A St. Augustine High School graduate of 1965, Gregory E. Baker, was born in Adel, GA in his grandmother’s farmhouse to his parents Edward and Ouida Baker. His family vacationed in St. Augustine often and moved to the Ancient City in the summer of 1960 where his parents built and operated Baker’s Curb Mart on State Road 16 (now known as Harry’s Curb Mart). Greg worked in the family business throughout my high school and junior college years.
Greg started eighth grade at Ketterlinus Junior High while his brother and sister enrolled in Orange Street Elementary. The following year he began the ninth grade at St. Augustine High School. Greg was on the freshman basketball team and later was sports editor of the Jacket Journal. A highlight of his senior year in 1965 was the senior trip to Washington, DC and then to New York City for the World’s Fair. After graduating, Greg enrolled at St. Johns River Junior College where he earned his Associate in Arts degree. Greg transferred to Florida State University where he majored in risk management and insurance receiving his Bachelor of Science degree and was an active member and officer of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and the Risk and Insurance Society. He later obtained a Master of Science degree from Boston University in insurance management.
Greg married Lillian Cowart, also a member of the class of ’65. After college, Greg taught ninth grade math for one year at Ketterlinus Junior High. Greg then went to work for John Bailey and Pierre Thompson at the Thompson Bailey Insurance Agency and Thompson Bailey Realty in August of 1970 selling both personal lines and commercial lines insurance with a specialization in hospitality risk. Greg served as president of this company from 1980 – 2009 and is currently chairman of the agency.
Greg became a member of the St. Augustine Jaycees, organized, and participated in many Days in Spain Celebrations and other community events. Greg has served the St. John’s County community in other areas and organizations as a member/officer such as mayor/commissioner city of St. Augustine (1992-1996), past chairman Florida Association of Insurance Agents, Kiwanis Club member, Cross and Sword president, chairman Flagler Hospital Board of Trustees, St. Augustine Seminole Booster Club Founder Group, Flagler College President’s Council Executive Board, Lightner Museum Permanent Trustee Board, St. Augustine Little League officer, and St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce president.
Greg led efforts to establish the first risk management insurance academic program in the state of Florida for 2-year type Colleges at his alma mater for St. Johns River State College in 2008. Greg helped get a bill passed by the Florida Legislature that would allow a student to take and pass three risk management/insurance courses and thereby bypass the state insurance license exam provided they also completed the requirements for their associate’s degree. Today eleven state colleges (formerly community colleges) have implemented the risk management/insurance program and has been instrumental in bringing qualified employees into the insurance industry in our state.
During his tenure as mayor for St. Augustine, Greg helped reestablish the relationship between St. Augustine and our sister city Aviles, Span, the birthplace of our city’s founder, Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Another achievement was the first grassroots strategic vision plan development for the future St. Augustine which included a special event field, Pomar Park, police officers on bicycles, Castillo Drive improvements, and planning a parking garage. During Greg’s nine-year tenure on the Flagler Hospital Board their board made the decision to relocate from Marine Street to build a new hospital on the sixty-eight-acre current site for Flagler Hospital.
Greg’s various community awards include Mitchell Stallings Award (2013), St. Augustine Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award, Governor appointed Harbor Master for the Port of St. Augustine, St. John’s County, North Florida Council Boy Scouts of America Eagle Club Award, Sam Walton (Walmart founder) Foundation Award for Municipal Leadership for Vision Planning Initiative (1995), Jacksonville Business Journal Innovators in Education Award, River of Excellence Award from St. Johns River State College for Workforce Development Initiative (1999-2003), and St Johns River State College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Greg and Lillian have been married almost 53 years and had two children, Matt and Erin. Greg has one sister and two brothers. Cindy is a retired schoolteacher, Scott is retired from FSDB, and Eric is a political science professor at University of Arkansas/Fort Smith. Greg’s hobbies are reading, wilderness canoeing, and motorcycling.