The W. Don Baker Memorial Award was established in 1998 to recognize the best scientific presentation at the annual chapter meeting. Don's career with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission had spanned 33 years by the time of his retirement in 1990. Don had served as a reservoir research biologist at High Rock Lake, was Chief of the Division of Inland Fisheries, and later coordinated all of the environmental permit review work done by the agency.

Don's professional career was informed by his commitment to the state's fishery resources and his strong conviction that good science has to be an integral part of successful fisheries management. He was an advocate of professionalism and understood the value of getting his staff to scientific meetings and training opportunities. He was active in the American Fisheries Society, serving as President of the Southern Division and strongly supporting AFS involvement by his staff. Nearly a decade after his retirement and subsequent death, Don's influence on the WRC is still apparent as the young biologists he hired have matured and assumed leadership roles throughout the Division of Inland Fisheries. On a more personal level, Don Baker was a gentleman. It is particularly fitting that the Chapter recognizes excellence in fisheries technical presentations with an award named in his honor. Don would have been pleased.