Jeff Baldwin – 16 in 2016

Radiology, Saline Memorial Hospital
33-Year Saline County Resident

To consider Jeff Baldwin’s busy schedule, you’d wonder how he gets everything done. The 47-year-old married father of two has worked in radiology with Saline Memorial Hospital for 23 years. That career alone is demanding, but for Baldwin, that’s just the beginning.

As he sees it, there are others out there who need his help in a variety of ways. “I have a strong Christian bond,” he said. “I was brought up to the point that you do unto others as you’d have them do to you. If I see someone in need, then I’m going to help. That’s what I do.”

The call to help spans from building homes as a volunteer through Habitat For Humanity to helping the less fortunate get their needs met through the Food Closet. “Our church was a distribution center. My son and I would help unload the truck.”

Jeff doesn’t confine his giving to only charitable endeavors. He also volunteers with Bryant High School as a wrestling coach, a sport he’s been passionate about since he was a child. As a former wrestler himself, he recalls, “I knew all of my moves and remembered all of the rules. One thing just seemed to lead to another.”

After Bryant’s first coach, Kel Dinker, left the program, he suggested Jeff get certified through the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) to remain as volunteer assistant. “Bryant hired Dondre Harris, who’s also the running backs and special teams coach for football. Right now, it’s Coach Harris and I doing it.”

Wrestling was introduced to Arkansas close to a decade ago by Greg Hatcher, owner of The Hatcher Agency. The sport has steadily grown in popularity among high school athletics programs, but unlike the larger team sports, wrestling is all about one-on-one competition. “It’s more like tennis,” Baldwin said. “The one with the biggest heart and the most drive is going to win.”

“Wrestling goes by weight classes, starting at 106 lbs. and going up to 285 lbs.,” he added. “Those kids weighing 150 lbs. may never see time on the football field, but if you wrestle, we’ll get you a match. If you come out, you’re going to get time on the mat.”

Baldwin’s success as an athlete, a dedicated professional and volunteer has apparently rubbed off on his two children. “With both of my kids, I’ve been involved in everything they’ve done,” he said. “My daughter is a great student and a two-time state champion and national champion in cheerleading, and my son graduated valedictorian of his class here at Bryant. He’s at Oklahoma State University on an academic scholarship,” Baldwin said.