Doran Baker Obituary

Although I never had a class from Doran, he was a great mentor to me as well as many students that he associated with. He leaves a great legacy at the Space Dymnamics Laboratory.

My heartfelt condolences to Kathy and the Baker family. Dr./Professor Doran Baker was a valued teacher, mentor and colleague over his 60+ productive years at USU. The halls, classrooms, and labs of the Engineering Building and SDL were made better by his presence, and will never be quite the same without him.

I was an undergrad engineering student when Dr. Baker joined the EE faculty at USU, and his exciting research on the upper atmosphere was laying the foundation for the Space Dynamics Lab which, through his vision and leadership, is now recognized worldwide for its many contributions to space research. When I returned to USU as a new faculty member, I saw Doran´s success a teacher and researcher as the kind of role model that I should follow. Over the ensuing years, it was my privilege to work alongside Doran in our various capacities in the Engineering College´s academic programs and research labs, and to share with him our commitment to student learning, professional success, and discovery of new knowledge.

Bruce Bishop

I have so many fond memories of Doran and I was saddened to hear of his passing. I started working for him as a student in 1993 and then worked full time for him until 2012 with the Rocky Mountain Space Grant Consortium. Doran taught me many things and treated me like family. He and Kathy were often found bringing gifts to my kids for Christmas and their birthdays, bringing food to the office to share with all, he attended my wedding--he made working for Space Grant like a second family for me. I was honored to be part of many great things with Space Grant and USU, including when the Jake Garn building was dedicated at SDL.

I was honored to be part of Doran's team for 20 years and I was so fortunate to work alongside him and Kathy. Thank you Doran for all of the many memories.

Kim, Dylan & Ryan Olson

I offer my sincerest condolences for Kathy and Baker family. Doran was my great friend, basketball teammate, and colleague at the ECE department. I will always remember him with a big smile on his face. His smile propagated faster and more effectively than any type of Electromagnetic Waves. I am deeply honored to relocate my office to Doran´s office at the ECE department, and I will do my best to deserve using his office. May God reward him with Heaven, an eternal place of happiness, in the hereafter for all the good deeds he performed throughout his life.

I offer condolences to Doran's immediate and extended family. I have known Doran for about 40 years, when I was introduced to him by his nephews Rod and Shane. I have been associated with him in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Utah State University most of the time since then, and he was always friendly and wanted to know how I was doing. He always had a cheery greeting.

He was well known among his students as a caring and kind professor who was interested in more than their performance in classes but in their lives. He also took many students under his wing as a mentor and research advisor. He has had an impact on many in their direction in life.

He will be missed.

I got to know Dr Baker when I was a student. During all my time at USU I worked for EDL when he was director and for the EE department when he was chairman. He even sent me to Sat Lake to do research for a history project he was involved in. He was always so positive and kind that I enjoyed all of my interactions with him. My condolences to his family.

My heartfelt condolences to Kathy and the Baker family. Doran's innate curiosity, combined with his keen intellect, made him a modern day discoverer. Whether it be pioneer journals or the mysteries of space, his boundless quest for knowledge enriched all who knew him. His many contributions to science, history and teaching will be the lasting legacy of a truly remarkable man.