Bakersfield - It's the People and a Whole Lot More

Bakersfield 

Photography by Greg Iger 

Text by Mark Corum 

It’s The People, 

And A Whole Lot More 

A publication of the 

Office of Bakersfield Mayor Harvey L. Hall

Thank you for your interest in this HPNbooks publication. For more information about other HPNbooks publications, or 

information about producing your own book with us, please visit www.hpnbooks.com.

Photography by Greg Iger 

Text by Mark Corum 

Bakersfield 

It’s The People, And A Whole Lot More 

A publication of the 

Office of Bakersfield Mayor Harvey L. Hall 

HPNbooks 

A division of Lammert Incorporated 

San Antonio, Texas

÷ 

Previous page: The famous Bakersfield Arch welcomed travelers on the old U.S. Route 99 for fifty-years. After falling into disrepair, Caltrans feared it would collapse onto the road and wanted it removed. Buck Owens worked with Samson Steel 

to build a new arch supported by towers resembling the Beale Memorial Clock Tower. Located on Sillect Avenue, next to the Crystal Palace, the city’s most recognizable image once again remains visible to motorists traveling on State Route 99. 

Above: Left to right, a panoramic looking west from downtown shows the Bakersfield Police Department, City Hall North, First Presbyterian Church, the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper and the Padre Hotel. 

First Edition 

Copyright © 2016 HPNbooks 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher. 

All inquiries should be addressed to HPNbooks, 11535 Galm Road, Suite 101, San Antonio, Texas, 78254. Phone (800) 749-9790, www.hpnbooks.com. 

ISBN: 978-1-944891-19-0 

Library of Congress: 2016955375 

Bakersfield: It’s The People, And A Whole Lot More 

photographer: Greg Iger 

assistant photographer: Ryan Cunningham 

author: Mark Corum 

designer: Glenda Tarazon Krouse 

contributing writers for Bakersfield partners: Garnette Bane, Joe Goodpasture 

Credits and acknowledgements. 

County of Kern Department of Agriculture and 

Measurement Standards, 2014 Kern County Agricultural 

Crop Report; Kern Economic Development Corporation, 

2016 Kern County Market Overview & Investor Directory; 

David Lyman, manager, Visit Bakersfield; Kristie Onaindia, 

Kern County Basque Club; North American Basque 

Organizations; Michael Trihey, news director, KGET. 

HPNbooks 

president: Ron Lammert 

project manager: Daphne Fletcher 

assistant project managers: Anita Andersen, Jennifer Folkert 

administration: Donna M. Mata, Lori K. Smith, Melissa G. Quinn 

book sales: Joe Neely 

production: Colin Hart, Evelyn Hart, Tim Lippard, Tony Quinn, Christopher D. Sturdevant 

BAKERSFIELD—It’s The People, And A Whole Lot More 

2

Contents 

Legacy Sponsors ...............................................................................................4 

Introduction by Mayor Harvey L. Hall ............................................................6 

City of Bakersfield City Council........................................................................8 

County of Kern Administrative Center ..........................................................10 

Chapter 1 

A Diversity of Interests, a Style All Its Own..........12 

Chapter 2 Bakersfield Life ...................................................................56 

Chapter 3 Bakersfield Works ...........................................................100 

Bakersfield Partners .....................................................................................142 

Sponsors ......................................................................................................300 

About the Photographer ..............................................................................302 

About the Author..........................................................................................303 

CONTENTS 

3

LEGACY SPONSORS 

Through their generous support, these companies 

helped to make this project possible. 

Metropolitan Recycling, LLC 

2601 South Mount Vernon Avenue 

Bakersfield, California 93307 

661-836-8380 

Dignity Health 

Mercy & Memorial Hospitals 

California State University Bakersfield 

9001 Stockdale Highway 


661-654-CSUB (2782) 

www.csub.edu 

Memorial Hospital 

420 34th Street 


661-327-4647 

Mercy Hospital Downtown 

2215 Truxtun Avenue 


661-632-5000 

Kern Federal Credit Union 

1717 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield 93301 

4180 Coffee Road, Bakersfield 93308 

661-327-9461 

www.kernfcu.org 

Mercy Hospital Southwest 

400 Old River Road 


661-663-6000 

www.dignityhealth.org/bakersfield 

San Joaquin Community Hospital 

2615 Chester Avenue 


661-395-3000 

www.sjch.us 


4

Omni Family Health 

4900 California Avenue, Suite 400-B 


1-800-300-OMNI (66 64) 

www.OmniFamilyHealth.org 

Chris Bertolucci Construction 

9721 Rosedale Highway 


661-589-4567 

www.bertolucci-construction.com 

Bakersfield Adult School 

501 South Mount Vernon Avenue 


661-835-1855 

bas.kernhigh.org 

KS Industries, LP 

6205 District Boulevard 


661-617-1700 

www.ksilp.com 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center 

4570 California Avenue 


661-327-4411 

www.bfmc.com 

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital 

3441 Allen Road 


661-588-3299 

www.sanjoaquinvet.com 

LEGACY SPONSORS 

5

Introduction Mayor Harvey L. Hall 

Much has been said, songs have been sung, and articles and books written 

about this city we call home. The obvious can be stated about us; that Bakersfield 

is currently the ninth largest city in California, that agriculture and oil fuel the 

local economy, and that music feeds our souls…but what is readily apparent 

cannot alone tell the story. 

Bakersfield: It’s the People, and a Whole Lot More, is a book about us, the 

people who live here, in or near Bakersfield, in the southern end of California’s 

Central Valley. The people in our part of the world identify with Bakersfield, even 

if they are not technically within its city limits. Ask someone from Lamont, or 

Weedpatch, or Oildale where they are from, and the response is very likely to be 

“close to Bakersfield.” 

Our forefathers arrived from other states and other countries. They may have 

come on horseback, in wagons, or in beaten up old vehicles that held all their 

worldly belongings. Some of our parents made the choice to make this home, and 

some of us are here because we decided that this was a good place to plant our 

roots. What Bakersfield is not, is exclusive. We are a community of people taking 

care of family, work, and one another. 

This book pays homage to how we live, how we earn a living, how we play, our 

natural resources, and it uniquely captures the variety of places in our community, 

from the rugged shores of the picturesque and infamous Kern River, to the roar 

of the Kern County Raceway; from the revitalized jewel of the Padre Hotel 

downtown, to the to the sprawling campus of our prized California State University 

Bakersfield. Tucked carefully between the pages is the essence of what transforms 

Bakersfield from ordinary, to extraordinary: the folks that live here. 

In a state where cities tend to be either very young or very old (at least by 

American standards), we are firmly middle-aged. The hospitable Colonel Baker 

arrived in 1863, and word soon spread that travelers would be welcome to rest at 

‘Baker’s field.’ A hundred and fifty-three years later we are a city of nearly 380,000 

people, over half a million if you count the unincorporated areas adjacent to the 

city. And, we are still welcoming our visitors, the ones that come to hear the music 

made famous by Buck and Merle, the ones that come to learn about baby carrots 

and pump oil, the ones that come to race cars and boats, the ones that come to 

watch their boys wrestle and the girls play basketball, and the ones that come 

and decide to stay. 

Over the last seventy-some years I have been a proud member of the Bakersfield 

community, and for nearly sixteen years it has been my honor and pleasure to 

serve as its mayor. As I reflect on what has been, and on what lies ahead, I am 

confident that Bakersfield will rise to meet the future as she has dealt with the past, 

with innovation, optimism and unity. Bakersfield: It’s the People and a Whole Lot 

More pays tribute to who we were, who we are, and what we have built together. 

—Mayor Harvey L. Hall 

City of Bakersfield 

2001-2016 


6

÷ 

Harvey L. Hall, Bakersfield’s twenty-fifth 

mayor, with a statue of Colonel Thomas Baker, 

from whom the city’s name was derived. 

INTRODUCTION 

7

City of Bakersfield 

City Council 


8 

÷ 

Left to right, Bakersfield City Council Members: Terry Maxwell (Ward 2), Ken Weir (Ward 3), Vice Mayor Harold Hanson (Ward 5), 

Mayor Harvey L. Hall, Jacquie Sullivan (Ward 6), Bob Smith (Ward 4), Chris Parlier (Ward 7), and Willie Rivera (Ward 1).

÷ 

A downtown Bakersfield nightscape highlights the Old Church Plaza with its bell tower, which stands seventy feet tall. Built in 1931 as the First Baptist Church, the 

building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and represents a “fusion of two historical styles of architecture...Romanesque and Mission Revival.” 

CITY OF BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL 

9

County of Kern 

Administrative Center 

÷ 

Right: Left to right, County of Kern Board of Supervisors, David Couch 

(District 4), Leticia Perez (District 5), Chairman Mick Gleason (District 1), 

Mike Maggard (District 3), and Zack Scrivner (District 2). 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE COUNTY OF KERN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 

Below: County of Kern Administrative Center. 


10

÷ 

The leaves of trees lining the banks of the Kern River change 

colors as the temperature cools going into late fall. 

COUNTY OF KERN ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER 

11

Chapter 

1 

A Diversity of Interests, 

a Style All Its Own 

Choose any weekend in Bakersfield, and chances are there are any number of activities from which to choose—whether 

the arts, sporting events or live music. 

Bakersfield people love to socialize and attend functions and events, particularly when there is a good cause tied to it. 

Dozens of nonprofits host fundraising events that draw the masses. 

We work hard and play harder, and if by chance, you don’t find us out and about, we are likely at a park, or in our backyard 

grillin’ and chillin’ with friends and family. In fact, Bakersfield boasts fifty-nine parks throughout the city, each with unique 

amenities including water parks, skateboard parks, and outdoor amphitheaters. 

We embrace our central California lifestyle, keeping it casual, but we don’t mind dressing to the occasion, or donning our 

favorite pair of cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat to keep with our western heritage. 


12 

÷ 

The Bakersfield Amazing Race includes a 

scavenger hunt through downtown, infused 

with trivia while clad as your favorite 

costume character. The event benefits 

disabled persons in our community.

CHAPTER 1 

13

÷ 

Above: Using pavement as their canvas, artists converge each October for the Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival. 

Crowds build throughout the weekend in anticipation as fine art emerges. 

COURTESY OF ART SHERWYN. 

Right: Renowned metal-sculpturist Betty Younger’s Sun Catcher is among her dramatic works of public art that can be 

seen throughout downtown Bakersfield. 


14

÷ 

Since receiving a complete renovation the Padre Hotel has become 

a destination boutique hotel, and is a top choice for musical artists, 

actors, and business people staying in the city. The Padre’s storied 

history is something of urban legend, yet most of it is true. 

CHAPTER 1 

15


16

÷ 

Opposite: Gas-filled glass tubes in a full-spectrum of colors keep 

iconic Bakersfield establishments aglow. Neon signs reached their peak in 

the 1960s, but in recent years have transformed into a form of public art. The Kern County Museum 

has dedicated The Neon Courtyard to preserve and display these hidden gems of businesses gone by. 

Above: Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. 

INSETS COURTESY OF BUCK OWENS PRODUCTION CO., INC. 

Left: Legend has it that Buck Owen’s might have acquired this 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville, originally 

built for Elvis, in a poker game with the famed western tailor and car builder Nudie Cohn. 

The roots of our music is a reflection of the Okies, Arkies, and Texans who 

moved here in the ’30s and ’40s as Dust Bowl Immigrants. Our honky tonks 

became the proving grounds for not only Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, 

but a handful of talented performers including Cousin Herb Henson, Bill 

Woods, Billy Mize, Oscar Whittington, Red Simpson and Gene Moles—all 

who played a role in pioneering the genre of music that would eventually bear 

our city’s namesake—the Bakersfield Sound. 

CHAPTER 1 

17

÷ 

Above: For fifty years, the Bakersfield Fiesta has kept 

square dancing, a form of American folk dance, alive with 

their annual event at the Kern County Fairgrounds. 

Inset: Carol and Fred Noel have participated in every 

Bakersfield Fiesta since 1989. 


18

Today, music aficionados can enjoy live music as varied as the venues themselves. One of the last remaining honky 

tonks is Trout’s Bar in neighboring Oildale, which offers live music, line dancing and karaoke most nights of the week. 

Part museum, part concert hall, part restaurant, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace is enshrined with memorabilia from 

the performer’s musical career, while hosting today’s hottest up and coming country acts. 

The Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame is a recent addition to concert venues, offering a more intimate setting with 

superb sound quality as it also serves as a state-of-the-art recording studio. The Hall of Fame often plays host to 

Rick Kreiser’s Guitar Masters @ Studio A Series, bringing top-notch talent to perform in a showcase atmosphere. 

÷ 

Top, left: The John Jorgenson Quintet performs at the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame. 

Top, right: Raised in Bakersfield, Monty Byrom has never ventured far from his 

hometown sound, while fronting ’80s rock bands Billy Satellite, and New Frontier. 

He penned several hits for Eddie Money, including I Wanna Go Back. He returned to 

his roots as the lead singer of Big House, earning the group an Academy of Country 

Music nomination for “Top New Vocal Group of the Year” in 1998. Byrom periodically 

performs with the Buckaroos. He is currently fronting Monty Byrom & the Road Pilots, 

an Americana-style five-piece that released 100 Miles South of Eden in 2015. 

Left: The festive sounds of Mariachi ring out at a Cinco De Mayo celebration at 

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. 

CHAPTER 1 

19

÷ 

Left: CSU Bakersfield’s outdoor amphitheater provides the perfect venue for the 

annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival, featuring live music performed by local and 

well-known performers from around the world. 

DRONE SHOT COURTESY OF RYAN CUNNINGHAM, IGER STUDIO. 

Opposite: Bakersfield changed the sound of music again, in the early 1990s when 

multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning artists KoRn forged its own distinct metal 

brand of rock and roll. The city has paid homage to the band at Rabobank Arena with 

a KoRn Row street sign, off N Street, just north of the train tracks. 

COURTESY OF WARNER MUSIC INC. 


20

However, the twangy-country emitted from a Fender Telecaster 

is not the only musical style originating from Bakersfield. In the 

early 1990s, KoRn redefined heavy-metal by forging a new genre 

of post-grunge, alternative metal that was devoured by fans thirsty 

for something different and hard-hitting. 

CHAPTER 1 

21

÷ 

Concert goers enjoy an outdoor concert on a perfect Bakersfield 

early-summer evening at the Bright House Amphitheatre, 

located at The Park at River Walk. 


22

÷ 

Right: Banshee in the Kitchen performs at the Bakersfield Sister City Gardens during World Friendship Day. 

The talented trio plays Celtic music infused with the fiddle, hammered dulcimer and accordion. 

Below: For eighty-four years, the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, comprised primarily of local musicians, has delivered 

an exceptional musical experience to its audiences. In 2015, Stilian Kirov, became the BSO’s youngest conductor. 

CHAPTER 1 

23

÷ 

The 1,500 seat Fox Theater designed by famed Los Angeles architect S. Charles Lee, opened on 

Christmas Day in 1930, premiering the sci-fi tale Just Imagine. The theater’s silver screen entertained 

scores of residents for forty-seven years before going dark in 1977. In 1994, the nonprofit Fox Theater 

Foundation was created to begin a massive restoration effort. Today, The Fox Theater is recognized as a 

community treasure for its fine acoustics and is the only remaining Fox with its rare Skouras signature 

interior intact. Beginning at the sidewalk on a rainbow of polished terrazzo and inside amid towering 

gold leaf, she is an exquisite blend of Spanish Colonial and Art Deco. 


24

Bakersfield has an active performing arts community including the Bakersfield 

Community Theatre, California’s oldest continually operating community theatre. 

Stars Theatre Restaurant combines fine dining with exceptional musicals and 

comedy performances, while The Empty Space is one of just a few donationbased 

theatres in the United States, fostering a creative environment for local 

actors, directors and designers to refine their craft. 

÷ 

Top, left: West Side Story production at the Bakersfield Music Theatre. 

Top, right: The Gaslight Melodrama offers live theatrical performance complemented by a piano player who 

sets the mood for the audience to boo the villain, cheer the hero and awww at the sweetheart. 

Left: Nearly two-dozen acoustic and electric guitars are set up on the stage of the Fox Theater for a solo 

performance by Jackson Browne. 

CHAPTER ONE 

25

÷ 

Hair, makeup, and costume collides 

with fantasy at Glamour Fatale: 

Battle of the Salons. 


26

÷ 

Keeping our city’s rich Scottish 

heritage and cultural traditions alive 

at the Scottish Games and Gathering. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN CUNNINGHAM, 

IGER STUDIO. 

CHAPTER 1 

27

÷ 

Above: Members of the Kern County Basque Club pay homage to the traditions of the coastal fishing villages of the Basque Country who 

rely upon the generosity of the sea for their living. The ladies are performing the “Mateola” or Lapirdi’s fish basket dance to celebrate an 

abundant catch and the return of their men from the sea. Bakersfield is host to the largest Basque Club in California and second in the 

nation to Boise, Idaho. The annual Basque Festival celebrates the heritage of this unique culture. 


28 

Opposite: A young Klika drummer joins with his elders at the Basque Festival. According to North American 

Basque Association, the Klika tradition reaches back to the Napoleonic era two centuries ago, when young Basques 

were drafted into the French army. Their reputation as noted singers, dancers and musicians made them almost 

automatic picks for the military brass band in their respective units. After leaving the military, they took these 

talents and turned them into a Basque celebration of music. The Bakersfield Klika was formed in 1975.

CHAPTER 1 

29

÷ 

Churchill Downs meets good ol’ Bakersfield roots 

with guests donning traditional Kentucky Derby wear with 

festive hats, or their country best for CASA’s Boot Scootin’ Derby, 

benefitting foster children’s rights to safe, permanent, and nurturing homes. 


30

÷ 

Over 2,400 Harris Ranch New York Steaks and 800 teriyaki chicken dinners are served at the annual CSU Bakersfield Spring BBQ by Gary and 

Adam Icardo and their crew. John Giumarra, Jr., has served as chairman of the event since its inaugural event was held at the Bakersfield Police 

Pistol Range, in 1972. This rite of Spring benefits the Roadrunner Scholarship Fund by paying for education costs of CSUB student-athletes. 

CHAPTER 1 

31


32

÷ 

Left: Without a doubt, Luigi’s is Bakersfield’s gathering spot, where you always run 

into old friends and never meet a stranger. The walls are adorned with snapshots of 

high school athletes dating back to Kern County Union High School, and hometown 

heroes who made it to the big leagues. 

Below: You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. Nothing beats a scoop of 

ice cream during Bakersfield’s scorching summer heat. Yet, you will find the more 

refined ice cream connoisseur opting for Dewar’s delectable Black & White—a scoop 

of vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge, a scoop of chocolate ice-cream topped 

with whipped marshmallow topping and dressed with your choice of toasted almonds 

or walnuts, or George’s Special, an addictive blended concoction of vanilla ice cream, 

walnuts, bananas and chocolate syrup. 

÷ 

Opposite: There are more Mexican-inspired restaurants in Bakersfield offering 

flavorful south of the border delicacies than any other cuisine. Most of the restaurants 

are family-owned and serve up entrees reflective of their family’s heritage from the 

various regions of Mexico. 

