HOUSE RESOLUTION 5

(By Delegates Tully, Adkins, Anderson, Barnhart, Bridges, Brooks, Burkhammer, Butler, Cannon, Capito, Chiarelli, Clark, Cooper, Coop-Gonzalez, Crouse, Dean, DeVault, Dillon, Dittman, Espinosa, Fast, Fehrenbacher, Ferrell, Foggin, Forsht, Foster, Gearheart, Griffith, A. Hall, W. Hall, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Hardy, Heckert, Hillenbrand, Hite, Honaker, Hornby, Horst, Hott, Householder, Howell, Jeffries, Jennings, Keaton, Kelly, Kimble, Kirby, Kump, Linville, Longanacre, Lucas, Mallow, Marple, Martin, Maynor, Mazzocchi, McGeehan, Miller, Nestor, Petitto, Phillips, Pinson, C. Pritt, E. Pritt, Pushkin, Reynolds, Ridenour, Riley, Rohrbach, Ross, Rowe, Shamblin, Sheedy, Smith, Statler, Street, Summers, Thorne, Toney, Vance, Warner, Willis, Worrell, Young, and Zatezalo)

January 20, 2023

Honoring the life and service of Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker, who gave his life in the line of duty protecting the citizens of Nicholas County, West Virginia.

Whereas, Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker of Summersville, West Virginia, passed away on June 3, 2022, at Summersville Regional Medical Center, after he was shot in the line of duty while serving a warrant;

Whereas, Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker was the son of Thomas E. Baker, Jr. and Sheila Baker of Salisbury, North Carolina, and Carole and James Walton of Mt. Nebo, West Virginia. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Thomas and June Baker, and Harland and Ann Walls. He is survived by his wife and soulmate Jamie D. Louk Baker, two children, Timothy Baker and Kristen Baker, and two stepchildren, William Lemasters, and Lilly Meadows. He is also survived by a loving grandmother, Sarah Jackson of Widen, mother and father-in-law, Charles and Patty Louk of Summersville, sisters Michelle Brown (David) of Lexington, Kentucky, and Tammy Long (Mike) of Salisbury, North Carolina, as well as nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews;

Whereas, Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker graduated from Nicholas County High School in 1991, where he was known as "Tex". He attended Concord College and was a graduate of the West Virginia Police Training Class in 1997. He was a member and deacon of Restoration Fellowship and a member of the Summersville Masonic Lodge #76. Although he took a break from law enforcement for seven years, he could not get it out of his blood. Deputy Sheriff Baker worked as a greaser on a strip mine, an insurance agent, a salesman for AirEvac, a car salesman, and a bail bondsman before returning to the job that held his heart with the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department. Among his many attributes, he was known as a great deputy, a wonderful friend, and will be remembered for his contagious smile and laugh; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the members of the House of Delegates of the first session of the 86th Legislature hereby publicly note the life, accomplishments, and service of Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker, who gave his life in the line of duty protecting the citizens of Nicholas County, West Virginia; and be it

Further Resolved, That the life and service of Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker be memorialized and remembered; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the late Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Thomas "Tom" Edward Baker.