About Inductee

William Baker always believed discipline was one of the most important ingredients for any athlete. He learned the principle from his junior high coach at Owens Cross Roads, Herman Sanders.1 spent many hours with Coach Sanders on his farm, says Baker, who played basketball and softball at Owens Cross Roads from 1945-47. The first day, he came to school, called eight of us to the stage, and spanked all eight. Only years later did Baker learn that Coach Sanders had found out that these were his athletes and he wanted to get their attention. When he later played basketball at Huntsville High, he encountered a similar disciplinarian in Bob Warden. We had a 10 oclock curfew on the nights before a game, Baker recalls. After the West Huntsville game, Coach asked me what time I went to bed. I told him I was home by 10:15. The admission cost him 500 laps around the gym. At Huntsville High, Baker competed in basketball, football, baseball and track. He was an all-district and all-county player in basketball. In later years, he played amateur baseball with the Huntsville Parkers. He was president of the Butler Booster Club when his sons played for the Rebels, and later became president of the Madison County Basketball Officials Association.