CHAPTER ONE 

33

÷ 

Above: The bounty of Kern County and the 

San Joaquin Valley’s harvest is featured at the 

Haggin Oaks Farmer’s Market. Seasonal fruit and 

vegetables fill the tables, with the farmers eager to 

share samples that are the result of their hard work. 

Opposite: The aroma of fresh-baked sourdough bread emanates early each morning from Pyrenees French Bakery in Central Bakersfield. The bakery which was 

originally called the Kern City French Bakery, began in 1887 under the proprietorship of Marius M. Espitallier. In December 1944, Pierre and Juanita Laxague 

purchased the bakery and changed its name to Pyrenees in honor of their native province. The distinct flavor of Pyrenees French Bakery sourdough bread comes 

from its French sourdough style recipe based on a sourdough starter that has been maintained for almost seventy years. Their sourdough features a more 

subdued sour taste as compared to some typical San Francisco-style doughs, and is finished off with a hearty crust as a result of being baked in brick ovens. 


34

CHAPTER ONE 

35


36

Good food, brew and vibes are common underlying themes of 

Bakersfield’s numerous beer festivals—each capitalizing 

on America’s fascination with craft beer brewing. 

CHAPTER 1 

37

÷ 

The shimmer of Mustang silver bounces 

off the helmets from the Friday Night Lights 

of high school football. 


38

Bakersfield loves its hometown sports, starting with high school, college and professional teams. During 

the fall season, high school football dominates the conversation, with generations of alumni returning to 

their alma mater on Friday nights to cheer on their team. In Bakersfield, we do not care as much about where 

you obtained your college degree from, but if you are local, we want to know what high school you attended. 

÷ 

The Bakersfield College Renegades. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FRANCIS MAYER. 

CHAPTER 1 

39

÷ 

Above: CSU Bakersfield Basketball Coach Rod Barnes 

discusses strategy with the players of the Runners’ team. 

Left: CSU Bakersfield Runners’ Forward Kevin Mays 

sinks a basket against Portland State. 

Following a five-year transition to NCAA Division I 

Status, CSU Bakersfield moved to full membership status 

in 2010-11. It has not taken long for CSUB Athletics 

to make a name for themselves on a national level with 

four programs securing Western Athletics Conference 

Championships (Baseball: 2013-regular season, and 2015; 

Volleyball: 2014; Men’s Basketball: 2016; Softball: 2016 

(tournament championships). 


40

Bakersfield has played host to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) 

State Boys Wrestling Championship since 2004. The annual event attracts 560 wrestlers from 

across the state to compete in fourteen weight classes in the double-elimination tournament. 

More than 1,100 matches take place during the two-day Championship. 

CHAPTER ONE 

41

÷ 

The CSUB ‘Runners were the 2015 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament 

Champions advancing them to their first NCAA Tournament Appearance. 


42

Bakersfield is home to the Bakersfield Condors, who joined the American 

Hockey League in 2015/16, after becoming affiliated with the Edmonton 

Oilers. The organization has created a buzz for itself over the years through 

creative marketing and fan engagement opportunities. 

÷ 

Condorstown fans go crazy with the annual Teddy Bear Toss 13:55 into the first period when 

Ryan Hamilton scores the first goal—7,908 stuffed animals hit the ice—it is a sight to behold. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RABOBANK ARENA. 

CHAPTER 1 

43

÷ 

Above: The Bakersfield Triathlon makes good use of the environs northeast of Bakersfield earning a 

reputation as one of the most challenging triathlons in the U.S. The USA Triathlon Sanctioned Event 

features a 1.5k swim across Lake Ming, a 40k bike up the Panorama Bluffs and a 10k run up 

Rattlesnake Grade to Bastard Hill. 

Opposite, inset: Area high school leading golfer Madi Daniel (right) 

and her friend Rachel Levi, assistant pro at Stockdale Country Club, 

enjoying a day on the greens. 

Opposite: On the eighteenth green at Rio Bravo Country Club. 

Bakersfield’s climate is conducive to year-round golf at one of the 

city’s private country clubs including Stockdale, Bakersfield, and 

Seven Oaks, or public courses like The Links at RiverLakes Ranch. 


44

CHAPTER 1 

45

Motorsports in Bakersfield remain a huge attraction whether on dirt, asphalt or 

on the water in the case of the boat drags at Lake Ming. Kern County is host to 

Bakersfield Speedway, which locals call the “Okie Bowl” and is known as the West’s 

Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval. 

Kern County Raceway Park offers dirt, moto-x, and is home to the NASCAR 

Whelen All-American Racing series as well as the season opener for the NASCAR 

K&N Pro Series West. 

Drag Racing enthusiasts consider Famoso Raceway hallowed ground, converging 

in the Fall for the Hotrod Reunion, and each Spring for the March Meet. 

÷ 

Above: Racing runs deep in the roots of Bakersfield’s motorsports community, with multi-generations of family 

members competing. NASCAR Late Model driver Buddy Shepherd fist-bumps a pint-sized fan during the drivers 

autograph session at Kern County Raceway Park. His father, Dick Shepherd, had a successful racing career on the 

dirt at Bakersfield Speedway, and on the asphalt in the mid-1990s at the former Mesa Marin Raceway where he won 

two track championships. 

Right: The smell of nitro, burning rubber and the roar of pure horsepower has drawn thousands of spectators every March 

since 1959, when the Smokers Car Club hosted the inaugural U.S. Gas and Fuel Championships at Famoso Raceway. 

PHOTOGRAPH TOP OF THE PAGE AND RIGHT ARE COURTESY OF THE FAMOSO RACEWAY. 


46

÷ 

Bakersfield’s passion for racing is not just limited to asphalt. The roots of drag 

boat racing goes back to November 26, 1956, when the Kern County 

Boat and Ski Club held a race on a small lake in Hart Park. 

Sixty years later, the National Jet Boat Association 

hosts a series of races on the liquid 

quarter-mile at Lake Ming. 

CHAPTER 1 

47

÷ 

Below: For thirty years, Bakersfield has played host to the Western Street 

Rod Nationals. Chrome, flames and tuck and roll upholstery abounds as 

1,700 street rods, customs, and muscle cars converge on the Kern County 

Fairgrounds each Spring. Mayor Harvey L. Hall judges this ’32 roadster 

for consideration of the Mayor’s Trophy at the Western Street Rod Nationals. 

Inset: Mayor Harvey L. Hall is surrounded by a sea of hotrods and 

muscle cars at the Western Street Rod Nationals. 


48

÷ 

Left: Welcome to the Kern County Fair. 

Below: Thrillseekers pack the midway of the 

Great Kern County Fair. Beyond the carnival 

rides, the fair features great entertainment, 

blue-ribbon contests, and livestock events. 

The one-hundred-year-old Kern County Fair 

was originally located where the Kern County 

Museum resides on Chester Avenue. 

CHAPTER 1 

49

÷ 

Rodeo royalty parade their way around the arena at the annual 

Stampede Days Rodeo at the Kern County Fairgrounds. 


50

÷ 

Left: The Sikhs first came to California from the Punjab Region of India in 1899. 

The Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan was formed in 1911 near Stockton. These 

non-violent, peace-loving people believe in the equality of all human 

beings while promoting gender equality. Bakersfield solidified 

its relationship with the Sikh community by forging a relationship 

through the Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation with 

Amritsar, India, which is considered the Holy City of the Sikh religion. 

Everybody loves a parade, and Bakersfield hosts a 

number of them, including the Veterans Day Parade, 

Bakersfield Christmas Parade, the Black American 

History Parade, and the Peace Parade organized by 

the community’s Sikh population. 

÷ 

Right: Bakersfield’s patriotism and appreciation for all who have served 

in the United States Armed Forces is visibly apparent at the annual 

Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Bakersfield. The American Legion 

Post 26 has hosted the annual parade since 1919. 

CHAPTER 1 

51

More than three million LED lights are used to create colorful 

animated displays during the Holiday Lights at the California 

Living Museum (CALM), complete with snowflakes. The event 

has become an annual Bakersfield tradition, with more than 

450,000 people experiencing the magic since 2002. 


52

÷ 

Inset: Mr. Christmas aka Mayor Harvey L. Hall 

brought back the Bakersfield Christmas Parade 

and served as coordinator for twenty-years. 

Aglow in holiday lights, the Bakersfield Fire Department’s 

hook and ladder participates in the annual 

Bakersfield Christmas Parade held 

in downtown Bakersfield. 

CHAPTER ONE 

53

÷ 

Left: Plein Air artist Art Sherwyn gets inspiration along the banks of the Kern River. 

Below: Lone lupines stand out in a patch of poppies off of Highway 223, heading towards the 

Tehachapi Mountains. 

If experiencing the great outdoors is more your style, Bakersfield 

serves as a gateway for adventurers. The southern end of the Sequoia 

National Forest is in our backyard offering hiking, mountain biking and 

river rafting for adrenaline-seekers. 

The foothills of Bakersfield lends itself to some of the most spectacular 

arrays of wildflowers in the state. For a few short weeks in the spring, 

poppies, lupines, and owls clover transform the landscape while the 

grass turns from lush green to golden brown. 


54

CHAPTER 1 

55

Chapter 

2 

Bakersfield Life 

When it comes to quality of life amenities, our city draws from its roots and the vision of Colonel Thomas Baker, 

who offered weary travelers a place to rest in his field. His generous hospitality seems to have been embraced by 

many who decided to stay and grow our city—to over a half million people today. 

÷ 

Right: Colonel Thomas Baker’s statue at city hall keeps a watchful eye on downtown as night falls. 

Below: Artists Al Mendez and Sebastian Muralles pay homage to the Bakersfield Sound, and music's impact on the southern San Joaquin Valley with 

this mural on the side of Front Porch Music. Of note are several Mosrite guitars manufactured by Semie and Andy Mosely in Bakersfield, and 

played by artists ranging from the Ventures to the Ramones. 


56

÷ 

Reach, teach and empower—Agapeland is an urban private 

Christian School that provides a multi-cultural learning experience. 

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÷ 

Left: The Beale Memorial Clock Tower was built in memory of Truxtun Beale’s mother, Mary Edwards Beale. 

Dedicated on April 2, 1904, the clock tower was located at the intersection of Chester Avenue and Seventeenth 

Street. It was demolished as a result of a series of earthquakes in 1952. A restoration committee was formed and a 

replica of the clock tower, including the original clock works, bell, and iron works, was reconstructed and dedicated 

at the Kern County Museum on December 13, 1964. 

Bottom, left: Downtown’s First Friday events provide a showcase for local artists, performers, and artisans to display 

their talents in a family friendly setting. 

Below: Artist Tom Zachary pays tribute to Lady Liberty and the men and women who served in World War II with 

his patriotic mural located at Twentieth and Eye Streets. 


58

÷ 

Right: With a personality as big as her heart and passion for downtown Bakersfield, Cathy Butler has 

devoted a lifetime to invigorating our city center. Always the promoter, she works tirelessly with merchants, 

artists, restauranteurs, businesses and community groups for the benefit of downtown. 

Below: A festive performer dances at the Metro Galleries during a Latination exhibit. 

Bottom, right: The Mark Restaurant offers a unique dining experience pairing outdoor seating with 

live entertainment. 

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Opposite, top: Snow-capped Breckenridge Mountain peers over Bakersfield at 

a 7,548 foot elevation. This photograph, taken during a wet year, highlights 

the flow of the Kern River, Truxtun Lake and the Carrier Canal. 

RIGHT AND BOTTOM PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MARK CORUM. 

Beautification of our city is something every resident can get behind, 

including Mayor Hall, who personally joined and encouraged residents, 

volunteers, and business leaders to pick up litter along the on and 

off ramps running through Bakersfield as part of the Mayor’s Freeway 

Cleanup. Hall was also instrumental in creating the Great American 

Cleanup through Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, which celebrated its fifteenth 

anniversary in 2016. To celebrate, Keep America Beautiful President and 

CEO Jennifer Jehn came to Bakersfield to honor Mayor Hall’s efforts of 

leading by example, which earned him the Iron Eyes Cody Award in 2011. 


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☺ 

Opposite: Cancer survivors and their family members participate in team challenges at the Campout Against Cancer event. 

Funds from the growing annual event stay right here in Kern County to help local cancer patients. 

Above: Mayor Harvey L. Hall addresses a sea of purple at the twenty-fifth anniversary opening festivities of the American 

Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Since its inception, the event has raised nearly twenty-five million dollars as attendees 

celebrate, remember, and fight back against cancer. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MARK CORUM. 

Bakersfield’s quality of life is very much driven by the people who call it home. 

Our sense of community shines when we pull together to support a need, cause, or 

celebration. There are a countless number of organizations dedicated to improving 

the quality of life for our residents, each who do commendable work. 

For twenty-five years, families have come together to celebrate and remember 

cancer victims and survivors through the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, 

raising more than $24 million dollars. 

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The health, wellness, and vitality of our people is of 

utmost importance. Our city offers a vast network of 

healthcare providers from urgent care centers and clinics, 

specialists, hospitals and a regional trauma center to care 

for your loved ones. 

Dignity Health’s Mercy and Memorial Hospitals specialize 

in cancer care, heart and vascular, neurology, orthopedics, 

pediatrics, surgery and women’s care. Memorial Hospital 

is home to the Grossman Burn Center, renowned for 

its pioneering techniques to assist burn survivors in 

their recovery. 

Adventist Health’s San Joaquin Community Hospital has 

been serving the community for more than 100 years and 

offers specialized care through its Brain and Spine Institute, 

AIS Cancer Center, Quest Imaging, and The Burn Center. 

÷ 

Opposite, clockwise starting from the top left: 

Clinica Sierra Vista. 

Kern Medical. 

Mercy Southwest. 

The Guild House serves gourmet lunches with proceeds benefiting the Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Clinic—200 

active members volunteer their time to cook, serve customers, or wash dishes. Established in 1958, the Guild has 

raised over $2 million for the clinic which provides outpatient mental health services for children and their families. 

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. 


64

Kern Medical is an acute care 222 bed teaching center 

affiliated with UCLA and serves as the area’s advanced 

trauma center. 

Bakersfield Heart Hospital specializes in the diagnosis 

and treatment of heart and vascular disease, but also cares 

for a wide range of other medical and surgical patients. 

Part of the recovery of any major health episode is medical 

rehabilitation. HealthSouth offers comprehensive inpatient 

and outpatient rehabilitation services. 

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Honoring America’s “Greatest Generation’, is the goal of Honor Flight of Kern County, working to 

recognize the approximate 46,000 veterans in Kern County, including over 8,000 who served in 

World War II and the Korean War. This patriotic group sends veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the 

memorials built in their honor for their service to our great country—at no cost to the veteran. They 

receive a hero’s send-off from Meadows Field, and during their flight receive cards and notes of appreciation 

from schoolchildren thanking them for their dedication and sacrifice to protect our freedom. 

÷ 

ABOVE: PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF KEVIN FAHEY. 

Right: For ten years, Ben Patten and the Armed Forces Support Riders have provided motorcycle escort for new recruits entering 

active duty. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ART OCHOA PHOTOGRAPHY. 


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Another uniquely Bakersfield effort is KGET TV 17’s 

Compassion Corner which started out twenty years ago 

as a collection point for people to donate money or 

items for a cause. Today, thirteen drives are organized 

each year benefitting the Alliance Against Family Violence, 

the Bakersfield Homeless Center, canned food drives for 

the Golden Empire Gleaners and the CAPK Food Bank, 

fans for senior citizens, and pet adoptions. 


68

From early childhood education through graduate programs, 

Bakersfield embraces local education opportunities. 

A number of private schools are prevalent in the area, including 

Garces Memorial High School, Bakersfield Christian, 

and Heritage Academy, which offer a faith-based curriculum. 

Gaining increased popularity with many parents and 

their school age children are charter schools, such as 

Valley Oaks Charter School, which is ran through the 

Kern County Superintendent of Schools. The tuition-free 

program provides greater choice and flexibility for students 

who do not thrive in a normal public school environment— 

where parents, teachers and the community work together 

to educate one student at a time. 

÷ 

Above: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County offers several reasons to jump for joy, including outstanding after school and day camp summer programs from its 

main location serving east Bakersfield and numerous satellite school-based locations throughout the community. 

Left: This little free library was created in remembrance of Wendy Wayne, a dedicated advocate for children and humanity. Neighborhood children can borrow a 

book from the tiny library for free. 

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Regional 

Occupational 

Center 

Meeting the demand for a skilled and prepared workforce is of the highest 

priority for area learning institutions. The Kern High School District’s Regional 

Occupational Center is a public education/technical training facility offering a 

variety of programs to those interested in developing or improving job skills. 

Juniors and seniors can select from more than two-dozen program options, 

including, animal care, law enforcement, pharmacy tech and 3D animation 

and video game design. 

÷ 

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL CENTER. 


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Top, left: Bakersfield High School. 

Top, right: Liberty High School. 

Left: The first grade flutophone band performs at the Little Red 

School House’s kindergarten graduation. 


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Bakersfield College is one of the nation’s oldest continually 

operating community colleges and serves 20,000 students 

from its 153-acre campus in northeast Bakersfield, and two 

satellite locations. 

Other four-year universities in Bakersfield include Fresno 

Pacific University and University of Phoenix, both of which 

offer teaching certification, undergraduate, and graduate 

degrees, and University of Laverne offering undergraduate 

and graduate degrees. 

÷ 

Students from the Bakersfield College Culinary program put their skills to work 

creating a savory entree at Garden Fest. The program emphasizes quality food 

production and service in commercial and institutional food service operations. 

Students gain real world experience working in the campus restaurant, the 

Renegade Room. 


72

÷ 

Left: Located on a 375-acre site in southwest Bakersfield, CSU Bakersfield 

serves more than 8,720 students and counts over 40,000 alumni from 

its programs: arts and humanities, business and public administration, 

natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, and social sciences and 

education. CSUB offers undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate and 

credential programs. In addition, CSUB’s Extended University offers 

professional development, certificate, and degree programs. 

÷ 

Right: Established in 1913, Bakersfield College is one of the oldest, continuallyoperating 

community colleges in the United States. Over 20,000 students are 

served from the 153 acre main campus, the Weill Institute in downtown 

Bakersfield, and the Delano Center located thirty-five miles north of the city of 

Bakersfield. BC offers a number of associate degree and certificate programs 

from nearly fifty subjects. 

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The Bakersfield Police Department provides for the safety 

and welfare of the citizens of Bakersfield utilizing effective 

law enforcement systems, including crime prevention, 

patrol and traffic enforcement, criminal investigation 

follow-up, crime analysis, vice and narcotic engagement, 

gang suppression and community relations. 

÷ 

Opposite: The Bakersfield Police Activities League helps keep kids on the right path by engaging them in healthy 

activities, homework assistance, and the encouragement to be a leader and not a follower. 

Above: Old Glory flies high above Truxtun Avenue as residents and the public safety community gather to honor 

the fallen officers of the Bakersfield Police Department. The Bakersfield Police Memorial was dedicated in May 1998, 

during National Law Enforcement Week. It features the names of those officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. 

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The Bakersfield Fire Department provides fire suppression, 

emergency medical services, heavy and technical 

rescue, hazmat mitigation, and water rescue to the people 

of Bakersfield. BFD is an insurance services office (ISO) 

rated class 2 fire department, placing them in the top 

1.5 percent of departments in the United States. 

÷ 

Above: The Firefighters Fishing Derby. 

