Baums, Roosevelt 1946–

PERSONAL: Born January 29, 1946, in Miami, FL; son of Robert (a migrant farmer) and Rosie (a retail clerk; maiden name, Davis) Baums; married January 20, 1968; wife's name Louise (divorced); married Loretha Johnson (a deputy sheriff), December 1, 1973; children: Kimberly L. Ethnicity: "Black." Education: Syracuse University, B.S., 2003; also attended Empire State Baptist Seminary. Politics: Republican. Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Zion. Hobbies and other interests: Golf, bowling, cycling.

ADDRESSES: Home—436 W. Ostrander Ave., Syracuse, NY 13205-1958. Office—Thomas Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion, 715 Morrison St., P.O. Box 6002, Watertown, NY 13601. E-mail—r.baums@worldnet.att.net.

CAREER: Preacher. P.E.A.C.E., Inc., Syracuse, NY, program director, 1973–75; Longley-Jones Restate, Syracuse, property manager, 1975–77; Onondaga Sheriff's Department, Syracuse, deputy sheriff, 1977–84; U.S. Postal Service, Syracuse, distribution clerk, 1984–2005. Ordained Baptist deacon, 1997; Worldwide Love and Brotherhood Ministry, Syracuse, NY, founder; Thomas Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion, affiliate; also affiliate of City-County Youth Bureau and North Point Continuum Coalition. Department of Defense recruiter in Syracuse, 1980–84. Ordained Methodist Elder, 2000–. Military service: U.S. Army, senior combat engineer, 1964–67; retired as master sergeant; received oak leaf cluster.

MEMBER: Henry Barr Underground Railroad Society (chief executive officer), Masons (master mason), Kappa Alpha Psi (strategus), Syracuse University Alumni Association.

AWARDS, HONORS: Received key to the city of Tuskegee, AL, Tuskegee Common Council, 1985.

WRITINGS:

A Minority View of How to Campaign for Political Office, edited by Nancy Augst and Michelle Mathews, Rosey-Royce (Syracuse, NY), 1982.

In Search of the Dove that Brings Love (children's prayers), Rosey-Royce (Syracuse, NY), 1997.

Also author of more than 100 poems and of a volume of poetry, Welcome to Our Child's World. Songwriter, including the songs "Welcome Home My Friends," "Broken Hearted Soul," and "Set Me Free." Contributor to local newspapers.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A family history book.

SIDELIGHTS: Roosevelt Baums told CA: "I enjoy telling stories and building word foundations. My seventh-grade teacher, Mrs. R.P. Chisholm, influenced me to write. Being raised in the country inspired me to write on different subjects."

Baums more recently told CA that his favorite of his books is "A Minority View of How to Campaign for Political Office. President Ronald Reagan put this book in his library and said 'I want to tell you how much I appreciate your generous words. They mean a great deal to me.'"