Clyde N. Baker Jr. (May 6, 1930 – August 26, 2022) was an American geotechnical engineer who received awards for his work to design advanced foundations supporting tall structures.
[3][4] As a young man, he earned a pilot's license by the age of sixteen and also suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.
After earning the physics degree, he tried the field of electrical engineering by enrolling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.).
When Baker started his career, the allowable load, or bearing capacity, was six tons per square foot (tsf).
[8] His other professional affiliations include: In 1996, Baker was elected to Honorary Membership in American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for "his longstanding commitment and innovative accomplishments in advancing the state of the civil engineering practice and his commitment to advancing the careers of all who interact with him.
[10] After being recognized as a top newsmaker of 2007,[5] Baker received the ENR Award of Excellence "for firming up the science of soil to support the skyscrapers of tomorrow.
"[2] As part of the award, Baker was the subject of an eight-page cover story in the April 7, 2008 issue of ENR.