Right: Bakersfield Fire Department’s Station 1 is located 

at the corner of Twenty-first and H Streets. 


76

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc., is the 9-1-1 paramedic 

provider, which works collaboratively with its public safety 

partners to deliver medical aid when someone falls victim 

to sudden illness or injury. The company also provides 

air ambulance service for the most traumatic and lifethreatening 

calls where a time savings of ten minutes or 

greater exists; as well as critical care transport services 

between hospitals in our city and throughout the state. 

Within metropolitan Bakersfield, there are several county 

pockets with fire and law enforcement services handled by 

the Kern County Fire Department and the Kern County 

Sheriff’s Office. 

Keeping our highways safe are the officers of the California 

Highway Patrol. 

÷ 

Above: CHiPs for Kids is one of several organized toy drives in Bakersfield to ensure no child goes without being remembered at Christmastime. 

Below: Harvey L. Hall commissioned artist Chuck Caplinger to produce this nine-foot by sixty-foot mural depicting his company’s forty-five year history as a pioneer in 

modern EMS. 


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÷ 

The Shops at River Walk offers a variety of 

brand name stores, specialty boutiques, and 

restaurants, in close proximity to the Kern 

River Bike Path and the Park at River Walk. 


78

Bakersfield is a shoppers paradise whether your taste is to explore the small boutique 

stores of downtown, spending a day at Valley Plaza Mall which is anchored by JCPenney, 

Macy’s, Target, and Sears, or the upscale shops offered at the Marketplace and the Shops at 

River Walk in the southwest portion of town. 

If you cannot find something closer to home, The Outlets at Tejon are located twenty-five 

minutes south of town and offers upscale designer fashions and home good brands at 

value savings from such well-known retailers as Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Calvin Klein, 

Coach Factory Store and Pottery Barn. 

÷ 

A shopper’s paradise lies minutes away from Bakersfield at the Outlets at Tejon, featuring brand names at discounted prices. 

The area is also host to major distribution facilities including IKEA, Famous Footwear and Caterpillar. 

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÷ 

Above: Monsignor Craig Harrison, pastor of St. Francis Parish 

takes time to visit with the Saint Francis Girls Basketball Team. 

Left: Pastor Oscar Anthony and Assistant Pastor Ralph Anthony 

lead a bible study group with community leaders at St. Peters. 


80

÷ 

Clockwise, starting from the top left: 

Dr. Roger Spradlin is co-pastor of Valley Baptist Church, which is affiliated with the Southern 

Baptist Convention. 

Temple Beth El and Congregation B’nai Jacob created the Jewish Food Festival to share their culture 

and traditional cuisine such as falafel, rugelach, and kosher brisket sandwiches with the community. 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) serves the community with its parish and school offering an 

education based on Catholic principles. 

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÷ 

÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ ÷ ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ 

Above: Sikhs gather for worship in a temporary Gurdwara prior to the start of their annual Peace Parade. 

Opposite: Members of the African Association of Kern County participate in the Black American History Parade. 

The parade promotes unity and integrates all aspects of black history, from culture and music to heritage and art. 


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The Marketplace in southwest Bakersfield transforms into the town square on 

most Friday and Saturday nights, with families catching dinner and a movie, 

shopping, and the popular Concerts by the Fountain summer series. 


84

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Above: The mighty Kern River with its North Fork originating in the Sequoia National Park, 

west of Mount Whitney, flows almost due south to Lake Isabella, eighty-three river miles away. 

Its flow runs through a glaciated valley that may be the longest such valley in the nation. 

The South Fork originates in the Golden Trout Wilderness, and parallels thirteen miles 

of the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Right: Water rushes through the Kern River Canyon making its way towards Bakersfield. 

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The Kern River Parkway runs from the mouth of the Kern River Canyon to Buena Vista Lake, and includes the 

primary and secondary floodplains. This natural treasure features a 32-mile bike path and horse trail, 9 Bakersfield parks, 

and 4 Kern County parks encompassing 1,400 acres of wetland preserves and natural riparian areas for a total of 

6,000 acres of public space. 


86

÷ 

Students gather at the Panorama Vista Preserve to learn about the revegetation of native plant species taking place to broaden the wildlife habitat along the banks of the Kern River. 

Native trees include the California Sycamore and the Cottonwood with the area roamed by coyote, beaver, jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits and bobcats. The preserve, which is private 

land held in a trust for public use, runs from the Beardsley Canal and oilfields to the North, Oildale to the West, Godron’s Ferry to the East and the Panorama Bluffs to the South. 

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Clockwise, starting from the top left, a covey of quail, a roadrunner sits amongst 

the almond blossoms, a house finch peers from a wood plank, and a wild 

‘Hart Park’ parakeet. 

Opposite: In search of the Summer Tanager, a Willow Flycatcher, or the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, members of The Kern Audubon Society delight in the number of species 

that traverse through Kern County as part of their regular migration route. Kern County is home to 438 native bird species due to the area’s convergence of several 

bio-regions including great basin, wetland, desert, montane, riparian, chaparral, and grassland habitats. 


88

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90

÷ 

Opposite, clockwise starting from the top: 

The Tule Elk State Natural Reserve works to grow the number of tule elk, once in danger of extinction. Today, nearly 4,000 tule elk are back roaming the foothills 

and grasslands of California. 

Fiddleneck Fern. 

Springtime means abundant wildflowers attracting photographers like honeybees to capture the flowers for the brief moment of time that they are at their grandest. 

Top, left: Wild filaree. 

Above: Iva Fendrick helps a workshop participant refine their creative side during a watercolor class at the Bakersfield Art Center. 

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92

÷ 

Opposite, left: The trails on the hills of the Kern River Canyon provide numerous opportunities for recreation including 

hiking and mountain biking. 

Opposite, right: Stormy sunset on Shadow Hills and the Kern River. 

Right: Visitors to the California Living Museum (CALM) can view over eighty species of unreleasable animals including 

raptors, reptiles and black bear in natural exhibits. 

Below: Thrill-seekers test their mental and physical limits at the thirty-two foot climbing tower which is part of 

Condor Challenge, a recreational exhibit at the California Living Museum, featuring high and low obstacle elements. 

CALM, 

California 

Living Museum 

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94

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Left: The Kern County Soccer Park offers twenty regulation-sized fields spread over eighty-six acres, 

and is home to a number of leagues including AYSO Region 181 and the Bakersfield Soccer League. 

Below: League of Dreams goes beyond, “take me out to the ball game” by placing young people with 

developmental disabilities in the game. 

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÷ 

Bakersfield boasts fifty-nine parks each with unique amenities and character. The Park at River Walk offers visitors 

mountain retreat aesthetics featuring river rock wall buildings, foot bridges, two lakes and a stream. The cornerstone 

of the Park at River Walk is Bright House Amphitheater, a 4,000-person outdoor venue which hosts a summer 

concert series attracting a variety of musical acts ranging from Ziggy Marley, the Beach Boys, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. 


96

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97

÷ 

Sunset falls on the United States Federal Courthouse reflecting on the Kern Island Canal 

as it meanders through Mill Creek Park, offering a respite of peaceful tranquility. 


98

Bakersfield lends itself well to a diverse culture where we share an appreciation for what makes us unique. We celebrate 

this through community events, food and music festivals including the Black American History Parade, the Menudo Cook-off, 

the Scottish Gathering and Games, and the Greek Food Festival. 

Our admiration for learning about other cultures is enhanced through the Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation, providing 

an opportunity for cultural, educational, municipal, business and technical exchanges between six sister city relationships. These 

include Wakayama, Japan (1961), Cixi, China (1996), Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico (2005), Bucheon, Republic of Korea (2006) 

and Amritsar, India (2011). 

To honor these relationships, the City of Bakersfield created the Sister City Gardens where Mill Creek Linear Park crosses 

Eighteenth Street. Each garden showcases a variety of native trees, plants, and flowers to their country as well as their native flags. 

CHAPTER 2 

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Chapter 

3 

Bakersfield Works 

The city seal for Bakersfield features a cornucopia filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains, and serves as a metaphor 

for our abundant economy. For decades, oil and ag have remained the mainstay commodities fueling and feeding the world. 

Kern County is the number two oil-producing county in the nation; yielding 145 million bbl of oil and 132 billion CF of gas 

annually, according to 2014 DOGGR data. These amounts represent 71 percent of California’s oil production and 10 percent 

of the total U.S. oil production. 


100

÷ 

Sprawling pumping jacks cover the Kern River Field, where in May 1899 

the discovery well was hand-dug. As of 2014, the Kern River Field is still 

going strong as the nation’s fifth largest oilfield, yielding 70,000 barrels a day. 

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102

÷ 

Opposite: Kern County is the number two oil-producing county in the nation; 

yielding 145 million bbl of oil and 132 billion CF of gas annually. 

Source: DOGGR data, 2014. 

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÷ 

Left: Our region’s commodities of ag and oil seemingly collide with a vintage 

wooden oil derrick in the middle of a cotton crop. 

Opposite: Fifty-five percent of all roses grown in the United States are grown in 

and around neighboring Wasco. The city celebrates each September with its 

Festival of Roses. 


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105

÷ 

Opposite: The Pima and Upland cotton varieties thrive in the southern 

San Joaquin Valley due to the warm temperature and long growing season. 

The region produces a special Upland variety known as San Joaquin Valley 

Acala, which is among the highest quality Upland cottons in the world. 

As of 2014, cotton ranks number nine in Kern County agriculture 

commodities with a value of $117,568,000. 


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108

Ag commodities are equally impressive, as Kern County produced $7,552,323,690 in 2014. 

The top five commodities as of 2014 are grapes, almonds, milk, citrus, and cattle & calves 

which make up more than $5 billion or 66 percent of the total value. 

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÷ 

Above: Processing grapes in the varietal development lab at 

Sun World International. 

Left: Grapes are king in the southern San Joaquin Valley, where growers offer a 

number of varieties of this crisp sweet tasting treat that pops in your mouth. 

Opposite: The art of wine can be attributed to the propagation and grafting of 

grape nursery stock nurtured by Sunridge Nurseries a reputable grapestock 

supplier to California wineries. 


110

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÷ 

With their early Spring arrival, almond blossoms are a symbol of new life. 

Kern County almonds ranked number two in 2014, at a value of $1,488,182,000. 

California growers provide the nutritious nut to some ninety countries worldwide. 


112

÷ 

Pistachios ranked number six in Kern County’s 

ag commodities in 2014 valued at $401,049,000. 

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The “baby carrot” is a phenomenon that was cultivated 

here in our region in 1986. Experimenting with an industrial 

potato peeler and green bean slicer, Bunny Luv Carrot 

Farmer Mike Yurosek is credited with producing the first 

versions of today’s baby carrot. He sold his company to 

rival Grimmway Farms in the early 1990s, which has since 

become one of the largest carrot producers in the world by 

positioning baby carrots as a healthful snack and packaging 

it in ways that make it easy to pack into lunch sacks for 

children and adults around the world. 

In the past decade, there has been a movement afoot 

for local agribusiness producers to brand and make 

fruits and vegetables cooler than their junk-food rivals. 

Marketing campaigns such as Bolthouse Farms 2010 

“Eat ‘Em Like Junk Food” thrust baby carrots into mainstream 

popularity. The same holds true for the company’s 

line of twenty-seven varieties of juices and smoothies, which 

they make available in single-serve bottles. 

÷ 

Left: Grimmway Farms is considered to be one of the largest carrot producers 

in the world. Baby carrots have become a popular anytime snack for young and 

old alike. Carrots rank seventh in Kern County’s commodities with a total value 

of $288,063,000. 

Opposite: Rows of potato crops spread across fertile ag land. Kern County 

growers have moved away from russets in recent years to focus on red, yellow, 

and white potatoes. 


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115

÷ 

Left: Workers process plums harvested fresh from the field. 

Bottom, left: Farm laborers pick elongated red sweet peppers fresh from the field. 

Opposite: Just three seasons into production, the Wonderful Company’s Halos are 

the number one mandarin brand in the country. Tangerines marketed under the Halo 

brand have found popularity as an easy to peel treat for kids and adults alike. 


116 

The Wonderful Company did the same when it aired a commercial 

promoting its pistachios in Super Bowl XLVII, featuring 

South Korean rapper Psy of Gangnam Style fame. 

Wonderful next turned its attention to mandarin oranges by 

creating its Halo brand of the easy to peel, seedless citrus. By the 

end of its third season, Halos remains the number one mandarin 

brand in the country with over fifty percent market share.

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118

÷ 

Opposite: Granite Station, Southern San Joaquin Valley. 

Above: Cattle on Rancheria Road. Cattle rounds out the top five of Kern County’s ag commodities with a value of $428,854,000. 

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120

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Sheep graze on a grassy plain at the mouth of the Kern River Canyon. 

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122

÷ 

Opposite: A close-up study of California’s state flower, Eschscholzia californica. 

The poppy’s four petals close at night or in cold or windy weather. 

Above: Horses grazing in the meadow pasture at Rankin Ranch in Walker Basin. 

The 31,000-acre ranch has been family-owned and operated since 1863. 

They opened their picturesque property to the public in 1965 and have been 

warmly welcoming guests ever since. Today, the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

Rankin generations are the heart of the operation. 

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Our geographic location, places us at the center of the state’s population, making us prime 

real estate for major distribution centers. More than fifty distribution centers are in the region 

including Men’s Warehouse, IKEA, Caterpillar, Target, and Nestle/Dryers. 

÷ 

Above: A crane lifts massive tilt-up panels during construction of the IKEA Distribution Center at Tejon Ranch. 

Left: A worker assembles Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches on the assembly line at the Nestlé 

Bakersfield Ice Cream Facility. 


124

÷ 

The bakers of Bakersfield: 

Left: Since 1945, Smith’s Bakeries has been putting smiles on cookies and customer’s 

faces alike with their signature cookies, cakes, donuts and pastries. 

Below: Sweet Surrender is another locally-owned bakery and boutique, and is home 

of the Matterhorn Cake, featured on the Food Network’s, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, 

with Giada De Laurentiis. 

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÷ 

Left: Clients of Bakersfield ARC (BARC) assemble parts for a manufacturing 

company. The organization provides essential job training, employment and 

support services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled. 

Opposite: A technician checks the specs of a knee brace manufactured by 

Townsend Design. Located in southwest Bakersfield, the company produces a 

variety of knee brace and orthopedic solutions aimed at enhancing the quality of 

life for individuals, and keeping athletes in the game. 


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127

÷ 

Left: A manufacturing facility uses an automated plasma cutting robot to supply 

pipelines for oil and agriculture. 

Opposite: A fabrication shop continues production late into the evening to satisfy 

demand for a variety of industrial applications. 


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129

÷ 

The Bakersfield Amtrak Station is the southern terminus for the passenger train’s San Joaquin route, 

which extends to Stockton before splitting to Oakland or Sacramento.Thruway motorcoach service 

provides connections to southern California’s Union Station, the high desert and the Central Coast. 


130

÷ 

The downtown Bakersfield skyline meets the Kern River Oilfields 

leading to the Greenhorn Mountains, a part of the Sequoia National Forest. 

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132

Another benefit is our multimodal transportation hub including ground, air, 

rail transportation. Within a two-hour drive are the ports of Los Angeles and 

Long Beach, and within four hours are the ports of San Francisco and Oakland. 

÷ 

Opposite: The Grapevine is a forty-mile stretch connecting the southern San Joaquin Valley to southern California. 

According to Caltrans, 70,000 vehicles travel this section of the Golden State Freeway on a daily basis, with 19,000 being big-rigs. 

According to the Ridge Route Preservation Society, the grapevine got its name from the wild Cimarron grapevines that grew in the area. 

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In additional to Meadows Field (BFL), we are in close proximity to Los Angeles 

(LAX), Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO), Ontario (ONT), and the Southern 

California Logistics Airport, located in Victorville. 


134

÷ 

Opposite, top: A winding line of freight trains make their way through a tunnel near Caliente. 

Opposite, bottom: The William H. Thomas Passenger Terminal at Meadows Field Airport (BFL) was 

opened on February 27, 2006. Located seven miles north of downtown Bakersfield, the airport features 

daily flights to Denver and San Francisco by United Airlines, and service to Phoenix via American Airlines. 

Right: The STEM class at Fruitvale Jr. High School. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHEVRON. 

Bakersfield has a bright future when it comes to developing and expanding its workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics 

ranks the Bakersfield MSA #1 for the fastest-growing workforce, and we are appealing to a new generation of workers. 

Millennials are finding the area offers the amenities they most want, with Forbes ranking the Bakersfield-Delano metropolitan 

area as the second fastest millennial job growth rate in the nation from 2007 to 2013, at 11 percent. 

More good news is that educators and employers are working together to create relevant training in the areas of science, 

technology, engineering, and math (STEM), essential for global competitiveness. For example, since 2010, Chevron has 

invested more than $1 million in STEM funding resulting in more than 1,700 classroom projects, and reaching nearly 127,000 

students throughout the region. The Brookings Institution ranked the region #4 for STEM jobs. 

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÷ 

Wind turbines dot the eastern side of the Tehachapi Mountains. As the valley heats up, 

it pulls the air across the mountain range driving the blades on the towering wind 

turbines which convert kinetic energy into mechanical power or electricity. 


136

With 272 days of sunshine, it is no wonder Bakersfield is rising to prominence on California’s 

clean energy stage when it comes to harvesting the sun’s rays into solar energy. Multiple solar projects 

are popping up around the outskirts of the city, with several bordered by agricultural land. 

÷ 

Above: Fresh fallen snow covers Bear Mountain, which peaks at 6,916 ft., and the Tehachapi Mountain range dividing the southern 

San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. 

Left: The Sun Edison Regulus Solar Project covers 660-acres, which is the equivalent of 500 football fields, incorporating 248,000 

individually produced panels generating enough electricity to power about 25,000 average California homes. 

CHAPTER 3 

137

Helping local businesses thrive are the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, 

the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, the Kern County Hispanic Chamber 

of Commerce, and the North of the River Chamber of Commerce. Each provides 

leadership and economic development opportunities to benefit small business owners 

in our community. 


138

÷ 

Above: Downtown Bakersfield is seeing a number of new infill construction 

projects including Mill Creek Village, a 63 unit apartment complex for seniors, 

and the luxury 44-unit 17th Place Townhomes, targeting millennials yearning 

walkability and proximity to the amenities downtown has to offer. 

Right: A construction worker concentrates on the exterior of a downtown 

Bakersfield building whose facade was covered by stucco for decades. 

The building was slated for demolition before being purchased by an investor, 

who discovered the original architecture intact during a renovation process. 

CHAPTER 3 

139

÷ 

Light cascades through trees and foliage along the Kern River. 


140

CHAPTER 3 

141

÷ 

Top, left: A close-up study of California’s state flower, Eschscholzia californica. The poppy’s four petals close at night or in cold or windy weather. 

Top, right: The rush of water slows outside of the Kern River Canyon, creating a colorful pool where the river recedes in late Fall. 

Bottom: A carpeted mix of wildflowers covers the ground, leading to Bear Mountain. 


142

Bakersfield Partners 

Profiles of businesses, organizations 

and families that have contributed to the 

development and economic base of Bakersfield 

Quality of Life ..................................145 

The Marketplace ...............................215 

Building a Greater Bakersfield................249 

Family Portraits ................................291 

BAKERSFIELD PARTNERS 

143

÷ 

Bottom: Wind swept clouds at sunset over Hart Park, reflect the delicacy of an artist’s brush. 


