Baker continues to ‘make a difference’

For the past 25 years, Barry Baker has been giving back to the people of Chilton County with sports medicine needs.

His dedication to his hometown community led the Alabama High School Athletic Association to name him its 2020 Class 5A “Making a Difference” award winner.

Baker has served as the athletic trainer for Chilton County High School and Clanton Middle School.

“I was extremely honored to have the opportunity to be selected,” Baker said.

He is a CCHS alumna and returned to the place where it all started after graduating from Troy University.

“With my particular training, I could have gone a lot of places,” Baker said. “This is home.”

According to Baker, his parents also graduated from CCHS and his dad can still be found working as part of the chain crew on the sidelines of Tiger football games.

“I appreciate the [Chilton County] school system for allowing me to do this,” Baker said. “We’ve been able to help many people along the way.”

Since Baker was a young boy, he had dreams of playing in professional sports one day.

“However, after you get in high school, and you’re a certain height or speed, you realize you’re probably not going to make it to that level,” Baker said.

Fortunately, he was able to find a career that still allowed him to be around his passion of sports on a daily basis.

As part of the job, Baker has established relationships with an array of players, coaches and parents over the years.

According to Baker, getting to better know the people he works with is one of the most rewarding aspects of his job.

“After 25 years, you can’t go anywhere without running into someone who you’ve helped or given advice to,” Baker said.

He has had a first-hand account of the resilience that student-athletes have shown as they bounce back from injuries suffered during their athletic careers.

“There’s nothing better than watching a kid return from an injury to get back on the field or court,” Baker said.

Another way that he has chosen to make a difference is by teaching a sports medicine class at CCHS for the past three years.

Baker volunteers his time as a trainer at CCHS, while his primary business is helping oversee Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness in Clanton.

“Hopefully, we can train up the next generation,” Baker said.

SportsPlus

News

Autauga Academy hands Verbena first loss of season

News

Thorsby takes step towards playoffs with win over Dallas County

Jemison

Jemison’s early hole proves costly against Northside

Isabella

Isabella’s point explosion powers past Greene County

Chilton County High School

Calera comes back to beat Chilton County

Chilton Christian Academy

Patriots stomp Cahawba for homecoming win

Billingsley

Maplesville offense goes perfect in win over Billingsley

Clanton

Second Central Alabama BBQ Fest a success

Clanton

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on two Clanton homes

Clanton

JSCC reports record enrollment for fall semester

News

The Swedish — New Miss Swedish Queens crowned in Thorsby

News

Local youth take wins during opening Alabama National Fair Livestock Shows

Clanton

Parole granted, denied for Chilton offenders during hearings

Maplesville

Maplesville’s newest homecoming queen crowned

Isabella

No. 2 Highland Home overpowers Isabella

News

Unbeaten Thomasville pulls away from Thorsby

Chilton County High School

CCHS drops road game at Chelsea

Maplesville

Maplesville cruises past Autaugaville, collects homecoming win

News

Verbena matches best start since 2006, stays unbeaten against Notasulga

Clanton

I’m A Survivor — Baker beats breast cancer with help from God, family

Isabella

Isabella homecoming nominees poised for upcoming announcement

Clanton

Extension begins its newest Leadership Chilton class

Business

New Beginnings — Raleigh’s Place opens new transitional apartments

Chilton County High School

Chilton County High School crowns homecoming court