Jim Baird (politician)

James Richard Baird^[3] (born June 4, 1945)^[4] is an American businessman and politician who serves as the U.S. representative from Indiana's 4th congressional district. Before being elected to Congress, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives^[5] and as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010. A Vietnam veteran, Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.^[6]

Quick Facts Preceded by, Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 44th district ...

Jim Baird
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Todd Rokita
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 44th district
In office November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2018
Preceded by	Nancy Michael
Succeeded by	Beau Baird
Personal details
Born	James Richard Baird (1945-06-04) June 4, 1945 (age 78) Covington, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Danise Baird
Children	3, including Beau
Residence(s)	Greencastle, Indiana, U.S.
Education	Purdue University (BS, MS) University of Kentucky (PhD)
Website	House website Campaign website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1972[1]
Rank	First lieutenant
Unit	523rd Transportation Company[2]
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart
Academic background
Thesis	Effects of lactose, dried whey, enzyme supplementation and presoaking of the diet on early-weaned pig performance and nutrient utilization (1983)

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Baird was born in 1945 to William (1916-1989) and Martha Ewbank Baird (1924-1998). William was born in Scotland.^[7] Baird graduated from Turkey Run High School in 1963, participating in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in animal science from Purdue University in 1967 and a Master's of Science in animal science from Purdue in 1969. After the Vietnam War, Baird earned a PhD in animal science monogastric nutrition from the University of Kentucky in 1975.

Baird served in the ROTC at Purdue University from 1963 to 1965. He attended the Officer Candidate School Class 2–70 at Fort Benning and Jungle Warfare School in Panama from 1969 to 1970, and was commissioned in the Infantry.^[8] The United States Army was sending infantry divisions home when Second Lieutenant Baird arrived in Vietnam in 1970. Because of the excess of Infantry officers, he was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company (Light Truck) at Cha Rang Valley. Baird and the other officers were highly respected by the men because they shared the same risks and burdens.^[9]

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander considered the 523rd his best truck company and when instructed to send two light truck companies north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971, he chose to send his best. The 523rd was attached to the 39th Transportation Battalion and stationed at the abandoned Marine Corps base Camp Vandergrift. During the two-and-a-half-month incursion into Laos, the North Vietnamese Army tried to close down the supply route with 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the operation's deadliest ambushes and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971.^[10][11][9] He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.^[2] In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719.^[12][13]

Baird was fondly nicknamed "pig farmer" by fellow infantrymen because of his passion for breeding pigs.^[14]

From 1974 to 1983, Baird served as a Purdue University extension agent for Putnam County.^[15] Baird is the owner of Baird Family Farms, Triple Tree Enterprises, Inc. (a gas station operator in Crawfordsville), and Indiana Home Care Plus of Greencastle, a home health agency. He previously worked as an animal nutritionist at Landmark Cooperative, a feed manufacturer, and as director of sales and nutrition at Agmax.

Baird ran for Putnam County commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary.^[16] He represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township.^[17] He served as commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle.^[18] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

Baird represented House District 44, including Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen, and Parke counties, from 2010 until 2018. He served as a member of the Ways and Means Committee—chairing the Health and Medicaid Subcommittee—the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Veteran Affairs and Public Safety, the Environmental Affairs Committee, and the Statutory Committee on Ethics.

Baird is married to Danise née Swain, a registered nurse who graduated from Purdue University in 1968.^[40] Baird has three children: daughter Vanessa Lee Norsworthy, born 1968, and sons Stacey Gilbert, born 1972, and Jason Beau, born 1981. Baird's son, Beau, was elected chair of the Putnam County Republican Party in March 2017. Beau ran to replace him in the Indiana House of Representatives. Beau won the election on November 6, 2018.^[41][42]

Baird resides outside of Greencastle in Clinton Township.^[43] Baird has attended Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle since 1975.^[44]