144

Quality of Life 

Healthcare providers, school districts, universities 

and other institutions that contribute to the quality of life in Bakersfield 

Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals..........................................................146 

California State University, Bakersfield ..................................................................152 

Omni Family Health.............................................................................................156 

San Joaquin Community Hospital ...........................................................................160 

Kaiser Permanente...............................................................................................164 

Golden Empire Transit District ..............................................................................166 

Bakersfield Christian High School ..........................................................................168 

Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group ......................................................................170 

Hoffmann Hospice................................................................................................172 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center 

Heritage Physician Network 

Heritage Provider Network .........................................................................174 

Kern Community College District ...........................................................................176 

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired ..............................................................178 

Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE)........................................................................179 

Bakersfield College ..............................................................................................180 

Kern County Fair ................................................................................................182 

Kern County Superintendent of Schools ...................................................................184 

Bakersfield Adult School .......................................................................................186 

Clinica Sierra Vista .............................................................................................188 

Historic Union Cemetery.......................................................................................190 

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital ............................................................................192 

Centre for Neuro Skills.........................................................................................194 

Bakersfield Fire Department..................................................................................196 

Bakersfield Professional Firefighters Local 246.........................................................198 

Bakersfield Heart Hospital ....................................................................................199 

GEMCare ...........................................................................................................200 

Greenlawn Funeral Homes-Cremations-Cemeteries ....................................................201 

Houchin Community Blood Bank.............................................................................202 

Alpha J. Anders, MD, FCCP ..................................................................................203 

Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame..............................................................................204 

Kern Patriot Partnership ......................................................................................205 

Fox Theater Foundation........................................................................................206 

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra ............................................................................207 

Garces Memorial High School ................................................................................208 

Kern County Veterans Service Department ...............................................................209 

Petroleum Club of Bakersfield................................................................................210 

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc..................................................................................211 

Links for Life......................................................................................................212 

Boys & Girls Club of Kern County..........................................................................213 

QUALITY OF LIFE 

145

DIGNITY HEALTH MERCY 

AND MEMORIAL HOSPITALS 

÷ 

Top, left: Construction of a new Mercy Hospital is made possible by a 

$45,000 donation from W. S. DeGana, who asks to remain anonymous until 

his death. Fundraising efforts led by William Howell, Sr., and Alfred Harrell 

finance additions. The new thirty-six room, three-story hospital officially 

opened on November 9, 1913. It was considered to be the most advanced 

hospital of its day and featured the city’s first passenger elevator. A seventyfoot 

dome tops the building with a gold leaf cross illuminated by a lantern at 

its apex. The hospital, which is visible from a distance of ten miles, was 

known as the “beacon of light.” 

Top, right: Standing in front of the rubble of Mercy Hospital after the 1952 

earthquake, these physicians, along with community leaders raised money 

to rebuild Mercy Hospital. Although the earthquake did not destroy it, the 

hospital was so damaged it had to be taken down. Pictured from left to right 

(according to Dr. Robert Sheldon) are: Admiral Bill Hall (Navy), 

Dr. Lefty Osell, Dr. Romain Clerou, Dr. Rod Ogden, Dr. Carl Moore, 

Dr. Willis Semenger, Dr. Francis Gundry, Dr. Keith McKee and 

Dr. Robert Sheldon. 

Right: Financial supporters and well-wishers gathered for Greater Bakersfield 

Memorial Hospital’s groundbreaking ceremony on August 25, 1954. The 

vision of transforming a dusty seventeen acre empty lot on Thirty-fourth 

Street near Union Avenue into a field of dreams where Kern County residents 

could benefit from the life-saving healthcare services of a community-owned 

hospital was realized on October 1, 1956 when GBMH opened its doors to 

the first patients. 

Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals is Kern 

County’s premier healthcare system with three acute care 

hospitals in Bakersfield and a growing number of medical 

facilities to meet the needs of our community. With a reputation 

for providing award-winning care and state-of-the-art 

services in a compassionate, caring environment, citizens of 

Bakersfield and the surrounding area know they have access 

to some of the most advanced medical care available between 

Los Angeles and Fresno. Our family of services range from 

our beautiful birth and family care centers to specialized 

centers of excellence such as the Sarvanand Heart and Brain 

Center, Grossman Burn Center, the Lauren Small Children’s 

Center, and the Orthopedic, Spine and Hand Center. 

As the largest healthcare organization in the western 

United States, Dignity Health is committed to the health and 

wellbeing of local residents. We also care for the thousands 

of Mercy and Memorial Hospital employees who call Dignity 

Health home. As Kern County’s third largest employer, 

we have much to offer our more than 3,000 employees. 

Competitive wages and excellent benefits, along with a 

host of continuing education and career advancement 

opportunities, make Dignity Health one of Bakersfield’s 

most sought out workplaces. Delivering on our promise to 

provide quality, compassionate care is why more than 600 

affiliated physicians and specialists choose our care centers 

for their patients. In addition to our three hospitals, Dignity 

Health Bakersfield provides a growing number of healthcare 

facilities to meet the needs of the community, including 

Millennium Surgery Center, Dignity Health Infusion Center 

at the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center, and the 

Dignity Health Medical Group in Bakersfield. 


146

Mercy and Memorial’s Department of Special Needs & 

Community Outreach impact the lives of thousands through 

wellness programs, health screenings, community events, 

educational programs and other services. Together, this 

dedicated team operates more than seventy programs in 

Kern County including the Beyond the Walls Program, 

which received the 2015 Achievement Citation from the 

Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) for 

remarkable contributions to our community. 

Mercy and Memorial Hospitals are also nationally and 

locally recognized for excellence in healthcare and for 

our contributions to the improvement and enrichment of 

the communities we serve. Our nationally certified stroke 

centers are recognized by the American Heart Association/ 

American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines 

Program, receiving the organizations top Achievement 

Awards for excellence in stroke care. Memorial Hospital is an 

accredited Chest Pain Center and a Mission Lifeline STEMI 

Receiving Center, meeting the nation’s highest standards 

of care for the most severe type of heart attack. Mercy and 

Memorial Hospitals have also received many Healthgrades ® 

quality achievement awards including the Patient Safety 

Excellence Award two years in a row. Locally, Mercy Hospital 

Southwest is consistently voted as Bakersfield’s Best Hospital 

year after year in The Bakersfield Californian’s “Best Of” poll 

and we are honored to be the recipient of numerous Beautiful 

Bakersfield Awards including the 2016 Bakersfield Chamber 

of Commerce Chairman’s Award for the Kern County Builders’ 

Exchange’s Hope House at Memorial Hospital. 

Our three Dignity Health Bakersfield hospitals are 

nationally recognized centers for quality care and medical 

excellence with a human touch. 

Our services include the internationally-renowned 

Grossman Burn Center, the Sarvanand Heart and Brain 

Center, the Lauren Small Children’s Center, and the 

Orthopedic, Spine and Hand Center. 

Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals are Kern 

County’s trusted leaders in comprehensive heart care. From 

education and rehabilitation, to innovative nonsurgical 

treatments and advanced cardiac procedures, our cardiac 

experts treat all stages of the disease. 

÷ 

Above: Hospital leadership, donors and volunteers break ground on Mercy 

Hospital Southwest in 1990. Like its sister hospital downtown, the hospital 

has established a reputation for superior healthcare since opening in 1992. 

Mercy Hospital Southwest is the only hospital west of Highway 99 and is 

adjacent to California State University Bakersfield. 

Left: Rose Zey Dow is registered as the first patient at Bakersfield Memorial 

Hospital in 1956. Rose was also the hospital’s first surgery patient. According 

to the newspaper, Rose said being the first patient at Memorial was 

“as exciting as moving into a new home.” 


147

÷ 

Above: The Lauren Small Children’s Center at Memorial Hospital offers 

comprehensive, state-of-the-art pediatric care to our community’s children 

right here, close to home. The Lauren Small Children’s Center includes 

the Bolthouse Family Pediatric Department and the Helen Taylor Cobbs 

Children’s Healing Garden, the area’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, 

a Level II NICU, pediatric burn care at the Grossman Burn Center, and the 

Robert A. Grimm Children’s Pavilion for Emergency Care (opening 2017), 

Bakersfield’s first emergency department dedicated exclusively to treating 

pediatric patients. 

Right: Bakersfield cardiologist and director of the Sarvanand Heart and Brain 

Center at Memorial Hospital, Dr. Tommy Lee, with the area’s only Bi-plane 

Interventional Suite at Memorial’s Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center. 

Established in December 2012 the Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center was 

made possible in part by a $2 million donation from the Munger Family and 

was used specifically for the expansion of cardiovascular services at 

Dignity Health Memorial Hospital. 

The Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center at Memorial 

Hospital is the premier facility located between Los Angeles 

and Fresno for the treatment of most heart and vascular 

conditions, including congenital heart defects, congestive 

heart failure, heart attack and stroke. The Center has the 

area’s only Bi-Plane Interventional Suite and the Southern 

Valley’s first fellowship-trained Neuro Endovascular 

Specialist. It is also home to the area’s first Transcatheter 

Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program. The Central 

California Heart Institute (CCHI) at Memorial delivers the 

highest caliber of cardiovascular care to cardiac patients. 

Through the Institute’s research programs, physicians are 

trained in leading-edge treatments utilizing the most 

advanced practices and technologies. 

The Lauren Small Children’s Center at Memorial Hospital 

is the only medical-surgical unit in the area dedicated 

exclusively to pediatrics. Dignity’s specially trained pediatric 

doctors, nurses and allied health 

professionals have devoted their 

careers to caring for children. This 

state-of-the-art medical facility offers 

superior technology in a child-friendly, 

healing environment close to home. 

The Lauren Small Children’s Center 

includes the area’s only Pediatric 

Intensive Care Unit, a Level II Neonatal 

Intensive Care Unit, the Bolthouse 

Family Pediatric Department, high-risk 

infant follow-up program, the Helen 

Taylor Cobbs Children’s Healing 

Garden, InQuicker online emergency 

room waiting service and pediatric 

home health programs. Opening in 

2017 the Robert A. Grimm Children’s 

Pavilion for Emergency Care will be 

Kern County’s only emergency department exclusively for 

pediatric patients with specially trained doctors and nurses. 

In May 2016, Memorial Hospital became Kern County’s 

first designated Baby-Friendly Hospital, the highest accreditation 

for birth centers. Baby-Friendly hospitals are recognized 

worldwide for being the gold standard concerning infant 

bonding and breastfeeding practices in their birthing units. 

Visitors in need of respite can visit the Helen Taylor Cobbs 

Children’s Healing Garden and families traveling more 

than twenty-five miles from home may request overnight 

accommodations at the Ronald McDonald House ® . 

Memorial Hospital is proud to partner with Children’s 

Miracle Network Hospitals ® (CMNH), which raises funds 

for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. Each 

donation helps support research and training, fund 

equipment purchases, and provide uncompensated care for 

local kids. 


148

Dignity Health Bakersfield offers a comprehensive range 

of cancer treatments and therapy options close to home, so 

those facing cancer can focus on recovery with the support 

of friends and family. 

In 2012, Mercy and Memorial Hospitals partnered with 

Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC), the leader 

in cancer treatment and care in the Southern San Joaquin 

Valley. Our partnership brings together an experienced team 

of caregivers committed to providing high quality care for 

the mind, body, and spirit. Unique to our program, our 

Cancer Patient Navigator is there to guide patients and their 

families through every step of treatment. 

CBCC is one of the nation’s largest freestanding cancer 

centers and is home to advanced options for the treatment of 

cancer. CBCC is one of only a few centers on the West Coast 

to offer CyberKnife, a revolutionary non-invasive alternative 

to surgery for the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body. 

CBCC is part of the UCLA 

Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer 

Center’s Translational Oncology 

Research International (TORI) 

network. This partnership allows 

our patients early access to the 

latest clinical trials without 

having to travel to UCLA. 

Mercy Hospital Downtown is 

home to the area’s only inpatient 

oncology unit, which brings 

patients with cancer together 

with specialized nursing care 

in a single dedicated space. 

This enhancement allows for 

improved coordination of care 

and a better overall experience 

for our patients and their 

families. The inpatient oncology unit at Mercy Hospital 

Downtown has Oncology certified nurses who have 

knowledge and experience caring for patients experiencing 

the complex problems that can be associated with cancer. 

Memorial Hospital offers specialized surgical options for 

the treatment of cancer, including daVinci robotic-assisted 

surgery, pediatric cancer care, and The Infusion Center located 

at CBCC. 

The Grossman Burn Center at Memorial Hospital delivers 

the highest level of care for burn survivors available close to 

home. World renowned for its pioneering techniques that 

help burn survivors recover faster, the Grossman Burn 

Center at Memorial offers advanced, plastic surgery-based 

medical treatments from expert surgeons, combined with 

dedicated care from psychologists and child life specialists 

to meet emotional needs, leading to better outcomes for 

burn patients in Kern County. 

÷ 

Left: Dignity Health and Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center— 

together, we are outsmarting cancer. In 2013, Dignity Health Bakersfield and 

Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center (CBCC) announced a partnership 

that has enhanced cancer care services throughout Kern County, aligning the 

renowned cancer services of Dignity Health’s three hospitals with CBCC’s 

advanced technology, groundbreaking clinical trials and prominent cancer 

care specialists. 

Below: Opened in 2014, the inpatient oncology unit, located at Mercy 

Hospital Downtown, brings patients with cancer together with specialized 

nursing care in a single dedicated space. This enhancement allows for 

improved coordination of care and a better overall experience for our 

patients and their families. This special unit is Bakersfield’s only hospitalbased 

inpatient cancer unit. 


149

÷ 

Above: On March 17, 2016, Dr. Peter H. Grossman and a team of 

Grossman Burn Center physicians gather with hospital leadership and donors 

to announce the partnership between the internationally recognized center 

and Memorial Hospital. The new partnership was made possible by a 

$1 million donation from S. A. Camp Companies of Bakersfield. Left to right, 

Dr. Matt Young, Kurt Richards, Dr. Alexander Majidian, Jim Camp, Beverly 

Camp, Jon Van Boening, Dr. Peter H. Grossman and Dr. Brian Evans. 

Below: In October 2015 the newly expanded Orthopedic, Spine and 

Hand Center at Mercy Hospital Southwest opened. This state-of-the-art 

facility offers patients leading expert care for diagnosing and treating bone, 

joint, and muscle injuries and conditions as well as musculoskeletal and 

spinal disorders. 

Bringing the Grossman Burn Center to Memorial was 

made possible by a $1 million donation from S. A. Camp 

Companies. The new burn unit at Memorial includes a 

seven-bed intensive care unit, catastrophic burn care, pediatric 

intensive care burn services, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 

plastic surgery and reconstruction, a dedicated surgeon and 

operating suite, psychological support services, in addition 

to an outpatient ambulatory clinic. 

Having a larger unit offering this level of comprehensive 

care in Bakersfield means more burn survivors can be treated 

locally, reducing the need to transfer to hospitals out of 

the area. 

Mercy and Memorial Hospitals have long been leaders in 

orthopedic care. Our hospitals feature renovated facilities for 

added patient comfort, as well as state-of-the-art surgical 

technology for enhanced accuracy and improved patient 

outcomes. Patients receive exceptional support throughout 

their care experience, including post-operative care from 

specialized orthopedic nurses and therapists. 

The Orthopedic, Spine and Hand Center at Mercy 

Hospital Southwest is Bakersfield’s premier center for 

orthopedic care, offering patients expert care and the latest 

in advanced technology to treat a full range of orthopedic 

conditions, trauma, and diseases. 

The new state-of-the-art 22,000 square foot center has 

forty exam rooms and the most advanced diagnostic 

imaging equipment available, allowing physicians to see 

images immediately, and treat injuries and condition faster 

so patients can get back to their old selves. 

Established in 2009, orthopedic services at Mercy Hospital 

Southwest have rapidly grown. The group now has 7 surgeons: 

3 hand, 3 general/sports, and 1 spine. The new clinic allows 

enough space for three additional surgeons, and other 

specialized services such as physical therapy. 

Caring for our community for more than a century, Mercy 

and Memorial Hospitals have a rich history rooted in 

kindness and founded on the belief that all people deserve 

medical care, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or 

circumstances. The mission and values are as alive today as 

they were in 1910 when four Sisters of Mercy were sent to 

Bakersfield to care for the sick at a new fifty-bed facility 

named Mercy Hospital. The most technologically advanced 

hospital in the state at the time, Mercy was the first to have 

call lights for patients to summon nurses. The facility even 

had the city’s first passenger elevator. 

In 1951 a group of dedicated community members decided 

Bakersfield needed more medical services to keep up with 

the city’s sprawl. “The Victory Campaign” was launched to 

raise the $1 million dollars in private funds needed to build 

a new community hospital. In October 1956 the Greater 

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital opened with 112 beds. From 

the moment the first patient registered, Memorial Hospital 

has been in a constant state of upgrading, improving and 

expanding. Today, it is Kern County’s largest acute care medical 

center with over 400 beds and offering some of the most 

advanced medical services and treatment options available. 

As businesses grew and more industries moved into the 

area, the need for a new hospital in Bakersfield’s busy southwest 

became imminent. In 1992, Mercy Hospital Southwest 


150

opened, providing a modern high-tech facility for residents 

west of Highway 99. The Mercy Southwest expansion, expected 

to open in 2019, consists of a 108-bed patient care tower 

that will expand medical services and specialties in neuroscience, 

cardiovascular, oncology and more. 

As members of the fifth largest health system in the 

nation, our family of Bakersfield care facilities has strengthened 

its commitment to keeping the human person at 

the forefront of modern medicine. Today, the mission and 

values we were founded upon remain the same. Through 

teamwork and innovation, faith and compassion, advocacy 

and action, we endeavor every day to keep our patients 

happy, healthy, and whole. 

The Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation was 

formed in 1981 to support the healing ministry of 

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. The Foundation’s mission 

is to contribute to the quality of life for people in our 

community by funding healthcare technology and services 

at Memorial Hospital. 

Generous community donors have contributed more than 

$30 million since 1981 to support outstanding projects such 

as the West Tower construction, the Lauren Small Children’s 

Center, the Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center, the Robert A. 

Grimm Children’s Pavilion for Emergency Care, The Helen 

Taylor Cobbs Healing Garden, The Monsignor Craig 

Harrison Interfaith Chapel and the S. A. Camp Companies 

Burn Unit at the Grossman Burn Center. 

Donors support the Foundation in many ways, including 

major gifts, planned gifts and annual giving. The Foundation 

also has two active donor societies; The President’s Circle 

and The Miracle Society, comprised of young community 

leaders, who focus their annual donations on support for 

children’s services at the Lauren Small Children’s Center. 

Since being established in 1988, the Friends of Mercy 

Foundation has raised $30 million in support of state-of-the-art 

equipment and technology as well as services that meet 

the needs of the underserved. Continuing the legacy of 

giving started by Mercy Hospital’s first benefactor, William 

Howell, Sr., generations of Kern County families support 

the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and 100 percent of 

every gift goes directly to the project being supported. 

