Career
He was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism" in World War I. In 1954 he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Baston was a sports phenomenon in high school, where he played for Park High School in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. Entering the University of Minnesota to study law, he played football on the school"s "elevens" at left end for three seasons beginning in 1914.
He was captain of the team his final year.
Walter Camp named him on his All-American team both in 1915 and in 1916. During World War I Baston served with the 17th Company of the 5th Marine Regiment.
He was a captain and fought in France. He suffered a critical leg injury while serving in the Battle of Belleau Wood, with a hole in his leg "big enough to stick a broom handle through," according to family lore.
"The Navy Cross is presented to Albert P. Baston, First Lieutenant, United States. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Force in action near Château-Thierry, France.
Although shot in both legs while leading his platoon through the woods at Hill 142, near Château-Thierry, France, on June 6, 1918, Lieutenant Baston refused treatment until he had personally assured himself that every man in his platoon was under cover and in good firing position."
Baston spent almost a year in the hospital, and when he got out he started a bakery in Detroit. He returned to Minneapolis and started the Bert Baston Chevrolet Company at 3038 Hennepin Avenue (1933). Baston served as the Minnesota Gophers" ends coach from 1930 to the 1941 and again from 1946 to 1950.
In World World War II Baston again was called into service, this time in the North Africa Campaign as a colonel in the Marines, where he commanded a battalion that repaired equipment ranging from jeeps to rocket guns for armies in the European and African Theaters.
Baston resumed his automotive career after the war. The 1947 Saint Louis Park City directory listed his Baston-Barington Chevrolet Company at 2612 Lyndale Avenue.
He remained active in the community and was appointed as General Chairman of the 1948 Minneapolis Aquatennial. Baston moved to Saint Cloud later in life and opened a dealership there.
In 1954 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Baston died in Saint Cloud on November 15, 1979, and is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
