Doc Baker was born on July 12, 1931, in Union County, NC. He was the oldest son of a sharecropper who later became one of the first master electricians in the county. Doc’s youth was filled with hard work—whether on his grandfather’s farm or helping his father with electrical projects.
He married at an early age and, at the time, drove a produce truck from Florida to New York City. He was later introduced to operating cranes and heavy equipment in rock quarries and sandpits. At one point, he owned and operated his own Gulf gas station, as well as a septic tank company. Eventually, he managed the start-up of a sand mining operation near Summerville, SC.
After a successful launch, he began working as a crane operator for the South Carolina State Ports Authority. His 29-year career included positions as Crane Operator, Supervisor of Cranes, Manager of the Heavy Lift Department, Director of Operations, and Port Director of the Port of Georgetown, SC.
About
He consistently used common sense and logic to accomplish his tasks and take on ever-increasing responsibilities. With only a tenth-grade education, he successfully dealt with all levels of business—from workers and managers to the board chairmen of some of the largest corporations in the U.S. and overseas.
He was my grandfather, he taught me how to fish, and he taught me a moral code worth living by—one built on integrity and hard work. His legacy inspired me to start Doc Baker Gate Company, a locally owned business proudly serving the Shenandoah and Baton Rouge, LA area with the same values he lived by every day.