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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 the Speaker of the House, and former Representative Frank Kell Cahoon (1934-2013) 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.<ref name=wtha/>

 

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 practiced law for more than twenty-five years with the firm Legg, Saxe & Baskin.<ref name=alcalde/> From 1953 to 1958, he was a judge of the Midland Municipal Court,<ref name=cherald>{{cite web|url=http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.milam/8681/mb.ashx|title=Baskin, Pat McKinney, Judge|publisher=''Cameron Herald''|date=June 2, 2005|accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref> then known as a corporation court. In 1980, he was elected to the 142nd District Court, in which he served until 1992, when he did not seek reelection to a fourth term and was succeed by fellow Republican George D. "Jody" Gilles, who ran without opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=General Election Returns|date=November 3, 1992 |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref> Upon retirement, Baskin remained "senior judge" which entailed work as a visiting judge until shortly before his passing.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​

Baskin practiced law for more than twenty-five years with the firm Legg, Saxe & Baskin.<ref name=alcalde/> From 1953 to 1958, he was a judge of the Midland Municipal Court,<ref name=cherald>{{cite web|url=http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.milam/8681/mb.ashx|title=Baskin, Pat McKinney, Judge|publisher=''Cameron Herald''|date=June 2, 2005|accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref> then known as a corporation court. In 1980, he was elected to the 142nd District Court, in which he served until 1992, when he did not seek reelection to a fourth term and was succeed by fellow Republican George D. "Jody" Gilles, who ran without opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108172637/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=General Election Returns|date=November 3, 1992 |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref> Upon retirement, Baskin remained "senior judge" which entailed work as a visiting judge until shortly before his passing.<ref name=pmbaskin/>​

The Joan R. Baskin Scholarship Fund has been established to benefit Midland students seeking to attend the University of Texas. The fund is named in honor of Judge Baskin's widow, Joan.  Ed Clements, a Midland and later Austin radio broadcaster, called Mrs. Baskin at the dedication ceremony "one of the wisest persons I have ever been around ... wonderful, gracious, wise."<ref name=joanrbaskin/> Donald Evans, the former chairman of the University of Texas Regents and United States Secretary of Commerce under former [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]], called her "one of the real treasures for the university. She inspires us all, leads us. When you think about the greatness of the University of Texas, you have to think of Joan Baskin at the same time."<ref name=joanrbaskin>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrt.com/top_stories/article_1cd4a978-454d-11e0-8596-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Joan Baskin honored by UT Exes|date=March 2, 2011|publisher=''Midland Reporter-Telegram''|accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref>​

The Joan R. Baskin Scholarship Fund has been established to benefit Midland students seeking to attend the University of Texas. The fund is named in honor of Judge Baskin's widow, Joan.  Ed Clements, a Midland and later Austin radio broadcaster, called Mrs. Baskin at the dedication ceremony "one of the wisest persons I have ever been around ... wonderful, gracious, wise."<ref name=joanrbaskin/> Donald Evans, the former chairman of the University of Texas Regents and United States Secretary of Commerce under former [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]], called her "one of the real treasures for the university. She inspires us all, leads us. When you think about the greatness of the University of Texas, you have to think of Joan Baskin at the same time."<ref name=joanrbaskin>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrt.com/top_stories/article_1cd4a978-454d-11e0-8596-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Joan Baskin honored by UT Exes|date=March 2, 2011|publisher=''Midland Reporter-Telegram''|accessdate=July 29, 2014}}</ref>​

==References==

==References==