Randolph Baxter

(1946-2023) The first African American appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Randolph Baxter was born in Columbia. Baxter received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 1967. While an undergraduate, he joined the Army ROTC and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army after completing his first year at The University of Akron School of Law.

During his time in the Army, Baxter was a tank platoon leader in Vietnam and Cambodia with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. He later achieved the rank of captain and commanded a tank company before resigning his commission in 1971. He received a Bronze Star as well as other unit citations for his combat service.

Upon returning to Akron, he took a job as a salary administration analyst at B.F. Goodrich, completing his law degree during the evenings at The University of Akron.Baxter opened his own practice in Akron, simultaneously serving as deputy director of public service under former Akron Mayor John Ballard.

Baxter then spent eight years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, including serving as chief of the appellate section.In 1985, Baxter was appointed as a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Ohio. He served on the bench for 26 years, including four years as chief judge, retiring in August 2011. After retirement from the bench, he served one term as president of AARP Ohio.