Draft:Henry G. Bakes

Henry George Bakes (1 December 1898 or 1899 - 26 October 1992) was the first employee at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), working there from 11 December 1928 until his retirement on 31 December 1970. Upon his retirement, the courtyard at the base of the Theme Building at LAX was named the Henry G. Bakes courtyard, and a bronze plaque installed by the then Department of Airports. Upon Bakes' death, the plaque was updated with his life dates.

Bakes was born in Morrow County, Ohio. His burial plaque records his year of birth as 1898, while the LAX plaque gives it as 1899. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. He died in Santa Monica aged 93, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside County, California, plot 33, 0, 2313.