John Willard Baker (June 29, 1944—November 26, 1970) while a runner for the

University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...

(1967) he won the WAC Cross-Country Championship twice and was the WAC Champion in the mile. He received his degree in physical education from University of New Mexico. After he graduated he became the first

physical education Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...

teacher at Aspen Elementary in

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

when it opened. John Baker also started a running team called the Duke City Dashers. Baker was later diagnosed with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

; he died shortly thereafter, at the age of 26. The students in the school petitioned the school board to change the name of Aspen Elementary to John Baker Elementary. The school's name was changed the next year, where an astounding 520 people voted for the change, and no one against it, and is still called John Baker Elementary.

''A Shining Season''

Bill Buchanan wrote a full-length biography of Baker called ''A Shining Season''. A TV movie based on the book was created in 1979.

Timothy Bottoms Timothy James Bottoms (born August 30, 1951) is an American actor and film producer. He is best known for playing the lead in ''Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971); Sonny Crawford in ''The Last Picture Show'' (1971), where he and his fellow co-stars, C ...

portrayed John Baker in the movie, and Ed Begley Jr. portrayed Duke City Dashers assistant coach John Haaland. John Baker was told he had 6 months to live, at the time of diagnosis; he lived a year beyond the expectation his doctor gave him.

''John Baker's Last Race''

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

also made a

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

about John Baker in 1976 entitled ''John Baker's Last Race''. A DVD of the movie is available throug
BYU's Creative Works Office.

References

External links

John Baker Foundation
* Lobo'
WAC Championships
include WAC Mile Champion & two time Cross-Country Championship. * Television movi
A Shining Season
adapted by William Harrison from the biography by William Buchanan * *IMDB page fo
Baker's Last Race''
John Baker Elementary Website: http://johnbaker.aps.edu/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, John 1944 births 1970 deaths American male middle-distance runners Deaths from cancer in New Mexico New Mexico Lobos men's track and field athletes Track and field athletes from Albuquerque, New Mexico 20th-century American sportsmen