Ricky Baker, president and chief executive officer of Big Tex Trailers, Mount Pleasant TX, was honored as Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year at Ernst & Young's 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year Southwest Area Awards Banquet. The award was presented by Pat Faubion, executive vice-president, Comerica Bank, at the banquet June 16 at The International Apparel Mart in Dallas TX.
Baker began in the trailer business at age 17, working for a friend's father after school in a trailer-building business. Two years later, after taking the company from building 10 trailers per week to more than 100, Baker bought the firm and went into partnership with his uncle-in-law. He later sold his share of the company and formed Big Tex.