The world needs more Art Bakers. And maybe a Paul Stephens.
We had big issues and worries like the Vietnam War and integration back in the sixties. And, we had challenges with really bad habits like smoking cigarettes and sneaking a beer or, for the really bad teens, taking a swig of liquor. Drugs? You do mean Goody’s headache powders, right?
Our everyday struggles and challenges for the most part were not serious because they were not allowed to be. That’s because we had parents who whipped our rear-ends when they needed to be whipped and disciplined us when we needed to be disciplined.
And, we had our role models although we might not have known it at the time.
Eau Claire High School was stocked with teachers, coaches and principals who kept us on the straight and narrow in the sixties. Mr. Hafner and successor Paul Stephens automatically had our respect because they were principals. Note the “Mr.” in front of Hafner but the “Paul” in front of Stephens. Maybe a transition of respect was starting during that time and we didn’t even know it. Regardless, both had the respect – and fear – of every student, especially those called to “the office.”
A teacher once sent me to “the office” to fetch something. Paul Stephens saw me walk in and, in his booming voice, hollered, “Huguley, what in the world are you doing here?” I had hoped that was the end of attention directed at me, but it wasn’t. Then, the never to be forgotten words: “Huguley, tell me, do you have to squat to tee-tee?” It was one of his favorite sayings and most people had heard it before. I couldn’t help but laugh, like others in the office, before darting out the door as quickly as possible. That was Paul Stephens – undoubtedly a respected principal and, in his own way, a respected role model.
The best role model at Eau Claire, however, was Coach Art Baker. Few today could argue that Baker has impacted more lives in a positive way than anyone else at Eau Claire High School (and many other places, too).
Baker was the head football coach. He assembled a staff of assistants who were not just top-notch football coaches but also examples of the way life should be lived: Steve Robertson, Jimmy Satterfield, Dick Sheridan, Frank Singleton, Les Evans, Leonard Shealy. Bobby Johnson and others came later. There’s no telling how many lives of youngsters were positively changed because of these coaches, all influenced in a big way by Baker.
Baker was not just a coach although he was highly skilled enough to be head football coach at Furman University, The Citadel and East Carolina. He also served in assistant roles at Clemson, Texas Tech and Florida State before retiring after being Associate Athletic Director at the University of South Carolina for nearly seven years. Baker resides in Columbia with his wife Edie, and while his athletics trail ended at USC the shadow of his excellence as a role model will forever be long.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” he would often say before football practices and games at Eau Claire. Every Shamrock player would take on a tractor trailer for their coach. He would never sugarcoat it; football was tough and life was going to be tough. You just had to be tougher. But always by the rules and always with good sportsmanship. And, that’s how his teams played.
Baker helped shape lives with regular doses of honesty and integrity, but he was fierce as a competitor. Very fierce. He and his assistant coaches would often meet in the Eau Claire gym after school for a “friendly” basketball scrimmage. That’s when the EC gym still had half-moon backboards. Occasionally, these coaches would tap a student to fill in so the teams would be equal in number. One day when I was tapped still rings clear. It was a one-on-one experience that would hurt that day but help in another one-on-one another day.
Taking on Coach Baker on the basketball court was a bruising physical experience. I got the best of him a few times that day with the help of slaps on his arms and wrists, and he was good at reciprocating. There were no referees and neither of us was apt to call fouls on ourselves. Finally, his frustration level exceeded mine and emotions boiled over. We shook hands afterwards, but our skirmish was witnessed by many coaches and students. And word of it spread.
Later in the school year, after asking a teacher to please repeat a question in class, the teacher asked if I had washed my ears out that morning. This teacher had a reputation for being rude to students and seemed to enjoy embarrassing them. When I responded, simply and politely, that yes indeed I had washed out my ears, the reply or my tone obviously was not what she wanted to hear. So, she challenged if I would like to go to “the office” and discuss this matter with the principal, Mr. Stephens. Imagine her shock when I stood up and said, “sure, let’s go” as I headed toward the door.
The conversation with principal Stephens was decidedly one-sided as the teacher presented her version of the incident. Students rarely won such one-on-ones with teachers back in the sixties. She finished by reminding Stephens that this was the same student who also had a run-in with Coach Baker in the gym. Stephens later talked to Baker about the basketball incident and was told the only person out of line that day weeks ago in the gym was a coach who let his emotions get the best of him because “I was getting my tail whipped.” (Coach Baker always used “tail” instead of other more impolite words to describe someone’s rear-end. I think his favorite bad word was dadgummit.)
Well, all ended well except for the teacher after the ear-washing incident. I was not disciplined and admittedly enjoyed the applause when I returned to class that day. My understanding is Stephens had a heart-to-heart with the teacher, who, perhaps coincidentally, was not invited back to Eau Claire the next year.
The attention here, however, should not be about a smart-aleck teacher (or student) but about a coach who always was the epitome of integrity and honesty.
While times definitely have changed since the sixties, the world today certainly could benefit from more Art Bakers. And maybe a Paul Stephens.
A Little Piece of Heaven 
Great story and so true about the list of role models we had at EC. Frank Singleton will always be foremost in my mind as all of us at Heyward Gibbes first meet him in the sixth grade and then had him 5 days a week at the required PE class seventh thru ninth grade.
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Rick – Really enjoyed talking with you today. We should play a round of golf. Take care.
