PROCTORVILLE — Proctorville attorney Casey Baker will be honored by the Ohio Bar Association for his community work at a district meeting next month.

Baker, who is an associate attorney with Huddleston Bolen in Huntington, W.Va., will receive the bar association’s Community Service Award for Attorneys under 40.

Baker was nominated for the award by Ironton attorney Mike McCown.

“Casey has made an indelible mark upon our county,” McCown said. “Casey noticed that the majority of participation in community events was by older professionals and retirees. To fill the obvious voice in 2009 he founded the Lawrence County Young Professionals.”

Baker was instrumental in taking over the county’s Secret Santa program that provides toys and winter clothes for needy children.

“Casey and his organization took over the program less than two months before Christmas and were able to serve 411 underprivileged children who would not have received Christmas gifts.”

Because of his efforts Baker was named 2010 Young Professional of the Year by the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

Baker also serves as the legislative committee chair for the chamber; chaired the 2010 candidates election forum; and serves on the board of directors of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Tri-State.

Baker will be honored at a District 8 ceremony on Nov. 2 in Portsmouth.

“I appreciate the bar looking favorably on the work I have done,” he said. “I definitely was not working alone in many of these endeavors. I wish the award could go to everyone I worked with, but I appreciate it. It is nice to be recognized. I can’t take all the credit for all those things.”