Baker, C. D. (Charles Duncan), 1901-1972

Charles Duncan "C. D." Baker (1901-1972) was instrumental for the expansion and development of Las Vegas, Nevada, especially during his time as mayor of the city from 1951 to 1959. He was born on February 26, 1901 in Terra Haute, Indiana. He received a Bachelor's of Science in civil engineering from the Rose Polytechnic Institution and went to work for the Indiana Highway Department. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to teach math and coach basketball in 1922. In 1923, Baker moved to Juneau, Alaska where he served as a deck officer in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for four years. After returning to Las Vegas in 1926, he completed several engineering projects for Leigh Hunt. Baker was a partner in the Boulder Dam Townsite Company until 1932 and a full-time mineral surveyor for the State of Nevada and Clark County, Nevada. He was then named Superintendent of the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Beginning in 1936, Baker held the position of City Engineer for Las Vegas, Nevada. He ran for the mayorship in 1940 as a Democrat and lost, but won a position in the State Legislature that same year. Baker was called for active military duty in 1941 and served as a colonel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering stationed in Hawai'i. He married Florence Langford when he returned to Las Vegas in 1945 and the couple had two children. Baker ran for the Nevada State Senate in 1946 and served one term in office. He was elected mayor of Las Vegas in 1951 and served two consecutive terms, retiring from politics in 1959. After his political career ended, Baker ran a real estate business until his health forced him to retire in June 1966. His wife, Florence, died on October 8, 1965. He married Louise Walker of Reno, Nevada in 1970. Besides his career in politics, Baker was active in the Las Vegas community. He was on the committee to build the Las Vegas Convention Center, a member of the Nevada State Eagles and the Las Vegas Elks, and the Vice President of Nevada Savings and Loan. He died February 17, 1972. Sources: Neichin, Stephen. Charles Duncan Baker: A Biography, November 12, 1973. "Death Claims C.D. Baker at 71," Las Vegas Sun, February 19, 1972. "C.D. Baker," Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 7, 1999.