He is recognized for his dedicated and careful oversight of his county's finances and administration.
BREWSTER, KS, March 22, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michael L. Baughn has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Baughn, commissioner for the Third District of Thomas County, Kansas, is recognized for his dedicated and careful oversight of his county's finances and administration. Since being elected to the position in 2012, he has worked tirelessly to represent residents' best interests via county agencies and departments. Among these vital institutions is construction of Thomas County's Criminal Justice Center and the renovation of a 1906 Courthouse, thanks in large part to Mr. Baughn's management and support.
Deeply active in the civic fabric of his community, Mr. Baughn was elected mayor of Brewster in 1974 and held the position for an impressive 33 years, retiring from the role in 2007. His dedication to Brewster has also led him to serve as Sheriff of Thomas County from 2005 to 2009, after working for the office from 1971 to 2005, and as president of the Brewster City Council in 1979.
Born in 1948 in Colby, Kansas, to James Leslie Baughn and Wilma Jean (Burkhead) Baughn, Mr. Baughn pursued higher education in the education field. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in education, with a minor in sociology, from Asbury College (now Asbury University) in 1970; upon graduating, he relocated to Brewster, making it his permanent home, before completing his master's studies in secondary education administration and principalship at Fort Hays State University in 1976. His schooling led him to a successful teaching career with Brewster Unified School District #314, including four years as a school principal in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and as a political science instructor with Colby Community College, where he himself studies criminal justice. During his tenure as a teacher, Mr. Baughn specialized in teaching social studies, focusing primarily on seventh- and eighth-grade students and covering all subjects except math.
A volunteer at numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, Mr. Baughn was the longtime president of the Butterfield Trail Association and sat on the Kansas Governor's Task Force on the Future of Rural Communities. Passionate about local history and preservation, he was deeply active with the Hi-Plains History Commission and the Kansas Historical Society, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, and the Thomas County Historical Society. Other civic engagements throughout his career have involved the Brewster Senior Citizen Center, Thomas County Republican Central Committee, Brewster Civil Defense, Lions Club International District Governor (17NW), Western Plains Arts Council and Northwestern Plains American Revolution Bicentennial Park Association. From 1975 to 1985, he was an active volunteer fireman.
Mr. Baughn currently is seeking his fourth term as the Third District Commissioner in Thomas County; he intends to retire after completing his 16th year in the role. In his free time, he continues to pursue his passion for history by delving into the history of Native American warfare on the Great Plains, including the interactions between indigenous cultures and immigrants, cavalry and militia. He also serves as a lay pastor at Brewster Methodist Church.
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