Ray R. Baird Sr., 81, a former state legislator form Rockwood, died Saturday in Redington Beach, Fla., of cancer.

He was editor and publisher of the Rockwood Times for 38 years until he retired in 1979. He served as a state representative from Roane County from 1955 to 1961 and from 1963 to 1965. He was state senator from 1961 to 1963 and from 1965 to 1979, representing Anderson, Roane and parts of Knox counties. He co-sponsored bills aiding education, teachers' salaries and pension pay, supported environmental causes and worked to regulate strip mining in East Tennessee.

Mr. Baird was president of the Tennessee Press Association in 1962 and was named the association's Man of the Year in 1957 for his work in modernizing state election laws.

He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Free and Accepted Masons, Scottish Rite, Shrine and Knights of Pythias.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Louise Cagle Baird, formally of Madisonville; two children, Raymond R. Baird Jr. of Seminole, Fla., and Nancy Louise Baker of Jacksonville, Fla.; a half-brother, Col. William R. Mullins of France, and two grandchildren.

Services were held Wednesday (today) at Moss-Feaster Funeral Home in Largo, Fla.

Source:
Clinton Courier News
3 Nov. 1993