Harold Richard Baird, Jr., 71, passed into eternity April 19, 2025 at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born in Burlington, Iowa on September 22, 1953 to Harold Richard Baird, Sr. and Ella Faye (Wood) Baird. Richard was confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in 1981 and was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey where he served as a catechist and lector.
Richard attended Alton schools and was a 1971 graduate of Alton Senior High. He cherished the comradery of teammates on the 1971 undefeated football team, arranging a display case at Alton Senior High exhibiting memorabilia of their historic season and later helped found the Alton High School Wall of Fame. Richard earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mass Communications from Lindenwood University. The majority of his professional life was in business management, dedicating several years to the Village of Godfrey as its Building and Zoning Commissioner as well as Director of Godfrey Parks and Recreation.
A Navy veteran, he served in the sonar division on the USS Towers DDG9. A large part of his tour was in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of northern Vietnam. Growing up in a family with many veterans, he developed a passion for history. Richard and his father visited schools on Veterans Day to educate students about the American flag and the significance of the day; he organized and displayed many artifacts including primary source documents, flags, medals, photos and uniforms.
Community involvement was a priority. Richard was named as a Hometown Hero by The Telegraph. He served as the leader of Task Force 2000 during Bert Wuellner’s term as Alton mayor. Along with former Senator Bill Haine, Richard was instrumental in bringing the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Gordon F. Moore Park. While serving as president of the Alton Museum of History and Art, he secured its current location on the SIUE Dental School campus.
Richard produced and directed “A Civil War Retrospective” at Lewis and Clark Community College to raise funds for the Alton Museum. Preserving Alton’s history by portraying Elijah P. Lovejoy in presentations for schools and other organizations was an endeavor he revered. Richard was most passionate about the restoration of Alton’s National Cemetery where he developed and orchestrated the Annual Alton National Cemetery Sunset Ceremony on Memorial Day for the past 19 years.
His father, “Corky” Baird, was a charter member of the Alton Athletics Booster Club, which inspired his love of all sports. In Richard’s later years, he enjoyed working with students as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher. His current position with the Alton School District was public address announcer for home sporting events including football, basketball, soccer and track.
Preceding him in death are parents Harold and Ella Faye Baird as well as daughter Kate Baird Ashlock, sister Phyllis Harrell, brother-in-laws Bill Harrell, Steve Steuber, Jim Geller, Ed Stutz and sister-in-law Bev Stutz.
Surviving are his wife Theresa O’Connor, children Robert Baird (Jennifer), Christina Philbrook (Caleb), Curtis Baird and Kate’s partner Daniel Whorl, all of Alton.
Richard is also survived by sisters Sandra Geller of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Lori Schwartz (Gary) of Horn Lake, Mississippi, brother Butch Chapman (Brenda) of Jerseyville, and sister and brother-in-laws Connie (Bill) Bollini of Alton and Mary (Rick) Boyer of Godfrey. He was the proud grandfather of Brandon Wallace, Jacob Wallace (Faith), Aaron Ashlock (Kaitlyn), Elaina Giles (Dakota), Eli Baird, Charlotte, Celeste, Simon and Seth Philbrook and five great-grandsons: Kysen Lewis, Braylon and Greyson Ashlock, Lincoln Wallace, and baby boy Ashlock expected in May. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey, Illinois will host visitation at 10 am in the Parish Community Center followed by a Memorial Mass in the church at 11 am on Thursday, May 1, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. Ambrose Catholic School or the Alton Athletic Association.
