A nationally syndicated columnist for The New York Times for more than 30 years, Russell Wayne Baker was one of America’s most respected and successful humorists. Baker was born in the backwoods of Virginia. At age 11, as a “self-professed bump on a log,” he made the decision to become a writer since he “figured what writers did couldn’t even be classified as work.” He earned a scholarship to Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1947. After graduation, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually joined The New York Times as a Washington reporter. In 1962, became the author of nationally syndicated “Observer” column for The New York Times, and won his first Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary in 1979. Baker earned his second Pulitzer for his poignant and inspiring autobiography, “Growing Up” that chronicled his family life during the Great Depression. In 1993, he replaced Alistair Cooke to become the regular host of the PBS television series, “Masterpiece Theatre” until his own retirement in 2004. Russell Baker addressed the Academy honor students at the 1993 Achievement Summit at the Glacier Park Lodge at majestic Glacier Park in Montana.