Arthur Baker, Sr.

Arthur Baker, Sr. was born in 1906, to Frank “Ben” and Dora Ryan Baker. He was the third generation of fishermen, the second generation of  Bakers to be born and live on Deer Island located just off the shoreline of Biloxi. Arthur married Eva Louise Walthall, with whom he had six sons- Fredrick, Arthur, Frank, Donald, Alvin and Ronald- raising his five younger sons to be “boatman” and work in the seafood industry.

The life of a fisherman was hard, and raising the family on an island was an additional challenge. But Arthur cherished his family’s legacy and ensured all his children received their education in addition to learning the skills of shrimping and fishing. Every day, he would bring his sons to the mainland of Biloxi so they could attend school and then set out for a day of fishing. The family entertained many guests in their island home and enjoyed fishing, swimming, hunting and even gardening. Even with no luxuries such as the telephone or mail service, the Bakers still enjoyed their life on Deer Island.

Captain Baker owned several boats, among them PROGRES and the DORIS MAE, a 1931, 52-foot wooden lugger which were used in harvesting shrimp for many years. In the popular regattas, the DORIS MAE won the trawl boat race of 1932. The vessel was struck by lightning in 1934 but was still able to provide the support needed to raise then-growing family. In 1935, the Bakers purchased a home in New Orleans and transported the home aboard the DORIS MAE to Deer Island to be reconstructed.

In 1959, the Covacevich built lugger was converted to a deep-sea fishing and Chandeleur fishing charter boat. This would provide not only a living for the family, but also additional skills for the sons who would follow in his footsteps.

Arthur Baker was a faithful parishioner of St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi and was known by all to be “an all-around good person”. For his lifelong dedication to the seafood industry and his dedication to perpetuating the legacy of fishing to his children and grandchildren, Arthur Baker, Sr. is honored in the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum’s Heritage Hall of Fame.