Pat M. Baskin

Pat McKinney Baskin (November 29, 1926 - May 27, 2005) was a municipal and state court judge, city council member, and civic figure in his adopted city of Midland, Texas.
From 1944 to 1946, Baskin was a V-12 cadet in the United States Navy during the last portion of World War II. From 1951 to 1953, he was a lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1952, he married the former Joan Marie Ragsdale (born c. 1932), and the couple moved to Midland, where they lived for more than a half century.
Civic and political life
Baskin was active in the promotion of the Midland Independent School District. His last official action as a judge was the swearing in of MISD trustees on May 11, 2005. He was a long-term member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, in which he promoted scholarship endeavors. He served on the University of Texas College of Communications Foundation. Angelo won by plurality, as no runoff election was required. Baskin made party affiliation an issue in the race, and Angelo considered Baskin a "liberal Democrat". However, Baskin subsequently switched parties, as West Texas veered increasingly away from the Democrats, and he served for twelve years as a Republican state court judge. Angelo recalls that Baskin was "a gentleman," popular by virtue of his friendly personality and his involvement in community theatre.
Baskin practiced law for more than twenty-five years with the firm Legg, Saxe & Baskin. then known as a corporation court. In 1980, he was elected to the 142nd District Court, in which he served until 1992, when he did not seek reelection to a fourth term and was succeed by fellow Republican George D. "Jody" Gilles, who ran without opposition. Upon retirement, Baskin remained "senior judge" which entailed work as a visiting judge until shortly before his passing.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu