John Baird

January 28, 2017

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John L. Baird, 81, was born on April 7, 1935, to Thomas and Mary Baird, and he passed away on January 28, 2017. Following his graduation from Lincoln High School in 1952, he began his undergraduate education at the University of Puget Sound. John served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1958. Following his marriage to Joan Trimmell in 1957 and his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Washburn University. John subsequently earned his master’s degree at Kansas State University and eventually earned his doctorate in educational administration and higher education at Oklahoma State University. John served as the assistant dean of the Graduate College at OSU, following which he served on Senator Henry Bellmon’s staff as a researcher. John subsequently had administrative appointments with the Department of Energy and the Department of Education until 1977 when he and his family returned to Stillwater. Initially, he served as director of faculty development in Academic Affairs but eventually accepted a faculty appointment in the College of Education, retiring in 1992. John was a member of a number of professional, civic, service, and religious organizations, including the OSU Emeriti Association. He was awarded the State Volunteer of the Year by the Hospice Association of Oklahoma. Following the passing of Joan, John and Carolyn Bauer, who also taught in the College of Education, were eventually married. John is survived his wife Carolyn and by his children, Brian Baird (Candace), Brendan Baird (Lana), Elizabeth Baird (Craig Neill), and Jay Croft (Lisa), as well as by several grandchildren and great grandchildren.