08/24/2026
75 Years of Brotherhood: Ray Baker Honored for a Lifetime of BAC Membership
Few milestones in the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers can compare to 75 years of membership. On Friday, August 14, 2026, the BAC community came together to honor Ray Baker, a longtime member of BAC Local 14, for an extraordinary seven-and-a-half decades of dedication to the union and the masonry trade.
Ray joined BAC Local 14 in December 1951. Seventy-five years later, his commitment to the Brotherhood remains a remarkable example of loyalty, craftsmanship and dedication to the trade.
During the ceremony, Ray was presented with his 75-year placket, recognizing a lifetime of BAC membership that began in an era when both the masonry industry and the world around it looked very different. Reaching 75 years of membership is an extraordinary achievement, and Ray’s milestone represents not only his personal dedication but also the generations of craftsmen, family members and BAC members whose lives have been connected to his journey.
Ray’s story is also deeply connected to the history of the Baker family and the masonry industry in Michigan. In 1952, just one year after Ray joined the BAC, Ray Baker founded Baker Construction. Over the decades, the company became an important part of the masonry community, employing and providing opportunities for countless BAC members throughout its history.
But the significance of the day was not simply about a company or a career. It was about family and the Brotherhood.
Ray was joined by his sons, including Thomas Baker, who is also a BAC member, and Tim Baker, as well as the next generation of the Baker family. Thomas’s son, Nate Baker, has continued the family’s tradition of membership in the BAC. Nate joined BAC Local 9 in April 2002 and was recognized during the ceremony with his 25-year certificate and pin.
Together, Ray, Tom, Tim and Nate represent multiple generations of a family that has dedicated itself to the masonry trade and the BAC. Their story is a powerful example of how the values of the Brotherhood can be passed from one generation to the next.
The Baker family’s connection to the trade continues today. T.C. Baker, the son of Tim Baker, now manages Baker Construction, while Nate Baker, the son of Thomas Baker, manages manpower needs and remains part of the company’s next generation of leadership. The family business, founded more than 70 years ago, remains another tangible reminder of the strong foundation Ray and his family established.
Over the past 75 years, countless BAC members have worked for Baker Construction. Their careers, friendships and contributions are part of the broader Baker legacy and demonstrate the important role the company has played within the union masonry community.
The August 14 recognition was attended by leaders from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and BAC Local 2, including Tim Driscoll, IU BAC President; Jerry Sullivan, IU BAC Secretary-Treasurer; Keith Hocevar, IU BAC Vice President; Jeremy Rivas, North Central Regional Director; and Raul Zamarron, North Central Regional Representative.
Representing BAC Local 2 were Brett Gierak, President; Trevor Grace, Business Agent; Chris Fillmore, Business Agent; and Aaron Pistor, Business Agent.
For a man who joined the BAC in 1951, Ray Baker’s 75-year milestone is much more than a number. It represents a lifetime of commitment to his trade, his union brothers and sisters, his family, and the values of the Brotherhood.
Seventy-five years of membership. Three generations of family. Countless BAC members who have worked alongside him.
Ray Baker’s legacy is a testament to the enduring strength of the BAC—and a reminder that the strongest foundations are built to last.
Front row, left to right: Thomas Baker, Ray Baker, Nate Baker and Tim Baker.
Back row, left to right: Trevor Grace, Tim Driscoll, Brett Gierak, Jeremy Rivas, Jerry Sullivan, Chris Fillmore, Raul Zamarron, Keith Hocevar and Aaron Pistor.
