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Baskin was active in the promotion of the Midland Independent School District. His last official action as a judge was the swearing in of MISD trustees on May 11, 2005. He was a long-term member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, in which he promoted scholarship endeavors. He served on the University of Texas College of Communications Foundation.<ref name=pmbaskin/>

Baskin was active in the promotion of the Midland Independent School District. His last official action as a judge was the swearing in of MISD trustees on May 11, 2005. He was a long-term member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, in which he promoted scholarship endeavors. He served on the University of Texas College of Communications Foundation.<ref name=pmbaskin/>

 

From 1968 to 1972, Baskin was a member of the Midland City Council, the last two years of which he was Mayor Pro-Tem. In 1972, Mayor Edwin H. Magruder, Jr., did not seek a third two-year term, and Baskin entered the nominally non-partisan contest against two rivals, Ernest Angelo, Jr., and Brad Patteson. Baskin was the former chairman of the Midland County [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee; Angelo, an [[oil]]man, was then and remains involved in the [[Republican Party]] in the Permian Basin. Texas state Representative]] [[Tom Craddick]], Angelo's friend and neighbor in Midland and later theSpeaker of the House, and former Representative Frank Kell Cahoon of Midland recruited their fellow Republican Angelo to challenge Baskin. Craddick believed that Baskin would use the mayoral office to attempt to derail's Craddick's bid for a third term in the state House in the [[general election]] on November 7, 1972. Angelo agreed to run for mayor if Cahoon would seek one of the at-large city council seats. The deal was struck, and both ran and won.<ref name=wtha/> Angelo defeated Baskin, 3,743 (45.6 percent) to 3,593 (43.8 percent). Patteson polled 873 votes (10.6 percent). Angelo hence won by 150 votes of the some 8,200 ballots cast.<ref>City of Midland, Mayoral election returns, April 4, 1972</ref> Angelo won by plurality, as no runoff election was required. Baskin made party affiliation an issue in the race, and Angelo considered Baskin a "[[liberal]] Democrat". However, Baskin subsequently switched parties, as West Texas veered increasingly away from the Democrats, and he served for twelve years as a Republican state court judge. Angelo recalls that Baskin was "a gentleman," popular by virtue of his friendly personality and his involvement in community theatre.<ref name=wtha>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Ernest Angelo, Jr., of Midland and the 96-0 Reagan Sweep of Texas, May 1, 1976," ''West Texas Historical Association Yearbook'' Vol. 86 (2010), p. 83.</ref>​

From 1968 to 1972, Baskin was a member of the Midland City Council, the last two years of which he was Mayor Pro-Tem. In 1972, Mayor Edwin H. Magruder, Jr., did not seek a third two-year term, and Baskin entered the nominally non-partisan contest against two rivals, Ernest Angelo, Jr., and Brad Patteson. Baskin was the former chairman of the Midland County [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee; Angelo, an [[oil]]man, was then and remains involved in the [[Republican Party]] in the Permian Basin. Texas state Representative]] [[Tom Craddick]], Angelo's friend and neighbor in Midland and later theSpeaker of the House, and former Representative Frank Kell Cahoon of Midland recruited their fellow Republican Angelo to challenge Baskin. Craddick believed that Baskin would use the mayoral office to attempt to derail's Craddick's bid for a third term in the state House in the [[general election]] on November 7, 1972. Angelo agreed to run for mayor if Cahoon would seek one of the at-large city council seats. The deal was struck, and both ran and won.<ref name=wtha/> Angelo defeated Baskin, 3,743 (45.6 percent) to 3,593 (43.8 percent). Patteson polled 873 votes (10.6 percent). Angelo hence won by 150 votes of the some 8,200 ballots cast.<ref>City of Midland, Mayoral election returns, April 4, 1972</ref> Angelo won by plurality, as no runoff election was required. Baskin made party affiliation an issue in the race, and Angelo considered Baskin a "[[liberal]] Democrat". However, Baskin subsequently switched parties, as West Texas veered increasingly away from the Democrats, and he served for twelve years as a Republican state court judge. Angelo recalls that Baskin was "a gentleman," popular by virtue of his friendly personality and his involvement in community theatre.<ref name=wtha>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Ernest Angelo, Jr., of Midland and the 96-0 Reagan Sweep of Texas, May 1, 1976," ''West Texas Historical Association Yearbook'' Vol. 86 (2010), p. 83.</ref>​

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Baskin was a long-term cast member on stage and a former president of the Midland Community Theatre productions. He acted in more than twenty plays and musicals. His last performance was in Neil Simon's ''The Sunshine Boys'', a rendition held in the old community theatre building. At the time ''The Sunshine Boys'' was the highest grossing play in the history of amateur theater in Midland.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​

Baskin was a long-term cast member on stage and a former president of the Midland Community Theatre productions. He acted in more than twenty plays and musicals. His last performance was in Neil Simon's ''The Sunshine Boys'', a rendition held in the old community theatre building. At the time ''The Sunshine Boys'' was the highest grossing play in the history of amateur theater in Midland.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​

==Personal life==​

==Personal life==

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Judge Baskin was affiliated with the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association]] Christmas Seals,[United Cerebral Palsy, the Jaycees, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Toastmasters International, Leadership Midland, and the [[United Way]]. He was active in the First [[Presbyterian]] Church of Midland as an elder, [[deacon]], and [[Sunday school]] teacher. He headed an interdenominational citywide board which brought the late evangelist [[Billy Graham]] to preach in Midland.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​

Judge Baskin was affiliated with the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association]] Christmas Seals,[United Cerebral Palsy, the Jaycees, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Toastmasters International, Leadership Midland, and the [[United Way]]. He was active in the First [[Presbyterian]] Church of Midland as an elder, [[deacon]], and [[Sunday school]] teacher. He headed an interdenominational citywide board which brought the late evangelist [[Billy Graham]] to preach in Midland.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​