Richard James Baker

Richard James Baker was born December 23, 1933 in Kearney, Nebraska to Harold Joseph Baker and Suzanne Beyl Baker. He died on November 19, 2024 in Torrance, California due to natural causes at Ivy Park Senior Living. A special thanks to all who took care of him, doctors, nurses, and caregivers from various sources including: Always Best, TMMC, and Silverado hospice, and especially Sunrise / Ivy Park Senior Living,
Dick was his nickname and his family came to Southern California when he was six and settled in Highland Park. Dick was a mischievous and energetic young man, excelling in all sports, especially: basketball, baseball, golf, and track and field. He graduated from Franklin High School, then onto Loyola Marymount University on an athletic scholarship. He also did the ROTC programs at Loyola Marymount University and eventually served in the Air Force for more than two years. At Loyola Marymount University, he also played baseball and golf, in addition to basketball. Dick graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1956 with a degree in English

Dick met Carol Lee Lackey in 1960 and they married in 1961 at St. Augustine's in Culver City. In 1964 they had a son named Matthew James. Through the years they lived in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes. Dick spent the last four years of his life in Torrance, at Sunrise / Ivy Park Senior Living.
For employment Dick had a variety of jobs. He was a high school teacher and coach, followed by a stint as assistant city manager for Redondo Beach. He returned to his alma mater next, Loyola University. Dick was head basketball coach and athletic director from 1968-1980. He continued his career in sports as an NBA scout, from 1976-2019, for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and mostly for the Dallas Mavericks, for whom be earned a championship ring in 2011.
One summer he coached he coached a Milwaukee Bucks team to a perfect 17-0 season. Dick also worked for Converse shoes in the 1980’s and 1990’s in product placement
His other part-time job was in the movie business, from 1970-2002. His favorite gigs in Hollywood were when he got to be a technical advisor on shows with basketball footage, most notably Teen Wolf, Love & Basketball, The White Shadow, and white Men Can't Jump.