Donors who have made gifts totaling $10,000 and above 

are members of the Founder’s Circle; those who have named 

Mercy in their estate plans become members of the Heritage 

Society. The Foundation’s annual giving program consists of: 

Catherine McAuley Society, a women’s philanthropic group; 

the William Howell Century Club, a men’s philanthropic 

group; The Legacy Circle at Mercy, a philanthropic group of 

young emerging community leaders; and the Spirit of Giving 

Club, an employee giving group. Each group chooses a 

hospital project to support using their annual cumulative gift. 

For over one hundred years, we have believed in the healing 

power of human connection, providing accessible, compassionate 

health services for our community. Our mission 

includes serving and advocating for the poor and disenfranchised, 

and partnering with others in the community to 

improve quality of life. We put our mission into practice in 

part through community health and prevention programs, 

actionable health needs assessments and strategies, and 

community grants, donating $3,562,678 to sixty 

different local not-for-profit agencies since 1990. 

Treating patients and each other with respect, 

dignity, and kindness is more than a marketing 

campaign or even a brand. It is a promise to our 

community that kindness is the best medicine. 

At Dignity Health, we hold the belief that 

kindness helps to heal the whole person—body, 

mind, and spirit. We strive to incorporate this 

into the care we provide our patients every day. 

Hello humankindness. 

÷ 

Above: In June 2013, Country musician legend and Bakersfield native 

Merle Haggard dropped by the Ronald McDonald House at Bakersfield 

Memorial Hospital to sign a few of his guitars for auction at the annual 

Larry Carr Memorial Golf Tournament. 

Below: In honor of the community kindness shown in helping rebuild Herbert 

Jackson’s home after a fire, Mayor Harvey Hall, Supervisor Leticia Perez and 

Senator Andy Vidak’s office named August 13, 2014, “Humankindness Day” 

in Bakersfield. An appreciation lunch was hosted by Dignity Health Mercy 

and Memorial Hospitals in an effort to recognize all who donated time, 

resources, and services to this meaningful event. 


151

÷ 

CALIFORNIA STATE 

UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD 

Bottom, left: CSU Chancellor Dr. Glenn Dumke (1962-1982); 

CSUB President Dr. Paul Romberg (1967-1973); Senator Walter Stiern; 

Governor Ronald Reagan at groundbreaking ceremony. 

Bottom, right: Sheep graze near Faculty Towers in the early years. 

Opposite, clockwise starting from the top, left: 

Science III Building. 

Antelope Valley Center. 

Flags fly at CSUB main entrance. 

California State University, Bakersfield is a fast-growing 

regional comprehensive public university committed to 

transforming the lives of its students and community 

through excellence in academics, diversity, service, and 

community engagement. 

Strolling today’s beautiful and vibrant campus, it is 

difficult to imagine the campus was a beet field surrounded 

by undeveloped land covered in brush less than fifty years 

ago. Senator Walter Stiern’s bill to establish a college in 

Kern County was approved by the state legislature on 

January 11, 1965, with a $20,000 appropriation from the 

state general fund. 

When Dr. Paul Romberg, the school’s first president, 

arrived in Bakersfield in August 1967 all he had was a 

document from the chancellor’s office saying he was 

authorized to start a college. Assisted by Dr. Ken Secor, 

who became vice president for administrative services, 

Romberg had to locate office space, equipment and staff. 

At first, the small staff worked out of an old grocery store 

on Kentucky Street in Old Town Kern, then relocated to 

state-leased offices on California Avenue. 

Kern County Land Company donated a 375-acre parcel 

of land along Stockdale Highway for the new university 

campus. The board of trustees approved plans for the initial 

buildings in the spring of 1969, leaving only a year-and-ahalf 

for the first phase to be built in time for the anticipated 

opening in fall 1970. Skeptics scoffed at the time frame, 

insisting a campus could never be developed in such a short 

time. After much careful planning and hard work, California 

State College, Bakersfield welcomed its first class in 1970. 

Dr. Jacob Frankel became president in 1974 and 

Dr. Tomás Arciniega came to the presidency in 1983. The 

college gained university status in 1987 to become 

California State University, Bakersfield. 

Dr. Horace Mitchell, then vice chancellor for business 

and administrative services at UC Berkeley, was appointed 

president of CSU Bakersfield in 2004. Building on institutional 

values of excellence, partnerships, and community, 

President Mitchell has led the university to national recognition 

with a vision to extend the excellence and diversity 

of faculty and academic programs, enhance the quality of 

the student experience, and strengthen the university’s 

community engagement. 

With a strong tradition of working collaboratively to 

advance its vision for excellence, CSUB has been in a 

constant mode of transformation since 2004, reinventing 

itself to provide twenty-first century teaching and learning 

for student success in a global society. The university has 

reached significant milestones through collaboration 

among faculty, administrators, staff, and the engagement of 

students, alumni, community partners, and support groups. 

Today, CSUB serves more than 9,200 students at the 

Bakersfield campus and Antelope Valley Center in its four 

schools—arts and humanities; business and public administration; 

natural sciences, mathematics and engineering; 

and social science and education. The university’s faculty is 

committed to providing a quality education to prepare 

students for success. Seventy-five percent of CSUB faculty 


152

members hold the highest degree in their fields. The university 

offers more than sixty undergraduate and twenty-one 

graduate degree programs culminating in bachelor’s and 

master’s degrees, teaching credentials, post-baccalaureate 

certificates, or the doctorate in educational leadership. 

CSUB’s Extended University serves students and the community 

by offering professional development, certificate, 

degree, and international study abroad programs. With more 

than seventy percent of its 47,000 alumni remaining and 

working within Kern County, CSUB supports ongoing social, 

cultural and economic development throughout the region. 

CSUB’s faculty and staff of more than 1,000 include 

respected academic experts, published researchers, and 

engaged community leaders, as well as dedicated educators 

who genuinely care about their students’ success. The 

university’s excellent and diverse staff reflect the cultural 

richness of the community and students it serves. Students 

should be able to see themselves reflected among the faculty 

who teach them. As faculty members serve as role models 

and mentors, they can have significant influence in how 

or whether students find and navigate the pathways to 

academic success. 

Responding to the needs of the community, the university 

added new degree programs such as computer engineering, 

electrical engineering, and engineering sciences (including 

emphases in biosystems and agricultural engineering; engineering 

management; and petroleum engineering); agribusiness, 

healthcare management, occupational safety 

and health management concentration, and a doctorate in 

educational leadership, among others, including additional 

online classes. 

To position the university for the future and enhance 

student success, CSUB converted its academic calendar 

from quarters to semesters, with the semester calendar to 

begin in fall 2016. In so doing, faculty in almost seventy 

percent of the academic programs took a once-in-a-career 

opportunity to completely transform the goals and content 

of their curricula to ensure they would address the twentyfirst 

century needs of our students and communities. At the 

same time, faculty redesigned and strengthened general 

education as a cross-disciplinary program to align it with 

university-wide student learning outcomes, integrating the 

themes: quality of life, revolutionary ideas and innovations, 

and sustainability and justice. 


153

÷ 

Above: “Rowdy Run” welcomes new students at soccer game half-time. 

Right: Men’s basketball team wins 2015 Western Athletics 

Conference (WAC). 

CSUB’s academic programs have achieved national recognition 

through a series of quality accolades. The Economist 

listed the university #10 best economic value of degree; 

Top Nursing Schools College Atlas ranked CSUB the #5 nursing 

school in California; the Washington Monthly listed the 

school’s master’s degree programs among the Top 25 in 

the nation; and Time magazine ranked CSUB #39 among 

top colleges and universities in the nation. In addition, 

the Carnegie Foundation has awarded CSUB its elective 

community engagement classification; Hispanic Outlook 

listed the university at #54 among the Top 100 colleges for 

degrees granted to Hispanics, and #8 on its Best Bang for 

the Buck Colleges; and Brookings Institute placed CSUB at 

the ninety-fifth percentile for expected student earnings. The 

university has even been named a bicycle friendly university 

by The League of American Bicyclists. 

CSUB added several new academic buildings with 

classrooms, labs and faculty offices, e.g. Science III, the 

visual arts center, engineering complex with labs, and broke 

ground on a humanities complex and the replacement of 

Faculty Towers. All classrooms have been converted to smart 

classrooms. The CSUB Fabrication Lab (“Fab Lab”) is an 

advanced digital fabrication laboratory with equipment 

protyping machinery that can be used to fabricate just about 

anything. The Fab Lab is a community resource open to 

the public as well as to the university community and is an 

important step forward for science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics (STEM) education in the Central Valley. A 

collaboration of the Fab Foundation, MIT, Chevron and 

CSUB, it is the only Fab Lab among CSU and UC campuses. 

Several initiatives and programs were undertaken to 

advance student development, enhance the quality of 

student and campus life, and increase student retention, 

success, and graduation. As an outcome of a student fee 

referendum in 2005, CSUB transitioned its athletics 

program to NCAA Division I. Men’s sports include baseball, 

basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, track and 

field and wrestling. Women’s teams include basketball, 


154

each volleyball, cross country, soccer, softball, track and 

field, swimming and diving, volleyball, and water polo. The 

athletics program is a member of the Western Athletics 

Conference (WAC). In the last two years, four athletics 

teams have won WAC championships and participated in 

NCAA post-season tournaments. 

The school adopted its first-ever alma mater “Long Live 

CSUB” and fight song “CSUB Victory” in 2005. A 75,000 

square foot, state-of-the-art student recreation center helps 

promote physical health and wellness. Residential students 

moved into a newly constructed 500-bed student housing 

complex in January 2015. Students can become engaged 

in more than eighty-five student organizations and clubs 

and eleven fraternities and sororities. 

New students are formally welcomed into the community 

of higher learning at a new student convocation each fall. 

The ceremony expresses the university’s expectations for student 

learning, collective commitment to facilitating students’ 

success, and inspires students to look toward graduation from 

the university and the culminating commencement ceremony. 

The CSUB Alumni Association boasts more than 47,000 

alumni. The university’s most notable alumni include former 

heavyweight wrestler Stephen Neal (‘99), winner of two 

NCAA National Championships, a multiple gold medalist 

in the World Freestyle, USA Freestyle, and Pan American 

games. Neal played in the National Football League for the 

New England Patriots and helped win three Super Bowl 

titles. He was inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County 

Sports Hall of Fame. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy 

(‘89, ‘94) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 

2006 as representative for California’s 23nd Congressional 

District. He is a CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. Started 

in 2006, the hall of fame recognizes alumni who have made 

significant contributions in their chosen field of endeavor 

and/or community, and whose accomplishments and careers 

have brought honor and distinction to CSUB. Honorees are 

inducted at an annual black-tie gala. 

CSUB has a long and distinguished history of community 

engagement. The university collaborates with partners in 

the community to increase the region’s overall educational 

attainment, enhance its quality of life, and support its 

economic development. Students greatly benefit from 

the generosity of donors, alumni, industry partners, and 

friends of the university who give to support student 

scholarships, research, and the enhancement of the school’s 

academic programs. 

Each year, CSUB contributes more than 2,000 new alumni 

to the community’s educated and skilled workforce. The university 

has a powerful $1.64 billion economic impact on Kern 

County’s economy annually, consisting of $505 million in local 

expenditures and $1.125 billion in economic enhancements. 

The Bakersfield community benefits from the energy, 

expertise, and enthusiasm of CSUB students, faculty and 

staff. The university continues to help shape the future of 

Kern County through student internships, research, campus 

institutions, and community events. 

The university’s master plan builds out the entire campus 

to accommodate 18,000 students. Plans to develop the 

remaining land include additional student housing, and 

public-private partnerships such as a children’s interactive 

educational museum and a hotel and conference center. 

The university also has approval from the board of trustees 

to develop a university office park on the south side of the 

main campus. Tenants will be required to have an affiliation 

with the campus, such as providing student internships. 

CSUB will continue to provide access to quality and 

affordable academic programs and cocurricular experiences 

that are transformative to make significant differences in 

the lives of its students, their families, and communities, 

and raise the level of educational attainment in the region. 

÷ 

New graduates pose at commencement. 


155

OMNI FAMILY HEALTH 

÷ 

Right: In 1978, a staff member lays the foundation of Omni Family Health’s 

first health center in Buttonwillow, California. 

Below: Local television crews film the groundbreaking ceremony for 

Omni Family Health’s Buttonwillow Health Center on January 5, 1979. 

By the look of Omni Family Health today, one would 

never guess that this national award-winning network of 

state-of-the-art health centers began in the tiny town of 

Buttonwillow in rural Kern County, California. In 1978, a 

small but determined group of community leaders broke 

ground on the Buttonwillow Health Center, a small health 

facility that would later become known as Omni Family 

Health. At that time, the Buttonwillow Health Center was 

formed with the goal of providing a full range of primary, 

preventative care and support services to an area whose 

remoteness had previously made such services unavailable. 

The focus was to ensure quality medical services were accessible 

to rural agricultural workers—an overlooked segment 

of the population whose occupational contribution was central 

to the legacy of the San Joaquin Valley. Those involved in 

bringing Buttonwillow Health Center from a dream to reality 

rallied the community under a primary slogan that conveyed 

the vision of the founders in 1978—“Health for All.” 

At the time Buttonwillow Health Center began operations 

in the late 1970s, the innovative concept of communitybased 

healthcare had also taken root across the country 

in medically underserved inner 

city neighborhoods and rural 

areas. What became known as 

Community and Migrant Health 

Centers, or C/MHCs, targeted the 

roots of an inadequate healthcare 

system by establishing easily 

accessible healthcare facilities in 

medically underserved areas, 

eliminating barriers and delivering 

health services for everyone 

in the community regardless of 

race, age, gender, socioeconomic 

status, or ability to pay. 

This emerging model of healthcare was greatly needed in 

rural Kern County. Much of the economic development driving 

Kern County into the twenty-first century was based 

around the agricultural industry that took advantage of the 

fertile lands throughout the San Joaquin Valley. As business 

boomed, the surrounding communities expanded to meet 

the needs of farmworkers and their families but rural 

resources, especially healthcare, were scarce. Unfortunately, 

the late 1970s brought a widespread drought that lowered 

crop volumes in the face of rising production costs, leading 

to a historic decline in the value of cotton—a huge blow to 

a community that was nicknamed “Cotton Country” due to 

the abundance of the crop. 

Even in the face of mounting uncertainty surrounding the 

agriculture industry, the small group of founders pushed 

forward in the quest for quality healthcare for agricultural 

workers in rural Kern County, making the decision to 

embrace the national community healthcare model. Among 

the many leaders responsible for launching the Buttonwillow 

Health Center was Clarence “Dutch” Houchin, a renowned 

community leader who aided the health center by leasing 

the property to the center for a token one dollar per year. 

The Houchin family later generously donated the land and 

building to the organization. 


156

The faith that had been placed in the Buttonwillow 

Health Center was quickly rewarded as the facility saw 

increases in the numbers of patients seeking healthcare. 

When a second facility nearby became necessary, the 

community again sprang into action. The health center 

location at Lost Hills began in a temporary double-wide 

trailer in 1980—it was not glamorous, but the team believed 

in the mission of the organization despite tough challenges 

during the early years of operations. To this day, staff 

members still recall wading through thick mud to reach the 

trailer to provide care to their patients! 

It was that level of dedication that allowed Omni to grow 

and open the third addition to the organization in the city of 

Wasco in 1990, followed in quick succession by health 

centers in Taft and Delano. The Taft location began in 1991 

as a Teen Clinic in the basement of a hospital, while the 

origins of Omni’s Delano facility are entwined with the 

history of the United Farmworkers of America (UFW), who 

graciously allowed the health center to operate from its 

headquarters known then as the “40 acres.” Also during 

that time, the small network of health centers transitioned to 

the National Health Services, Inc., brand in the community. 

Between 1978 and the early 2000s, Omni had grown 

from one small facility in Buttonwillow into eight health 

centers dedicated to serving the rural communities of Kern 

County. In 2002, Omni celebrated its first location in the 

greater Bakersfield area when the Oildale Community Health 

Center opened its doors to the public. Since then, new 

Omni facilities have opened in the rural towns of Ridgecrest 

and Tehachapi, along with many locations throughout 

Bakersfield. In all, Omni now operates eighteen state-of-theart 

health centers that provide medical and dental services 

along with behavioral health, chiropractic care, full-service 

pharmacies and a range of specialty care services. 

In the decades since the first Omni health center opened 

in 1978, a great deal of change has come and gone, but like 

the unchanging and steadfast mountain ranges that encircle 

the San Joaquin Valley, Omni’s mission-driven focus has 

never wavered. The success of the organization can be 

credited in large part to exceptional leadership that has 

found a natural balance between strategic business goals 

and a mission-driven culture of compassion. 

The continuity of the organization’s legacy in the 

community was assured when Francisco L. Castillon, MPA, 

became Omni’s CEO in 2010, bringing more than twentyfive 

years of experience in C/MHCs. In addition to his 

professional acumen, Castillon was a key community figure 

÷ 

Above: Today, Omni Family Health operates eighteen state-of-the-art health 

centers that provide medical, dental, behavioral health, chiropractic, 

pharmacy and specialty services to the community. 

Left: Left to right, community board members John Ogborn, Tommie Fowler, 

Gloria Selvidge, Rosie Watkins, Julien Parsons (back row), Pete Ramirez, Jr., 

Aurelio Nunez and former CEO, Dr. Wagih H. Michael, gather at the 

Buttonwillow Medical/Dental Center in early 1999. 

Below: Omni Family Health’s Chief Executive Officer Francisco L. Castillon 

addresses the crowd during the Brimhall Expansion Grand Opening on 

December 8, 2015. 


157

÷ 

Right: Each year, Omni Family Health publishes its Community, Economic 

and Tax Impact Report which illustrates the positive outcomes Omni delivers 

to the communities it serves. 

Below: The National Association of Community Health Centers 

honored Omni Family Health with the 2015 Outstanding Migrant Health 

Center award. 

who worked side-by-side with well-known figures Cesar 

Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the UFW and was responsible 

for negotiating the arrangement of Omni’s Delano facility 

on the “40 acres” property. With his personal knowledge of 

Omni’s history and a strong vision for the future, Castillon 

led the 2012 campaign to rebrand the organization from 

National Health Services, Inc., to the Omni identity of 

today. Consistent with the organization’s mission, the name 

“Omni” was selected for its meaning of “all” and “inclusive,” 

because of our philosophy of providing quality healthcare 

to all members of the family, from infants to the elderly, and 

all residents of the community. 

In addition to this monumental rebranding, Omni continues 

to experience unprecedented growth in the community. 

Over the course of the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan, Omni 

opened 4 new health centers, expanded services at 4 health 

centers, and saw a fifty-two percent increase in exam rooms, 

significantly increasing patient access to high quality healthcare 

throughout Kern County. Omni also became certified 

as a Patient Centered Health Home in 2015 and renewed its 

accreditation by The Joint Commission. 

As a result of the board of directors and executive 

management team’s dedicated and visionary leadership, 

which has guided Omni’s successes and positive reputation 

at both the local, state and national levels, the organization 

has received, for the first time, two major national awards. 

Both the Migrant Health Center of the Year designation 

and the Outstanding Achievement Award were presented 

by the National Association of Community Health Centers 

(NACHC) in 2015. 

