school district in Eastern Madera County and then to build a high school.

Mr. Baker was recalled from the Sierra High School board of trustees for his efforts to have a high school in the Oakhurst area. When the Yosemite Union High School District was officially formed in 1973 Mr. Baker was appointed to represent Oakhurst. He was the first president of the board of trustees. The gymnasium at the school is named in his honor. YHS opened its doors to students in September 1976.

Yosemite Joint Union High School District Superintendent Bill McCabe praised Mr. Baker for his years of service to, and in support of, not only Yosemite High School but all of the schools in the Mountain Area. Mr. McCabe says “No one has done more for the district than Harry Baker. I know that is a broad statement, but it is true.” He thanked Mr. Baker for his continual support of the school through financial donations, his employees’ time and the occasional use of equipment. “He has donated money for every imaginable project and cause,” Mr. McCabe said.

When YHS celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1997, Mr. Baker was given the Superintendent’s Award for his years of service. “Harry supports every cause in the Mountain Area,” Mr. McCabe said. “He is the most generous person I know and he just keeps giving.

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