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RALEIGH – Ronald G. Baker, Sr., a former attorney at a law firm in Ahoskie, has been awarded the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award by The North Carolina State Bar.

The State Bar is the agency that governs the practice of law in this state.

The award was presented by North Carolina State Bar President Darren Jordan at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners in Raleigh. According to the North Carolina State Bar website, this award “honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession and their community.

Everett Thompson, North Carolina State Bar councilor from the First Judicial District, was in attendance and presented a history of Baker’s professional career.

During his legal career, Baker has been actively involved in many professional organizations. He served the North Carolina State Bar and the people of North Carolina as a councilor from the Sixth B Judicial District for nine years before being elected to serve the organization as its Vice President, President Elect and President. While serving as a councilor he served on and chaired the Grievance Committee, as well as serving on the Client Assistance Committee, Authorized Practice Committee, Legislative Committee, Administrative Committee, Executive Committee, Program Evaluation Committee, Appointments Committee, Special Committee to Study Disciplinary Guidelines, and the Issues Committee.

Baker is a past director and President of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, a past State Representative of the Defense Research Institute, and a past member of the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism. He has served on the University of North Carolina Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Baker is a member in good standing in the North Carolina and American Bar Associations and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He currently serves on the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners.

Formally of Ahoskie, Baker served that community in various capacities. He is a past president and life member of the Ahoskie Jaycees. He is also a United States Jaycees Ambassador.

Baker was elected to serve Hertford County as a county commissioner. He also served the student population in that county on the Board of Education for 12 years. He served as past director and President of the Hertford County Committee of 100.

While in Ahoskie, Baker was a member of the local Boards of First Citizens Bank and Southern Bank and Trust. He also served his state and country for six years as a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard.

Before moving to Kill Devil Hills in 2013, he practiced law for 35 years with the firm of Baker, Jenkins and Jones, PA as a civil trial attorney. Currently, Baker practices personal injury law with the firm of Sharp, Graham, Baker and Varnell, LLP in Kitty Hawk.

Baker is a 1967 graduate of Ahoskie High School. He attended the University of North Carolina as a Morehead Scholar, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration. He attended the University of North Carolina Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor with Honors in 1975. While in law school, Baker was the Solicitor of the school’s Honor Court. He was also a member of the Order of the Coif and a staff member of the Law Review. He served as a research assistant for the Superior Court Judges Conference Committee that drafted the North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions.

Baker and his wife, Clara Ann, reside in Kill Devil Hills.