Omni’s network of health centers has a major impact on 

the populations they serve. Annually, nearly 82,000 patients 

are seen at Omni health centers in the communities of 

Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Delano, Lost Hills, Ridgecrest, 

Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco. Overall, services 

provided by Omni represent over $100 million annual cost 

savings to the healthcare system in Kern County. 

Omni Family Health centers operate with annual budget 

of over $55 million, including over $8 million in federal 

funding. In 2015 alone, Omni was the recipient of numerous 

federal and local grants to aid the organization’s efforts to 

minimize barriers to healthcare services for the citizens of 

Kern County. Omni’s tremendous impact on local economies 

totals nearly $65 million annually, in addition to a total 

tax impact of nearly $8.5 million. The 450 (and growing) 

full-time jobs directly generated by Omni supports an 

additional 194 jobs in other industries. Fifteen employees 

currently working for Omni have been with the organization 

twenty years or longer. Looking ahead, Omni projects an 

increase of approximately 110,000 annual patient visits to 

its health centers in 2017, a nearly thirty-five percent 

increase in patient access to care. 

Omni Family Health has developed invaluable working 

relationships with local community-based organizations, 

private agencies and public institutions. By working together, 


158

the agencies mobilize combined energies and experience to 

better serve patients and support programs and initiatives 

that address healthcare and access problems. By focusing 

on community building, the organization helps to facilitate 

problem-solving for a wide range of difficult social and 

health issues and removes barriers to care by serving 

communities that otherwise confront geographic, language, 

cultural and other barriers. This results oriented approach 

goes beyond traditional methods and serves to maximize 

both resources and effectiveness. 

One of the many ways Omni gives back to the communities 

it serves is through a scholarship program for graduating 

high school seniors within its service area. Up to seven $1,000 

scholarship awards are distributed each year to qualified 

graduating seniors pursuing a career in the medical field. 

Additionally, the Omni mission promotes a deep sense of 

social responsibility to the local environment, and concerted 

effort to incorporate “green” best practices in the daily 

operations at every facility. In 2015, seventy-five percent of 

waste generated at Omni construction sites was diverted 

from landfills and sent to a recycling center. Within the 

existing facilities, conservation efforts resulted in a fifty-three 

to sixty percent decrease in energy consumption. 

At the grassroots level, Omni and its employees also 

participate in many community activities such as local 

Health Fairs, Affordable Care Act enrollment events, parades, 

health screenings and the Cuadrilla program, in which 

Omni employees go into the farming fields to provide 

agricultural workers with lunch and information on available 

health services. Employees also enjoy giving back to the 

community during the holidays, providing food and gifts 

to health center patients. 

After nearly forty years of serving Kern County, Omni 

Family Health remains committed to being the leading 

provider of quality healthcare throughout Kern County and 

the Central Valley by improving health, one patient at a time, 

through compassion and individual attention to everyone. 

Omni’s mission statement is supported by its Core Values: 

• Helpful—We pride ourselves on being helpful to our 

patients, listening to their needs and doing everything 

we can to aid their concerns. 

• Excellence—We demand more from ourselves than our 

patients do from us. 

• Accessibility—We provide access to quality healthcare 

for everyone who seeks it. 

• Leadership—We lead our patients, families, and community 

in being passionate about their health. 

• Teamwork—We work together to meet common goals 

by encouraging and supporting one another. 

• Honesty—we are committed to the highest ethical standards, 

demonstrating honesty and fairness in every action. 

Together, these core values spell H-E-A-L-T-H, the guiding 

principal for Omni Family Health from day one until present 

day, and for years to come. 

Our mission: Omni Family Health is committed to improving 

the health of our communities by providing the highest quality 

healthcare to everyone. 

÷ 

Omni Family Health Board of Directors, CEO and executive management 

team is joined by Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall at the latest White Lane 

health center groundbreaking ceremony December 8, 2015, in recognition of 

Omni’s continued investment in Kern County and beyond. 


159

SAN JOAQUIN 

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 

÷ 

Above: Two young nurses help provide needed healthcare services to the 

booming community of Bakersfield. 

Right: San Joaquin Hospital, c. 1935. 

Ensuring the community receives the best healthcare 

possible has been the guiding spirit of San Joaquin 

Community Hospital throughout its history. This vision 

inspired the hospital’s founders more than a century ago, 

and this same commitment remains embedded in the 

hospital’s mission today. 

Bakersfield and Kern County were still considered 

“the Wild West” in the early part of the twentieth century, 

but farmers were beginning to realize that the county’s rich 

soil would produce bountiful crops, and the discovery of oil 

became a magnet for workers from throughout the nation. 

With a population of nearly 18,000, Kern County was 

booming in the early 1900s, bringing with it a growing need 

for adequate healthcare. This need attracted the attention of 

two young nurses—Margaret Quinn and Mary O’Donnell— 

who shared a passion for caring for the sick and injured. 

They became nurses at the small St. Clair Hospital at 

Sixteenth and H Streets in Bakersfield. 

Seeing firsthand the need for more adequate healthcare, 

the two nurses began shaping a vision for improved hospital 

facilities. Each woman had a nest egg of $500, but this was 

far short of the amount needed to build a new hospital. 

However, encouraged by friends and doctors, they soon 

developed a plan to make their dream a reality. 

Mary persuaded her family to contribute $6,000 to the 

project and Sol Mack, manager of the Bank of Bakersfield, 

took out a loan for $5,000. The note was co-signed by 

J. A. Hughes, owner of a drug store at Nineteenth and 

Chester, and Cora St. Clair. 

Mary and Margaret purchased a quarter-block site at 

Twenty-Seventh and Eye Streets and began construction of 

a three-story building that would house twenty-six patients. 

They named the new institution San Joaquin Hospital. 

The first patient, thought to be a railroad or oil field worker, 

was received on October 6, 1910. The patient’s name has 

been lost in the mists of history, but the physician who 

treated him was Dr. Samuel Franklin Smith. 

Margaret, who had impressive business skills as well as 

boundless energy and determination, assumed the role of 

administrator, while Mary concentrated on patient care. 

Margaret developed a methodical plan to pay off the 

hospital’s indebtedness, purchase additional land and 

enlarge the hospital. In just a few short years, the hospital 

doubled in size, adding a new surgery room, men’s and 

women’s wards, and a kitchen. 

In 1914, Margaret bought out her partner, Mary, and 

assumed duties as business manager, nursing supervisor, 

anesthetist and laboratory technician. The hospital continued 

to grow and serve the Kern County community, and 

was indispensable during the disastrous flu epidemic of 

1918-1919. 

By 1929, Margaret, aging and suffering from cataracts, 

realized it was time to sell the hospital. The hospital was incorporated 

and sold in equal shares to Doctors N. M. Brown, 

William P. Scott, George Buchner and F. A. Hamlin. 

The hospital was sold again in 1937 to Dr. Joseph Smith, 

who envisioned the hospital as a professional medical and 


160

surgical institution. The hospital continued to develop 

under his leadership. In 1964, Dr. Smith urged a group of 

public spirited citizens to take over management of the 

hospital as a nonprofit entity. Impressed by the care he had 

personally received from an Adventist hospital, Dr. Smith 

specifically requested that members of the hospital board 

be members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

The name of the hospital was changed to San Joaquin 

Community Hospital (SJCH) and a new age began. In 1987, 

SJCH became a member of Adventist Health; a not-for-profit 

healthcare system comprised of twenty-one acute care facilities 

and affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

The new board of directors surveyed the area’s health 

needs, looking for innovative ways in which to serve the 

people of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. One fact soon 

stood out: the single greatest health hazard in America in 

the 1960s was heart and vascular disease. Among males, 

two out of three would ultimately die from some sort of 

heart vessel disease; yet Bakersfield had no modern heart 

catheterization laboratory. Nor was open heart surgery 

available in the area. Heart patients in the valley had to 

travel hundreds of miles to receive proper care. 

There was clearly a pressing need for cardiac care. In 

1972, SJCH opened the area’s first catheterization laboratory, 

using a then state-of-the-art 35mm film format. A month 

later, doctors at SJCH conducted Bakersfield’s first open 

heart surgery. The heart team was headed by Dr. Neil 

Arbegast, a surgeon who had trained under world-famous 

cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey. Also practicing at 

the hospital were additional cardiovascular surgeons and 

other specialized personnel capable of performing any heart 

or vascular procedure. 

The creation of a skilled heart surgery team required the 

latest and most sophisticated equipment, which the hospital 

provided and has continued to provide to this day. 

SJCH remains Kern County’s leader for heart care. In 

2016, Healthgrades ® , an online resource for information on 

physicians and hospitals, recognized SJCH as one of 

America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and Coronary 

Intervention. SJCH was one of only two hospitals in the 

entire state of California, and the first in Kern County, to 

receive both of these recognitions. SJCH is now working to 

create a comprehensive Heart Institute that will provide 

Bakersfield and Kern County with cutting-edge procedures 

and advanced technology in an environment that promotes 

healing and privacy. 

÷ 

Above: San Joaquin Community Hospital pictured here in 2007, after the 

completion of the new patient tower, which tripled the size of the emergency 

department, created a nine-bed NICU and all new surgical unit. 

Below: In 2015, San Joaquin Community Hospital became the first 

Kern County hospital to be named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical 

Excellence. The award put SJCH in the top five percent of hospitals 

nationwide. SJCH achieved the recognition again in 2016. 

From left to right: Bakersfield City Councilman Terry Maxwell; 

Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall; SJCH President and CEO Doug Duffield; 

and SJCH Chief Operating Officer Sharlet Briggs. 


161

÷ 

Above: Dr. Donald Cornforth was the co-founder of Quest Imaging, 

which was acquired by San Joaquin Community Hospital in 2010. 

In addition to serving as the chief medical officer for SJCH, Dr. Cornforth 

and his wife, Edna, donated $1 million towards the new AIS Cancer Center. 

Right: Dr. Brandon Freeman serves as the medical director and plastic 

surgeon for The Burn Center at SJCH. In just seven years, The Burn Center 

has treated more than 3,000 patients, with nearly forty percent 

being children. 

Heart care was not the only area in which SJCH made 

advances through the years. In 1973 a new 166-bed hospital 

was opened across the street from the original facility. 

The addition housed a new intensive care unit featuring 

the best available equipment, including telemetry units 

that monitored a variety of vital functions and provided 

instantaneous reporting of each patient’s condition. 

Then in May 2007, SJCH opened a much-needed 

130,000 square foot patient tower. The new five-story 

building expanded the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency 

Department and operating areas; provided a convenient 

patient drop-off and loading area; tripled the size of the 

maternity care center; and added a nine-bed neonatal 

intensive care unit. Once the new tower was completed, 

the existing hospital building was retrofitted to meet new 

seismic regulations and renovated to create more private 

patient rooms. 

The new tower provided SJCH with the necessary 

resources to offer state-of-the-art services previously unavailable 

in Kern County including advanced stroke care. In 

2008 the hospital opened the county’s first nationallycertified 

stroke center. To become nationally certified, the 

stroke center underwent a rigorous, on-site evaluation by 

The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies healthcare 

organizations and programs throughout the United 

States. The Joint Commission assessed the stroke program’s 

processes, quality performance, and its ability to improve 

care. Healthgrades ® now ranks SJCH among the top five 

percent of hospitals nationwide for stroke care. The program 

has also earned the American Stroke Association’s Gold Plus 

Award—the highest award for stroke care—for multiple years. 

Another way in which SJCH has met the needs of San 

Joaquin Valley residents is through creation of a nationally 

recognized burn center. Although hundreds of burns occur 

in the area each year, patients previously had to travel north 

to Fresno or south to Los Angeles to receive the specialized 

care required for serious burns. In 2008, SJCH announced 

its intention to bring a burn center to Bakersfield, and the 

center opened in 2009. 

In just the first six months of service, The Burn Center at 

SJCH treated three times the number of anticipated patients. 

The Center now treats 400 to 500 burn victims each year 

and has received enthusiastic support from local industries. 

This includes a $200,000 endowment fund established by 

Chevron and a $300,000 donation from Aera Energy. 

The Burn Center is a clear example of SJCH’s commitment 

to serving its community. Although The Burn Center operates 

at a financial loss each year, and is supported through 

philanthropy and hospital operations, SJCH recognizes that 

it is a vital service that is urgently needed. 

SJCH also serves the community through its mobile 

immunization program. Immunizations are one of the most 

important public health interventions in the United States. 

By immunizing children at an early age, SJCH Children’s 

Mobile Immunization Program decreases the occurrence of 

many dreaded childhood diseases. 

Since the program began in 1996, more than 55,000 

children have been immunized against dangerous diseases 


162

such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella and Hepatitis A and B. 

When the program began, only 39 percent of Kern County’s 

children had up-to-date immunizations. Today, that figure is 

95 percent and continuing to grow. 

As healthcare has changed, so has the need to diversify 

services and programs. In 2010, SJCH began developing a 

robust network of outpatient services with the purchase of 

Quest Imaging. The most significant outpatient project to 

date has been the 60,000 square foot AIS Cancer Center, 

which opened in the spring of 2013. 

The AIS Cancer Center was made possible through the 

largest fundraising effort in the hospital’s history. The SJCH 

Foundation raised more than $6 million for the building, led 

by a $2 million gift from Advanced Industrial Services (AIS), 

in whose honor the center was named. The center’s motto of 

“You Can. We Can. Beat Cancer.” emphasizes the community 

partnerships that have been so meaningful in developing this 

top-notch facility. 

As only the second cancer center in the community, The 

AIS Cancer Center helps ensure that most cancer patients 

receive treatment without leaving Bakersfield. The center 

features advanced technology in a soothing environment, 

exemplified by the beautiful water feature in The Cornforth 

Family Pavilion. Affiliated with the UC Davis Cancer Care 

Network, The AIS Cancer Center provides medical and 

radiation treatment. Its teams include highly trained, 

board-certified oncologists, certified oncology nurses and 

radiation therapists. 

SJCH is one of the largest employers in Kern County. 

As of 2016, the hospital had nearly 2,100 employees and 

651 affiliated physicians, in addition to approximately 

287 volunteers who contribute thousands of hours of 

service each year. 

SJCH has seen many changes and enormous technological 

advancements since it admitted its first patient in 1910. 

What has remained constant is the hospital’s commitment to 

quality healthcare. This dedication is rooted in the hospital’s 

Christian heritage, which dates back to 1866, when the first 

Seventh-day Adventist healthcare facility opened in Battle 

Creek, Michigan. Today, inspired by a belief in the loving 

and healing power of Jesus Christ, SJCH and its clinics 

bring physical, mental and spiritual health and healing to 

people of all faiths. 

÷ 

Left: Cutting-edge technology has been a hallmark of San Joaquin 

Community Hospital throughout its storied history. The Philips Ambient 

experience—located in The AIS Cancer Center—allows patients to choose 

colors and scenes of their choice during their imaging experience. 

Below: The Cornforth Family Pavilion showcases a two-story water feature 

that creates a healing environment for cancer patients and their families from 

the moment they walk in. 


163

KAISER PERMANENTE 

÷ 

Above: Kaiser Permanente’s first employees and physician hired in 1987. 

Below: Stockdale Medical Offices. 

Kaiser Permanente’s mission 

is to provide highquality, 

affordable healthcare 

services to improve the 

health of its members and 

the communities it serves. 

This mission is accomplished 

through market-leading performance 

in quality, service 

and affordability. 

Kaiser Permanente provides 

healthcare services to 

more than 105,000 members 

in Kern County at thirteen locations with nearly 

1,000 employees and physicians. Since entering the 

market in 1988 with one medical office building and 

4,000 members, Kaiser Permanente has grown to be an 

anchor institution in the community. 

There are three very important 

factors that make Kaiser Permanente 

special—care and coverage together, 

convenience and choice, and care 

you can trust. Kaiser Permanente 

brings together healthcare and coverage 

with connected teams of doctors, 

nurses, pharmacists and other 

professionals. At Kaiser Permanente 

locations, everything is under one 

roof—visits, labs, radiology and 

pharmacy—so it is easy to take care 

of several healthcare needs in a single 

visit. Patients may manage their 

health on-line, anytime, anywhere. 

Patients also have their choice of 

great doctors and may change their 

doctor at any time for any reason. With Kaiser Permanente, 

patients have the support of an entire care team who work 

together and are closely connected through electronic health 

records, insuring the right care at the right time. From 

preventative screenings to specialty care and treatment 

for serious conditions, Kaiser Permanente members receive 

the top-rated care they need to help them be their healthiest. 

Kaiser Permanente is also known for its technology and 

innovation, which are used to provide care to members via 

a Mobile Health Vehicle that brings a range of primary 

care services to outlying communities. Kaiser Permanente’s 

Care Corner is a retail-based program designed to provide 

convenient and affordable access to primary care services 

and wellness programs. In addition, Kaiser Permanente 

offers tele-health video and telephone appointments to meet 

the needs of its members in an easy and convenient manner. 

Kaiser Permanente also invests directly in improvements 

to community health by working to increase access for the 

underserved, funding safety-net agencies, disseminating care 

improvements, conducting research, educating healthcare 

workers and consumers, and informing public policy. 

To support these priorities, Kaiser Permanente operates a 

number of Community Benefit Programs in Kern County. 

Among these are the award winning Educational Theatre, 

which uses live theatre, music, comedy, and drama to 

inspire children, teens, and adults to make better decisions 

about their well-being. Kaiser Permanente believes good 

health is a fundamental right shared by all and its work 

in the community brings together financial resources, the 

talent and commitment of its people, and more than seventy 

years of healthcare and health plan experience. In Kern 

County, Kaiser Permanente has contributed several million 

dollars through grants and sponsorships to support people 

in need through a wide range of community programs 

and organizations. 


164

Henry J. Kaiser, an industrialist who was considered one 

of the nation’s greatest business leaders of the twentieth 

century, and Dr. Sidney R. Garfield, a noted surgeon, worked 

together to pioneer the medical program that changed 

the face of U.S. healthcare. Under the leadership of these 

visionaries, Kaiser Permanente was born out of the challenge 

of providing Americans with medical care during the Great 

Depression and World War II, when most people could not 

afford to visit a doctor. Kaiser Permanente applied a number 

of innovative ideas, including prepaid insurance to spread 

the cost and make it more affordable, and group medical 

practices where physicians could maximize their abilities to 

care for patients. This medical delivery system was organized 

to put as much care as possible under one roof. 

Kaiser and Garfield were bold, innovative individuals 

who made a dramatic impact on the contemporary shape 

of U.S. medicine and community health. Kaiser, who 

revolutionized shipbuilding during World War II, is 

remembered for his role in building the great dams of the 

West—Hoover, Bonneville and Grand Coulee. His global 

enterprises included automobiles, steel, cement, aluminum, 

engineering and mining. Garfield was both an acclaimed 

surgeon and a visionary. In 1933, Garfield opened his 

Contractor’s General Hospital in the Mojave Desert. 

This hospital was set up to provide medical care for 

the 5,000 workers on the Metropolitan Water District of 

Southern California’s aqueduct, which was designed to 

bring water from the Colorado River to Los Angeles. 

His ideas helped define the basic principles of a healthcare 

system, focused as much on prevention of illness as 

caring for the sick. In the 1950s, his revolutionary 

hospital designs drew international praise for their 

innovations. And, in 1960, he was in the vanguard of 

physicians who embraced the computer as a tool that 

could radically improve the delivery of medical care. 

