I first met him in the mid 50's when we lived on adjacent streets. We met up again at South Junior High and by the time we got to high school, we were good friends.

When Baxter decided to run for Class President our senior year, I was a little skeptical, but little did I know. Baxter's leadership began there, but certainly didn't end there. After re-reading his graduation speech many years later, I had a better understanding of the man and his future calling.

We kept in touch in college and visited him at UMass. We shared a job at the Country Club of Pittsfield and that's when (to me at least) the military side of Baxter emerged. He went to ROTC training that summer.

He fulfilled his military commitment after college, which was not a popular decision during the turbulent 60's and early 70's. But it fit Baxter to the point where he kept involved for many years, including a tour of duty in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and most recently as a Base Commander here in Pittsburgh.

We kept in contact over the years and would see each other when he made trips to Chicago for business or my family would stop at his place in Buffalo for a few days on the way to and from Pittsfield.

We really got back in contact at the 20th reunion. That's when our Class really started to bond, I believe. Every 5 years after that Baxter was always there to lend support and re-established the scholarship fund for the Class.

All of my contemporaries are amazed at our continuing contact. Some say they haven't heard from their high school classmates in years, let alone have reunions. To this I give credit to Baxter and to the indefatigable committee in Pittsfield, especially you, Jeanne.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the one constant in Baxter's life as long as I can remember. It was Kerry, who he had met in Junior High. Baxter was not always around, as he was with Kerry. A line in a high school publication says it all -- When asked what he will miss most after high school, he said "Meeting Kerry in front of the library". 

She has been an inspiration to him through all these years and most especially, these last few difficult months. Thank you Kerry and may God Bless you and your children Brian, Kelly and Brendan. A special thanks also goes out to all who helped Baxter in any way, with special thanks for classmate Jerry Moynihan.

Perhaps the highlight of them all for me, was the trip to Pittsburgh a year ago. What a special time for Baxter and those who were there. As time goes on, we in the Class of 65 all seem to all get closer.

To paraphrase a country song by Randy Travis, we all have "Heroes and Friends".

Your heroes will help you find good in yourself
Your friends won't forsake you for somebody else
They'll both stand beside you thru thick and thru thin
And that's how it goes, with heroes and friends.

Baxter was both hero and friend to all of us. Never once did I hear him complain about his situation. Always upbeat and cheerful.

In closing, our high school nickname was the "Generals". When Baxter retired from the Air Force, he was a Colonel. But to all his classmates, he will always be a General.

So long, and God Bless, my friend.

John E. Callan
Pittsfield High School
Class of 1965