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Great recollection of high school days.
I once lost a baby moon hub cap on Colonial Drive and had stopped to walk back and try to find it. Coach Baker stopped thinking I had car trouble. After I told him about the hub cap he got out and helped me find it. I was really surprised he even knew my name
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Hey Dickie.- Long time between “Shout Outs”.
Enjoyed your memories of the Art Baker years. If ever a match was made in heaven it was Eau Claire High and Coaches Baker and Roberson. At a time that the Eau Claire community was in need of something to be proud, they filled the void with winning high school football seasons, and the community responded by filling Memorial Stadium on a regular basis. It was truly a great time to be a Shamrock!!
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Woody – great to hear from you. Those were certainly good years with good people. Hope you are well. Take care.
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Thanks for that memory. It is so indicative of Coach Baker. Hope you are doing well. Take care.
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A deeply felt Amen to Dick’s article. I broke my arm in the 8th grade at Heyward Gibbes—coach Singleton took me to the hospital and came to visit me every day (you were hospitalized for a broken arm in those days). Coach Singleton, Coach Baker, Coach Stephens, Coach Robertson—they all had a great impact on my life. That’s why these many years later members of those Shameock teams still gather—I don’t make those as often as I would like, but when I do the feelings of friendship, comradeship and pride are still there. Thanks to each of them.
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Don – Thanks for your comments. Great coaches and role models. Hope you are well. Take care.
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What a great article and so true. I enjoy reading your stories. You write with such truth and say things so beautifully.
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You are very kind. Thank you.
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Dickie, thanks for those memories. It was Paul Stevens that kicked my but and made me graduate. I got wild at Heyward Gibbs and fail the 9th grade, he made me promise to graduate with my class. I went to summer school every year and graduated in 64 out of summer school . He was my idol back then.
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Great to hear from you, Don. Paul Stevens was the best principal ever. I doubt he would last very long in today’s educational system which is sad. Hope you are doing well.
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Hey, Dick, long time no see or hear from, but I just read your blog about the coaches at Eau Claire and it was the perfect way to cap the experience today of attending Art Baker’s 90th birthday party, hosted by his former Eau Claire players. Jan and I sat across the table from Frank Singleton and enjoyed his company during the luncheon. I am going to post some pictures on Facebook later today. Although not a graduate of Eau Claire I got to know Art and many of his assistant coaches on a first-name basis through my cousin Steve Robertson, who was on his staff and took over the program when Art left. During my senior year at USC, I shared a little house with Steve in the Eau Claire community.
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Great to hear from you, Pat. Hope all is well with you and Jan. Sorry I could not make it to Coach Baker’s celebration but too many miles between Woodstock, GA and there. Curious, how did you stumble onto my blog? I started “A Little Piece Of Heaven” as a source of information for my grandchildren about growing up in a different time and was pleased to hear from many friends of the past, including many who were at the celebration today with you. I have not posted anything in a while but intend to get back to writing soon. All posts are at dickhuguley.com. With your outdoors background, I think you would enjoy the cabin that is the focus of a lot of the blogs. BTW, Frank Singleton and Steve Robertson have always been two of my favorite people. Holler if you ever get near Woodstock or Lake Sinclair; we could reminisce about our crazy days with Doug Nye, Charlie Paschal, etc. Take care.
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Dick, I just posted three photos and a short comment on Facebook on the birthday luncheon for Art. I actually was checking to see if I needed any more info on Frank Singleton and when I put his name in the search engine your blog popped up. I read a couple of them and really enjoyed them, especially the stuff about deer hunting and fishing (of course). If you do Facebook plug in my name and my page will be there. We are getting along okay for old folks. I just had glaucoma and cataract surgery at Duke on Monday and am dealing with a sore,but much better seeing eye. There are several posts on Facebook about that experience. Jan got a shot in her right hip this afternoon. She needs a hip replacement and is hoping to hold off on that until after field trial season and turkey season in the spring. We are more active in beagle field trials now than we have ever been — and much more serious about it. BTW, we pass right by Sinclair on the way to several field trials each year in Roberta, GA, not far from Macon. We have four grandchildren from 6 to 15, three girls and a boy. And, I am still working at 81, doing a couple of short fishing features every month for Carolina Sportsman and just had a major feature in South Carolina Wildlife.
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Glad to hear you and Jan are still very active; I guess we’re all having to deal with aches, pains and doctor visits in this phase of life. I will look you up on Facebook. The Cabin is at 100 Scenic Court, Milledgeville, GA 31061 – 25-30 miles from Macon. I might or might not be there so call ahead (404-580-2352). We have six grandchildren from 4 to 23. I retired 12 years ago but stay active with grandkids, golf, fishing and The Cabin. Great hearing from you.
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Thank you Dick for the stories. I miss my father greatly. It is heart warming to hear others’ memories. Art Baker is a gem and everyone always enjoys his company. What a fine example of a Christian leader. Edith was always my idea of a true southern lady. My mother,Nova, enjoyed reading this as well. I posted on my FB page. Blessings to you and your family. Again,thank you for sharing.
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Nancy – Your father was the absolute best. The world, indeed, needs a lot like him today. I’m 72 years old, planning the 55th reunion of my Eau Claire class of 1965, and I still have fond memories of and tremendous respect for your Dad. And I know hundreds of others who feel the same way. Thank you for your note, and my best to your Mom.
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