MIDDLETOWN— This year’s Pioneer Award at the Middletown Days Parade goes out to Jack Barker, lifelong resident of Middletown and devoted community volunteer. Known as the “Mayor of Middletown” Barker has been deeply involved in all of the town’s events from filling in for Santa Claus to helping extinguish wildfires – when it comes to volunteering, Barker truly is a Jack of all trades.
The award comes shortly after Barker celebrated his 80th birthday as he was born on May 8 1943. Despite his age, Barker finds joy in volunteering as often as possible. “I just like to get out and do things,” he said. There is no task too large for Barker as he has volunteered in almost every aspect of local life. He helps out at the local schools ,specifically on the field during football, baseball, softball and basketball games. He plays mascots like Smokey the Bear and Sparky the dog at events and parades, he helps out local businesses like Hardester’s, and was also first on the scene when Hardester’s caught fire in 2018.
Barker shared, “I just got home and was taking my shoes off when I heard it on the scanner. I put my shoes right back on and ran down there, got a big hose and started spraying.” Barker also described his experience during the Valley Fire in 2015. “When they had the big Valley fire I was working with the Red Cross.” Not only was he helping put out the fire, but Barker was also asked to ride along with law enforcement to ensure everyone had evacuated noting because of his familiarity with the area. Barker has been volunteering with the local fire department since he was 16 years old attending Middletown High School.
Reminiscing on his youth and days at Middletown High School in the late 1950s Barker explained that he was one of eight students in his graduating class. He also shared nostalgic memories of working in his father’s auto repair shop and doing cannonballs in the local pool next to the high school with his 12 siblings, four of which remain. He is the eldest of the siblings. Currently Barker resides in the same house he grew up in with his sister Shirley while his niece Diana Stanley cares for them both. Stanley is a local bus driver who described her uncle as being “a staple of town” as he continues to be present through his own struggles including knee and heart surgeries.
“Middletown is his whole life” shared Stanely as she described the depth of his volunteering. “The kids are his motivation” she said while discussing all of the different characters Barker has played with Barker adding “It was hot when I did Smokey but there was a fan in the top that would keep you cool.” Barker recounted these occasions in costume as if they happened yesterday.
Jack Barker will be featured on a float during this year’s Middletown Day Parade this Saturday at 10 a.m. The Middletown Days has been a long standing tradition in Middletown and begins Friday June 16 with a rodeo, continuing on Saturday and Sunday with the parade, contests, tournaments, vendors and dances. More information is available at middletowndays.org.