Today, Kaiser Permanente operates the largest private 

electronic medical record system in the United States. 

Garfield’s ideas resonated with Kaiser, who was 

‘greatly restless and restlessly great’ for a new healthcare 

system. Together, they founded Kaiser Permanente for 

the employees of Kaiser Industries 

in 1942 and opened the health 

plan to the public in July 1945. 

The guiding principles of 

Kaiser Permanente, developed 

over more than seven decades, 

include the belief that everyone 

should have the opportunity to 

be healthy, preventing illness is 

preferable to curing after the fact, 

quality drives cost down, and 

partnership creates synergy. These 

principles will continue to guide 

Kaiser Permanente in the future as 

it continues its mission to improve 

the health of its members and the 

communities it serves. 

÷ 

Above: Discovery Plaza Medical Offices. 

Below: Chester Avenue Medical Offices. 


165

GOLDEN EMPIRE 

TRANSIT DISTRICT 

The Golden Empire Transit District (GET) provides safe, 

accessible, reliable, courteous and affordable public transportation 

to diverse customers in the greater Bakersfield area. 

Although GET was officially created in 1973, Bakersfield 

was served by public transit as early as 1874. That year, 

Southern Pacific Railroad informed the city that the company 

would not serve Bakersfield unless it was granted two blocks 

of land on either side of the tracks. The city refused and the 

train station was built two miles to the east of the city at 

what now is the corner of Baker and Sumner Streets. 

This situation created a problem for travelers and a profit 

for stage drivers who charged $1 per trip between Bakersfield 

and the train station. Today, the fare for a single trip on a 

GET bus is $1.50, so $1 was a considerable fee for a single 

ride in 1874. 

Public transit was provided by private companies until 

the mid-1950s when the growing popularity of the automobile 

caused a significant drop in ridership and revenues. The city 

took over operation of the public transit system and, in 1965, 

created a transit authority. 

In 1972, voters within the proposed transit district borders 

approved the formation of the district by a two-to-one margin. 

GET’s boundaries include the Bakersfield area. A five member 

board of directors was appointed in 1972, and, in 1973, the 

district began operations and was named the Golden Empire 

Transit District. 

Over the next five years, GET acquired twenty-five air 

conditioned buses, established 300 stops and developed 

a new system of routes. Ridership increased 167 percent. 

The base fare was twenty-five cents. 

÷ 

Top: Southern Pacific Railroad Station located at the corner of Baker and 

Sumner Streets, 1874. 

Above: One of twenty-five air conditioned buses to hit the streets in the 

mid-1970s. 


166

In 1979, GET initiated a curb-to-curb service called 

GET-A-Lift, which provides service to customers unable to 

use the fixed route services due to disabilities. 

In an effort to improve air quality, GET purchased the first 

compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in 1998. In addition, a 

CNG fueling station was built by GET. By March 2006, GET’s 

entire fleet of buses was converted to compressed natural gas. 

Today, GET has a fleet of eighty-eight compressed national 

gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. 

GET services sixteen routes, most operating seven days a 

week. More than 6 million passengers are transported each 

year in the fixed route buses. In addition, GET operates 

nineteen compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses. 

In October 2012, GET implemented a new system of 

routes designed to provide faster, more efficient service. GET 

also added trip planning to its website at www.getbus.org. 

In 2013, Golden Empire Transit District began a study of 

its environmental policies and processes with the goal of integrating 

sustainability practices into all aspects of its operations 

through clean technologies, renewable resources and recycling. 

GET adopted an Environmental Sustainability and 

Management System (EMS) as a formal commitment to mitigate 

environmental impacts, build and maintain a healthy and 

safe workforce and ensure fiscal stability for years to come. 

In addition to helping reduce pollution, the EMS program 

has resulted in energy savings, fuel savings, and environmental 

disaster avoidance. All of these things add up to 

reduced risk and increased financial savings. 

In 2015, GET added a Real Time Information System for 

customers. The new system provides arrival times if a bus for 

that route is due within thirty minutes. Each bus stop has a 

number and a QR code. Customers may use the QR code if 

they have smart phones or use the automated voice system 

at 661-869-2438 if they want to call in and give the bus stop 

number. Customers may also use computers and tablets to 

get arrival information by going to www.getbus.org. 

÷ 

GET buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks and are 

powered by compressed natural gas, thereby reducing pollution and 

saving money. 


167

BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN 

HIGH SCHOOL 

÷ 

Above: Stephen Dinger (president 2011 to 2016), Mayor Harvey Hall 

and Jack Pandol (board chair) cut the ribbon to open the 8,506 square foot 

student union on May 6, 2016, while David Spalinger (board member) and 

Bob Smith (city council member Ward 4) watch the momentous occasion. 

Founded in 1979, Bakersfield Christian High School is a 

dually accredited, nondenominational, college preparatory 

high school that seeks to develop each student’s mind, body 

and spirit to his or her fullest potential through challenging 

coursework, state-of-the-art technology, visual and performing 

arts, competitive athletics, and spiritual training. 

Four students made up the first graduating class and the 

school turned out fourteen graduates by 1983. In contrast, 

today’s classes typically produce between 100 and 120 

graduates, and classes are expected to grow in coming years. 

Enrollment has more than doubled to about 500 students 

since moving in 2003 to the current forty-seven-acre campus 

located in the growing west side of Bakersfield. The facility 

features highlights such as a Library/Media Center, Student 

Union, Fine Arts Center and a Sports Center, which houses 

one of the largest high school gymnasiums in Kern County. 

BCHS has a wide range of curricular offerings, which 

challenge and nurture the intellectual life of each student. 

Students take a college preparatory curriculum designed to 

meet the subject requirements of the University of California 

and California State University systems. 

Most students, however, go beyond these minimum 

entrance requirements, completing more than the required 

number of credits and taking advantage of the school’s 

Scholars Program and/or the numerous honors and 

advanced placement courses. BCHS graduates are accepted 

to highly competitive universities such as UCLA, USC, UC 

Berkeley, Cal Poly, Pepperdine, Baylor, Georgetown, Georgia 

Tech, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Yale, and the 

U.S. Air Force and Naval Academies. 

BCHS is equally committed to bringing the knowledge 

of Jesus Christ and the truth of scripture to prepare students 

to outthink their culture from a Christian worldview. It 

is out of this commitment to academic excellence, which 

honors God, that the individual character of the students 

develops, thus producing behaviors that nurture a healthy 

school culture where students can soar. 

Beyond the commitment to educate, engage, and equip 

students in the classroom, BCHS also places emphasis on its 

arts and athletic programs as well as through student life in 

the development of the whole student. 

Visual and performing arts are essential for students 

to receive a well-rounded education that covers more 

than the full spectrum of academics. All students need the 

experience of producing in the arts. BCHS offers a variety 

of courses to not only meet the graduation requirement 

credit hours but to help students learn and demonstrate 

their God-given talents in music, art and theater. 

Athletics at BCHS is a vital part of the life of the school. 

One distinction that sets athletics at BCHS apart from other 

high schools is the fact that the foundation on which teams 

are built is Jesus Christ. The athletic field is approached 

as an extension and complement to the classroom, 

thus, student athletes are challenged to be outstanding 

representatives of Christ in their work ethic, commitment 

and citizenship on and off the athletic courts and fields. 

This challenge has been met with great success including 

more than 130 titles in the South Sequoia League and 

more than forty titles in the California Interscholastic 

Federation Central Section. Both the boys’ and girls’ tennis 


168

teams combined have earned nearly fifty of these league 

and section titles and tennis continues to be one of the 

school’s most successful sports programs. 

In 2006, BCHS won the Division V State Volleyball 

Championship and the volleyball team has made frequent 

return trips to state play-offs. In 2013 the football team won 

the Division IV Southern Regional title. That game marked the 

first state play-off game played in Bakersfield for any division. 

÷ 

Far left: BCHS students show their Eagle pride as they cheer on the 

volleyball team. 

Above: Some BCHS alumni from the classes of 2008 to 2012 pose in 

sweatshirts from their respective colleges. 

Below: Lorryn Carter (class of 2018) prepares a sample to investigate the 

various types of cells and vascular tissue of a starfish during her honors 

biology dissection lab. BCHS students log approximately twenty lab hours in 

each science class. 

In accordance with the school’s philosophy of education, 

the student life program seeks to provide opportunities for 

BCHS students to mature in, and take responsibility for 

their own intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual 

growth. Therefore, all aspects of the student life program 

are designed to foster a learning community. 

In seeking to create an environment fertile for spiritual 

growth, BCHS sets aside time throughout the year for 

prayer, fellowship, worship and service. With this in mind, 

the school has established various programs to help its 

students cultivate a life of discipleship, which will in turn, 

reflect the nature of God Himself. 

Complementing the emphasis on spiritual formation is 

the development of student activities that encourage a 

relationship among the student body as well as with 

teachers and administrators by creating avenues through 

group-centered activities and competitions. BCHS is a 

fun place. In addition to the activities like homecoming, 

powder-puff, spirit weeks, prom, winter formal and other 

quintessential high school milestones, BCHS is known for 

its unique activities such as the three-day Hume Lake retreat 

and a day filled with a series of crazy contests toward 

the end of each school year known as Boondog Olympics. 

The consistent theme throughout every decision, every 

class and every relationship at BCHS is to align with the 

school’s motto of honoring God and helping students soar. 

For additional information about Bakersfield Christian 

High School, please visit www.BakersfieldChristian.com. 


169

BAKERSFIELD PATHOLOGY 

MEDICAL GROUP 

÷ 

Right: Left to right, Dr. Ellen F. Bunyi-Teopengco, Dr. Steven P. Fogel, 

Dr. Lilibeth Guinto Miranda and Dr. Steven R. Jacobs. 

Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group provides pathology 

and clinical laboratory services to doctors and their patients 

in office, surgery center, imaging service and hospital settings. 

Pathology is the branch of medicine that deals with the 

laboratory examination of body tissue samples for diagnostic 

and forensic purposes. For example, if a skin cancer is 

removed, the report will describe the type of cancer, and 

whether the cancer was completely removed or not. 

Although a patient does not have direct interaction with 

the pathologist, the information generated by a study of 

tissues and other specimens has a tremendous impact on 

patient management. 

The Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group was founded 

by Myron A. Fisher, M.D. in 1987 when he became director 

of the laboratory at Mercy Hospital. Dr. Fisher came from 

Valley Hospital in Fresno. He was soon joined by Lilibeth 

Guinto Miranda, M.D., who was already in practice in 

Bakersfield. The two doctors developed a vision of pathology 

services for the community to include surgical pathology 

and gynecologic cytology. Frank Virgil, M.D. joined the 

group shortly thereafter and Steven R. Jacobs, M.D. joined 

the group in 1989. 

In the early days, the pathology laboratory was located 

on the ground floor of the Mercy Medical Plaza building in 

a space about the size of a doctor’s office. “We jammed a 

lot of equipment into a small space but managed to process 

tissue specimens and generate reports in an efficient and 

timely manner nevertheless,” recalls Dr. Jacobs. “When cancer 

specialists began to practice in town, we went to their offices 

and gave Tumor Board conferences onsite, which allowed 

them to become accredited cancer programs.” 

In addition to the service work for Mercy Hospital, the 

group established a thriving outpatient pathology practice, 

which involved serving most of the gastroenterologists in the 

community; doctor’s offices, especially dermatologists; and 

radiology (imaging) facilities. Additionally, the group was a 

key resource in graduate medical education for physicians 

training at Kern Medical Center by holding a joint Clinical 

Pathologic conference with KMC staff. 

The special skills and qualifications in cytopathology possessed 

by Drs. Miranda and Jacobs resulted in an increase in 

the use of thin needle biopsies of internal organs such as 

lung, liver and kidney, as well as the introduction of stereotactic 

brain biopsies locally. The group also participated in 

the training and education of clinical laboratory scientists 

from the California State University, Bakersfield program. 


170

When Mercy Hospital developed its own cancer program at 

the newly constructed Florence Wheeler Cancer Center, the 

group was instrumental in providing direct support by charitable 

donations from its members. The group also participated 

in weekly Tumor Board conferences, which resulted in accreditation 

of the program by the American College of Surgeons. 

The group has provided pathology services to Mercy 

Southwest Hospital, as well as Bakersfield Memorial Hospital 

and West Side Hospital in Taft. 

Steven Fogel, M.D. joined the group in 1995 after serving 

as chief resident at USC, and Ellen F. Bunyi-Teopengco 

joined in 2001 after completing subspecialty training in 

hematopathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her 

additional training became an invaluable asset for local 

patients with cancer and blood disorders. Dr. John W. Reyes, 

who formerly served as the director of pathology of Green 

County Memorial Hospital in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 

joined the practice in 2005. Dr. Jacques Dorce joined the 

group in 2015 after serving a surgical pathology fellowship 

at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 

The group began to provide service to San Joaquin 

Community Hospital and Bakersfield Heart Hospital in 2002. 

The group was the first to provide liquid-based analysis of 

gynecologic cytology specimens in Kern County, and this 

technology was instrumental in study of HPV in patients. 

During this time, the group moved its operations to an old 

medical office building at 2828 H Street, but the group soon 

outgrew this space and a larger 6,400 square foot building 

was developed on Sillect Avenue across from Bakersfield Heart 

Hospital. The modern new facility was occupied in 2008. 

By providing outsourced pathology services to San Joaquin 

Community Hospital and Bakersfield Heart Hospital, those 

institutions do not have to operate their own pathology 

laboratories. The group is one of the few freestanding 

independent laboratories in the country that provide 

outsourced anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory 

services and is wholly owned by local doctors. 

The Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group currently 

employs twenty-nine people, including six physician 

pathologists. The group supports a number of local charitable 

activities, including American Cancer Society, Relay for 

Life, San Joaquin Community Hospital Foundation, Friends 

of Mercy Foundation, Stockdale High School Medical 

Academy and others. 

The group has grown consistently and has become the 

largest pathology organization in Kern County in terms 

of size an activity. “These are challenging times,” Dr. Jacobs 

comments. “The number of private practitioners is decreasing 

but we intend to aggressively market to doctors new to the 

area, as well as establishing and maintaining relationships 

with large HMOs such a Kaiser Permanente. Medicine is 

increasingly specialized and so is pathology. We hope to 

bring doctors with special board certification and/or training 

in gynecologic pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, and 

blood banking to Kern County.” 


171

HOFFMANN HOSPICE 

÷ 

Top, left: In December 2015, Hoffmann Hospice completed construction 

on and opened Kern County’s first and only hospice home. The 25,000 

square foot home complete with eighteen private suites and patios is designed 

to provide a homelike setting to hospice patients requiring a higher level of 

care than what can be provided in their own residence. 

Top, right: The home also includes a beautiful chapel for quiet prayer time. 

Below: Hoffmann Hospice staff helps pediatric patient Ava Weeks celebrate 

her first birthday, complete with her very own cake and balloons. 

Tom and Beth Hoffmann were busy business owners in 

1990 when a young AIDS-stricken mother turned to their 

home-health agency for help. They referred her to what was 

then Bakersfield’s only hospice agency, but she was denied. 

The Hoffmanns cared for the woman until her death in 1994. 

Deeply touched by the experience of caring for the mother 

and her two HIV-positive children, the Hoffmanns founded 

their nonprofit hospice agency the following year with a pledge 

that no hospice eligible patient would ever be turned away, 

regardless of their illness or ability to pay. 

The early years were a test of fortitude as the Hoffmanns 

labored to establish their agency in the Bakersfield healthcare 

community. They opened an office in east Bakersfield, sharing 

space with Hoffmann Homecare, the family business. 

Now the oldest and most respected hospice agency in 

Kern County, Hoffmann Hospice offers the highest quality 

end-of-life care to hundreds of terminally ill patients each 

year and recently served its 20,000th patient. The agency 

strives for continued excellence in medical, bereavement 

and spiritual care, earning its accreditation through the 

Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), the 

highest accreditation in the healthcare community. 

“Hoffmann Hospice was born out of servicing a need that 

was not being met in the community, and it comes from the 

core of Tom and Beth Hoffmann’s values and principles and 

what they wanted to provide the community,” explains 

Gretchen Daughtery, the organization’s director of marketing. 

Hospice patients are provided with physician services, 

pain and symptom control, medical equipment and medications, 

twenty-four-hour access to on-call hospice nurses, 

social services, spiritual care, home health aides, and specially 

trained volunteers. 

Patients are served by a staff of over 130 including doctors, 

nurses, licensed social workers, spiritual counselors, home 

health aides, administrative staff, and more than a hundred 

volunteers. The volunteers provide such direct patient 

needs as respite care, which allows caregivers time for 

their personal needs. Volunteers may also read to a patient 

or simply help them talk about their lives. “One patient 

loved to watch old westerns on television and one of our 

volunteers spent hours watching the shows with him,” Beth 

says. Other volunteers help with the behind-the-scenes 

office work such as filing and answering the phone. 

Feeling it is important to capture every moment, patients 

are encouraged to compile a ‘bucket list’ of things they would 

like to do in the time remaining to them. This list might 

include such wishes as watching a grandchild graduate or 

something as simple as sitting on the patio in the sun. 


172

Patients are helped to celebrate such milestone events as an 

anniversary, birthday or other special occasion. 

Hoffmann Hospice also focuses on the special needs of 

veterans and is committed to enhancing its programs for 

veterans. Its ‘We Honor Veterans’ program has earned the 

highest level of certification from the National Hospice and 

Palliative Care Organization. 

Other services include private transportation, pet therapy 

that includes regular visits from the affectionate and 

well-trained ‘Hoffmann Hounds’, a soothing massage from 

a licensed massage therapist or home health aide and, 

most recently, a specialized ‘Starlight’ pediatric program 

that addresses the needs of critically ill children. 

One of Hoffmann Hospice’s long time volunteers, Claude 

Greenhaw, ended up enrolling for hospice services himself. 

The agency organized a Celebration of Life for Claude while 

he was still living and invited all his friends and family, as 

well as the hospice staff. “It was one of the most special 

moments we have shared as an agency,” says Beth. “It was 

like a memorial service, but before his passing.” 

Some hospice patients are referred by physicians when 

there is a terminal diagnosis, whether it is the patient’s 

primary care physician or a physician caring for them in the 

hospital. Others are referred by family or friends. 

“In hospice care, we take care of the patient and family 

at the same time,” explains Daughtery. “We also have a 

bereavement program that helps families cope with the 

death of their loved ones, including the only program in 

Kern County that serves the families of pediatric patients.” 

The programs provide support for up to thirteen months, 

or eighteen months for families of pediatric patients. 

The Hoffmanns and their staff and volunteers continually 

seek new ways of serving Kern County. For many years, their 

vision for the future included a free-standing hospice home 

where patients would have a warm and comforting place in 

which to spend their final days. This vision became reality 

in 2014 when ground was broken for a 25,000 square foot, 

eighteen bed facility in the Seven Oaks Business Park. The 

new facility opened in December 2015. 

After more than twenty years of service, Hoffmann 

Hospice remains committed to its mission of celebrating the 

sanctity of life, providing compassionate end-of-life care 

and comforting the grieving. 

For additional information about Hoffmann Hospice, see 

their website at hoffmannhospice.org. 

