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	My Life after Graduating from Garnett High School in 1955
	My first job after graduation was to be a Materials Inspector for the State of Kansas. The title sounded good, but the job was nothing more than working in a small building at a sand and gravel operation on the bank of a river where sand and gravel are dredged from the bottom of the river and then placed in a machine that separates the sand and gravel by size. My job was to take samples of the various materials and check them for dirt content and then approve the sand and gravel for use in concrete that was being used in the Kansas Turnpike. This job lasted 3-4 months.
	In September 1955 I moved to the Kansas City area and was employed by The City National Bank & Trust Company located at 10^th and Grand St. in K.C.M.O. Over a period of 3 years I was fortunate enough to be placed in an officer-training program and rapidly moved from one department to another. Top
	It was at the bank where I met my wife Elizabeth (Liz), She and I worked in the bookkeeping department together for a few months and then I was moved to a different department. Eventually I was transferred to the small loans collection department where I learned how to collect money.
	Liz and I were married in 1957 and continued to work at the bank together.

	In December of 1958 we left the bank and started our own business with some financial help from relatives. The name of the company was All State Credit and Research, Inc. and its primary purpose was to collect delinquent accounts for major credit card grantors, like Department Stores, Oil companies and Credit Card issuing companies. Liz has worked with me in an administrative capacity in all our businesses over the years. Top
	We have had many businesses over the years and we currently have Jerry Baker and Associates, Inc, started in 1988, which is a business consultant specializing in mergers and acquisitions in consolidating industries. As you will learn by looking at other areas of our web site, we have been very active over the last 50 years and God has given us many opportunities and blessed us.
	Liz and I have 3 children: Kristy, Brian and Mark.

		Mark, Brian, Kristy, Jerry & Liz
	Our daughter Kristy joined our company in 1990 after graduating from the University of Kansas, School of Journalism, She retired in 2000 and is married to Trooper Shaw, who is a senior estimator for a major engineering company in the Kansas City area. They have two beautiful daughters adopted from Russia that have brought much joy to our family. Top
	We have two sons, Brian and Mark who both work for Jerry Baker & Associates. Brian is married to Lisa and together they have seven children. Mark has three children with his former wife, Sherry. Mark is currently engaged to Deanna Slocum, who also works at JB&A.

		Photo of some of our grandchildren taken in our backyard Back: Alex, Daniel, Hope, Paige holding Spencer, Hannah holding Isabella Front: Sophia and Emily Look for updated family photo coming soon!
	If you visit our history page, you will see how we built one of the largest Data Processing companies in the U.S. during the 70’s. We pioneered many new innovations in on-line data processing for Credit Unions and Savings and Loans.
	Another area of the website tells how we used our airplanes in our business as consultants in mergers and acquisitions of consolidating industries.
	Liz and I enjoy golf and have been members of four clubs over the years. My handicap is now 12 and the best round I ever had was a 72 at Blue Hills Country Club in 1971.
	To learn about some of the interesting friends and people that I've been fortunate to know over the years, please visit the following page with additional information. Famous Friends & Acquaintances
	The 50 years since I left Garnett have been exciting, rewarding, trying, difficult, good, bad and fulfilling. However, God has blessed Liz and I and our family. We are very thankful for His presence in our lives.
	I’ll never forget the friends I had during high school and the coaches and teachers who believed in us and provided examples for us to follow.

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