About Inductee

Tony Baker was born in Madison County and attended New Hope High School. He was one of the best athletes to play for the New Hope Indians, excelling in basketball and football. He started three years for Coach R.A. "Pig" Carpenter and Coach Herman Roberson, both Hall of Fame coaches. In 1965, New Hope won the Area Championship and Tony was named to the All-County Team and the All-Area Team. In 1966, he was the Captain of the team that won the County Championship. Tony again was named to the All-County Team as well as the All-Area Team. In addition to basketball, he was also an outstanding football player for Coach Jack Mitchell. He scored 16 touchdowns his Senior year and threw for four more touchdowns on a team that won the County Championship. He was selected to the Huntsville News All-County Team and also selected to The Huntsville Times All-County Team. He was named as a member of the All Big Six Football Team and the Associated Press named him to the Class 3A All-State Team. Even though he was an outstanding football player, his main sport was basketball. He is considered to be one of the best rebounders to ever play in the county. In his Senior year at New Hope High School, Tony averaged 21 rebounds per game. He signed a basketball scholarship with Snead State Junior College in 1966. He was a two-year starter at Snead, and was named to the Alabama Junior College Conference All-Tournament Team in his Sophomore year. He was also the Co-Captain of the 1968 Snead Team. After his career at Snead, Tony signed with Athens State College and was an outstanding player for Coach Oba Belcher for two years. After receiving his degree from Athens State, he coached basketball and baseball at Woodville High School. At Woodville, he had several outstanding seasons and won several Area Championships in basketball and one title in baseball. Tony served as a teacher, coach and principal at Woodville High School for 23 years, and for 12 years as Supervisor of Maintenance and Transportation for Jackson County Schools. Tony has also fished on the professional circuit and he and his partner won the 2000 Anglers Choice Mercury National Bass Team Championship Tournament. Tony is married to the former Lanell Warren and they have one daughter, Shannon.