÷ 

Above: Hoffmann Hospice Spiritual Counselor and Veteran Wayne Meade 

proudly salutes 104 year old patient and WWII U.S. Navy Veteran 

William A. Kehoe. Hoffmann Hospice collaborates with the U.S. Department 

of Veterans Affairs to serve the unique needs of our Veterans and their 

families and help them celebrate their finest military hours. 

Left: Hoffmann Hospice nurse accompanies patient Gilberto Hinojosa and his 

wife Rosa as they fulfill a bucket list wish to see their daughter graduate from 

Bakersfield High School. 

Below: Longtime Hoffmann volunteer Claude Greenhaw shares a hug with 

Co-Founder Beth Hoffmann during his Celebration of Life. Claude passed 

away while under the care of Hoffmann Hospice. 


173

BAKERSFIELD FAMILY 

MEDICAL CENTER 

HERITAGE 

PHYSICIAN NETWORK 

an Affiliated Medical Group of 

HERITAGE 

PROVIDER NETWORK 

In today’s increasingly complex medical care system, 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center/Heritage Physician Network 

has pioneered the future of medicine. 

Recognized regionally and nationally as an innovator of 

health delivery systems, Bakersfield Family Medical Center/ 

Heritage Physician Network sets a standard for excellence in 

healthcare for its patients in settings that promote wellness 

and preventive medicine. 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center was founded in 1984, 

but the Heritage Provider Network actually began in 1979 

when Dr. Richard Merkin was asked by a local health 

plan to start a medical group in an underserved area. The 

group succeeded far beyond expectations as Heritage’s 

comprehensive approach to care management proved to 

be exactly what was needed to provide top quality, cost 

effective healthcare for its membership. 

The success of the innovative medical group caught 

the attention of other health plans who requested that 

Heritage duplicate its success at other locations, including 

Kern County. Bakersfield Family Medical Center/Heritage 

Physician Network was the fourth medical group started 

under the umbrella of the Heritage Provider Network. 

BFMC has designed and implemented programs that 

provide members with the highest quality healthcare 

available anywhere. Dr. Merkin was the first to introduce 

such programs as Physician Hospitalists (physicians 

assigned to members while inpatient), Priority Care 

(high intensity case management for high-risk patients), 

and Choices (an end-of-life program). BFMC has brought 

more than 150 physicians and providers to the community 

and is currently contracted with over 225 primary care 

physicians and specialists in Kern County alone. 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center was originally located 

at 515 Truxtun Avenue, but by 1986, Dr. Merkin realized 

the office did not provide the adequate space needed 

to accommodate patients and the facility was moved to 

4580 California Avenue. At the time, BFMC had fewer than 

thirty employees. 

Dr. Merkin opened the first Urgent Care Center in Kern 

County within a couple of years after moving into the 

4580 California Avenue location. As the managed care 

membership and the demand for medical care continued 

in Kern County, Dr. Merkin opened the current location at 

4570 California Avenue to accommodate the growing needs. 

In 1992, BFMC expanded into Tehachapi by opening 

Oak Tree Medical Group at 432 South Mill Street. In 2004 

the BFMC Northwest location was opened at 3400 Calloway 

Drive. BFMC expanded in 2006 into San Luis Obispo and 

Tulare through its sister company, Coastal Communities 

Physician Network (CCPN). The BFMC Northeast facility 

was opened at 5601 Auburn Street in 2007. 

Heritage Physician Network is an Independent Physician 

Association (IPA) with locations throughout Kern County. 

These IPA physicians are contracted with BFMC to provide 

medical care to BFMC members, although they maintain 

their own offices. Members who select Heritage Physician 


174

Network physicians will see their doctors in their 

conveniently located private offices. All members of 

BFMC/HPN may access the full range of services, programs 

and specialists offered by Bakersfield Family Medical 

Center. Bakersfield Family Medical Center/Heritage 

Physician Network began with approximately thirty 

employees, including six physicians. Today, there are 

more than 350 employees serving over 70,000 lives in Kern, 

SLO and Tulare Counties. 

BFMC/HPN is contracted with more than 75 primary 

care providers and 150 specialists. CCPN-SLO is contracted 

with over 70 primary care providers and 275 specialists, 

and CCPN-Tulare is contracted with more than 30 primary 

care providers and 30 specialists. 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center/Heritage Physician 

Network takes great pride in the Kern County community 

and is involved with a number of charities, including the 

American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and 

the American Red Cross. BFMC/HPN is a platinum sponsor 

of Kern County Christmas for Seniors, a program that 

provides gifts and hygiene items during the holiday season 

to low-income and/or isolated seniors in the community. 

For more information about the Bakersfield Family 

Medical Center/Heritage Physician Network, visit the website 

at www.bfmc.com. 


175

KERN COMMUNITY 

COLLEGE DISTRICT 

÷ 

Right: Grace Van Dyke Bird (center front row) with faculty. This dynamo of a 

woman led Bakersfield College through remarkable development until 1950 

and helped to see that a new campus would be built. 

Bottom, right: Bakersfield College won the Junior Rose Bowl Championship 

and became the 1976 National Community College Football Champion. 

Below: This historic official Record of Junior College Students contained 

record cards for all students of what would eventually become Bakersfield 

College. This card shows the record of the second year for the college’s first 

graduate, Josephine Chase. The card notes that she transferred to Berkeley. 

Kern County Community College District (KCCD) serves 

40,000 students each year from a district that spans nearly 

25,000 miles, geographically one of the largest community 

college districts in the nation. 

The community colleges in the district offer courses for 

associate’s degrees, certificates, and for transfer to four-year 

colleges and universities. In addition, the colleges provide 

workforce skills training, and they partner with businesses 

and governmental entities to advance economic development. 

The roots of the Kern Community College District were 

firmly planted in 1913 with the creation of Bakersfield 

College. Originally called Bakersfield Junior College, the 

institution served fifteen students in an experimental program 

for those wanting to complete requirements for the 

University of California. The program was conducted on the 

campus of Kern County High School, later renamed 

Bakersfield High School. 

As Kern County and the number of students grew, 

Bakersfield College became large enough to command 

a campus of its own. Constructed and dedicated in 

1956, the Bakersfield College campus is located on 

Panorama Drive. 

Community growth also spawned change in secondary 

and post-secondary governance. The Board of Trustees 

jointly administering Bakersfield College and the community’s 

high schools divided into separate boards for each level 

of education. The year 1968 saw the establishment of the 

Kern Community College District. Eventually, two other 

colleges joined the district—Porterville College, founded 

in 1927, and Cerro Coso Community College, opened in 

1973 to serve residents of Ridgecrest and other areas of 

eastern Kern County. 

Grace Van Dyke Bird, perhaps the first woman to lead a 

public community college in California, served Bakersfield 

College for twenty-three years. She joined Bakersfield Junior 

College as a teacher in 1927 and was appointed dean of the 

college five years later. The title of dean evolved into college 

president. Bird was awarded the posthumous title of 

President Emeritus, granted by the Kern County Community 

College District Board of Trustees in 1976. Bakersfield 

College’s Grace Van Dyke Bird Library is named in her honor. 

The district’s colleges host centers and outreach sites 

offering classes in Delano, downtown Bakersfield, 


176

Tehachapi, the Mammoth and Bishop areas, Edwards 

Air Force Base and the Kern River Valley. These centers 

provide convenient, localized instruction for thousands of 

residents. Kern Community College District’s commitment 

to distance learning and other technological advances creates 

increased opportunities for education through online 

instruction to individuals across the district’s service area 

and beyond. Additionally, the district’s partnerships with 

area high schools provide dual enrollment opportunities 

where high school students complete college courses on 

their high school campuses while simultaneously working 

toward their high school diploma. 

Fee-based community education provided by Kern 

Community College District delivers a broad spectrum 

of short-term, not-for-credit courses designed to teach 

a skill, grow a hobby, or fulfill a desire for learning. 

Community education courses afford local residents 

of Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College 

and Porterville College service areas the opportunity to 

make friends and learn something new in a welcoming 

environment. Courses run the gamut from wine tasting to 

watercolor painting, from community choir to computer 

essentials and everything in between. 

The student headcount in the KCCD colleges for 2014-15 

was 28,910. In addition, 81,089 enrollments were logged 

in various training and community education programs. 

In the 2014-15 academic year, 1,063 students transferred 

to four-year colleges and universities, 1,854 earned associate 

degrees, 555 received achievement certificates, and 716 

were presented with job skills certificates. 

Kern Community College District operates with an 

annual budget of $188.5 million and is governed by a sevenmember 

Board of Trustees elected by constituents in five 

counties, including Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Mono and San 

Bernardino. The chancellor of KCCD is Sandra V. Serrano, J.D., 

and current board members 

include Dennis Beebe, Kay 

Meek, Mark Storch, Romeo 

Agbalog, Kyle Carter, John 

Corkins and Richard Wright, 

Ed.D. Colleges in the district 

employ over 1,400 people, 

including more than 380 

full-time faculty members. 

The Kern Community 

College District Board of 

Trustees adopted a 2015-2018 five-point strategic plan to 

guide the district’s colleges in the future. Goal one is to maximize 

student success by increased completion, improved 

milestone achievements and increased student engagement. 

Goal two is to close achievement gaps. Goal three calls for 

ensuring student access by optimizing student enrollment 

and becoming a higher education option of first choice. 

Strategic goal number four calls for enhancing community 

connections by providing workforce and economic development 

programs that respond to local industry and reflect the 

communities served by the district. Goal number five is to 

strengthen organizational effectiveness by providing effective 

professional development, meeting and exceeding internal 

and external standards and requirements, increasing trust 

and creating a collaborative culture, and improving facilities 

and maintenance. 

The Kern Community College District remains committed 

to its vision of being recognized as an exemplary educational 

leader, partnering with communities to develop potential and 

create opportunities. The colleges in the district believe that 

successful students will strengthen their communities and, 

along with faculty and staff, become life-long learners. 

For additional information about Kern Community 

College District, check its website at www.kccd.edu. 

÷ 

Left: Sandra V. Serrano is the first female and first Hispanic to become 

Chancellor of Kern Community College District. She is a former Bakersfield 

College President. 

Below: This is the Renegade Knight mosaic pylon. It was designed and 

constructed by art professor Clayton Rippey and became the official depiction 

of the Bakersfield College Renegade Knight. It is located at Haley and 

Panorama on the Northwest corner of campus. 


177

CENTER FOR THE BLIND 

AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED 

÷ 

Above: Chief Executive Officer Justin L. Cave, MPA.. 

For more than sixty-five years, the Center for the Blind 

and Visually Impaired (CBVI) has enhanced the lives of 

the blind and visually impaired citizens of Kern County. As 

the only public benefit blindness facility within 110 miles 

of Kern County, CBVI provides education, advocacy, peer 

counseling, assistive technology education, independent 

living skills education and other services for the blind and 

visually impaired. 

CBVI, then known as Kern County Braille Center, began 

in 1950 at the St. Mark’s Methodist Church. CBVI was 

founded as a volunteer-run organization to provide a 

place where blind and visually impaired individuals could 

enjoy fellowship and participate in educational and craft 

programs. The organization’s first permanent facility at 

1124 Baker Street was opened in 1982. Services were 

provided at this location for nearly thirty years. 

CBVI moved to its current location at 1721 Westwind 

Drive in 2010. At that time, the organization was about 

to close because of a lack of funding, but Justin L. Cave, 

MPA stepped in and took over the management so that the 

center stayed open and continued to serve the community. 

Cave, who now serves as CEO, is focused on providing 

services to help clients regain independence and enjoy a 

better quality of life. CBVI also partnered with the 

Advanced Center for Eyecare in the same year to strengthen 

the partnership and build up its capacity for serving 

the community. 

In 2015, CBVI provided top-notch services for its 

clients that included adjustment to vision loss training, 

independent living skills training, orientation and mobility 

training, Braille, job coaching and many other services. 

Five hundred seventy-one Kern County residents, many of 

whom have been employed or are enrolled in educational 

institutions, continue to live independently and have learned 

to manage their daily lives and gain independence because 

of CBVI’s training and services. 

Over the years, CBVI has hosted a variety of fundraising 

events, including Abalone Adventure, Monster March, 

Pancake Breakfasts, and a Holiday Bazaar. CBVI’s current 

fundraisers are Appetite for Sight and Tainted Love Concert 

that are well attended and exclusive fund raising events 

in Kern County. CBVI’s educational campaigns continue 

to raise awareness of the blind and visually impaired, eye 

disease, and its management in all of Kern County. 

The Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is passionate 

about its commitment to raise the independence 

and quality of life for the blind and visually impaired and 

looks forward to expanding its much needed services in 

satellite service areas and classrooms in the rural areas of 

Kern County. 


178

Imagine waking up and finding that even though you 

open your eyes, you cannot see the wonderful world around 

you. Imagine what this would do to your ability to care 

for yourself or your loved ones. This is a scenario that may 

be easily avoided with the proper preventative eyecare. 

However, if you are one out of every five Kern County 

residents who live below the poverty line, eyecare is most 

likely an impossibility. 

Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE) was founded in 2010 

by Daniel H. Chang, M.D. and Joseph H. Chang, M.D. as a 

way to provide high quality eyecare to the uninsured and 

underinsured residents of Kern County. In 2011, the ACE 

Board of Directors hired Justin L. Cave, who has a graduate 

degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, 

as the executive director who became the catalyst for the 

efforts that have driven the organization’s growth from a zero 

operating budget to the abundance of eyecare services and 

benefits for Kern’s underserved individuals today. 

One year later, ACE implemented its Kern 20/20 Vision 

Project, where they were able to open their first location and 

started seeing patients 5 days a week. The Kern 20/20 Vision 

Project continues to provide high quality eyecare services to 

the underprivileged today. 

In 2012, ACE Chief Executive Officer Justin L. Cave, MPA 

and Board Member Vin T. Dang, O.D. formed a relationship 

with OneSight, a nonprofit organization dedicated to 

improving vision for those in need through outreach, 

research and education. OneSight’s outreach programs 

include the delivery of vision care and eyewear to those 

most vulnerable and in need. 

Statistics from 2015 confirm the tremendous impact ACE 

has had on the community. During the year, ACE performed 

9,697 direct patient encounters and provided 1,777 school 

aged children with free eye screenings and free eye glasses 

through a partnership with OneSight. 

One of ACE’s annual fundraising events, Appetite for 

Sight, which began in the fall of 2011, has become one of 

Bakersfield’s most premier events. ACE’s spring fundraiser, 

Tainted Love Concert, began in the spring of 2015 and is 

also very well attended. ACE also receives generous private 

contributions notably from the Don C. and Diane Lake 

Family, Marjorie Nixon, Donald E. and Earlene Barnes and 

corporate contributions from Dignity Health, Chevron, 

Kaiser Permanente and Mercedes-Benz of Bakersfield. 

The team at ACE treats each patient with uncompromising, 

top quality medical and surgical eyecare. Thanks to the 

generosity of this community, ACE is able to continue its 

mission of serving all residents of Kern County, by building 

an optical dispensary for eye glasses as well as establishing 

satellite school based optometry clinics, beginning in 2016 

with three schools in the Greater Bakersfield area. 

ADVANCED CENTER FOR 

EYECARE (ACE) 


179

BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE 

For a community as steeped in pride and heritage as 

Bakersfield, there may be no city institution more intensely 

connected with those decades of tradition as Kern County’s 

educational crown jewel: Bakersfield College. 

Perched on 153 acres atop the scenic 

Panorama Bluffs overlooking the Kern 

River in northeast Bakersfield, BC boasts 

a student body of more than 18,000 

students, earning two-year associate’s 

degrees in over 140 different career 

disciplines and training programs. In 

addition to the Panorama campus, BC 

Renegades also receive instruction at two 

BC satellite sites: Weill Institute in 

downtown Bakersfield, and the Delano 

Campus in Delano, thirty-five miles north 

of Bakersfield. 

Bakersfield College’s roots in Kern 

County stretch back nearly as far as the 

city’s own origin. In 1913, shortly after 

Bakersfield’s own incorporation, the need 

for higher education options led the 

forward-thinking Kern Union High School 

Board of Trustees to open Bakersfield 

Junior College. 

Sharing a campus with the previously 

established Bakersfield High School and 

sporting an inaugural class of thirteen 

students, the decision to open BC not 

only created Kern County’s first advanced 

learning opportunity, but the college 

was an immediate trailblazer among the 

pioneering first wave of California’s 

community college explosion during 

the 1910s. 

By the 1950s, Kern County’s hunger for education swelled 

the booming junior college’s student body over 1,400, 

requiring major action be taken to accommodate the 

continued growth. Economic depression and World War II 

stalled previous efforts to move the campus, but strangely 

enough, it was the deadly Kern County earthquake on 

July 21, 1952 that ultimately led to BC’s final relocation. 

In the wake of the 7.3-magnitude quake, voters approved 

a $17 million bond for earthquake reconstruction, which also 

included funds for a new Bakersfield College campus. 

Construction began at the Panorama Bluffs site in 1955; and 

the following year, students eager to receive degrees from the 

new “college on the hill” returned from 1956 spring break 

to take their final courses in Bakersfield College’s glorious 

new facilities. 

More than 100 years after first opening its doors, Bakersfield 

College remains one of the nation’s oldest continuallyoperating—and 

most respected—community colleges. BC’s rich 

history has cemented the college’s place in the fabric of Kern 

County, contributing to generation after generation of county 

residents receiving degrees and furthering their professional 

opportunities as Bakersfield College graduates. 

Under the direction of current Bakersfield College President 

Sonya Christian, BC has reaffirmed its commitment to not 

only providing a premium educational experience to its 

large and diverse student body, but focusing heavily on 

addressing the educational needs of Kern County’s most 

under-represented population segments. 

With over sixty percent of Bakersfield College’s student 

body of Hispanic or Latino descent and more than half firstgeneration 

college students, BC’s highly skilled team of 

administrators, counselors, faculty and staffers have extensive 

experience addressing the specific educational issues faced by 

nontraditional students and crafting individual plans for 

seeing each student achieve their academic goals. 


180

Just as it did 100 years ago, Bakersfield College’s low costhigh 

return approach to improving its community through 

education continues to be recognized today. In 2015 the 

college was ranked first in California and sixth nationally 

among other two-year institutions in the mid-career earnings 

of its alumni, according to a study conducted by the 

prestigious nonprofit Brookings Institute. Bottom line—no 

community college in the state did more to improve the 

economic value of each graduate’s career throughout his or 

her lifetime than Bakersfield College. 

Heading boldly into its second century, BC continues to 

explore new methods in offering comprehensive education 

and career training opportunities to Kern County residents, 

in areas like expanded online courses as well as more 

dual enrollment opportunities allowing area high school 

students to receive college-level credit for high schoolbased 

coursework. 

As part of a state pilot program, Bakersfield College 

became one of the first California community colleges offering 

a full four-year degree program in 2015, allowing students 

in Science in Industrial Automation the chance to complete 

their Baccalaureate studies at BC. 

Bakersfield College remains Kern County’s shining “college 

on the hill,” both a fully realized manifestation of the region’s 

thirst for top-flight academic opportunity and a fully 

attainable example of the brighter future available to any 

Kern County resident with the drive and determination to 

achieve it. 


181

KERN COUNTY FAIR 

÷ 

Below: “KC The Bull”. 

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LORRIE ROBERTS. 

The Kern County Fair was officially born on August 5, 

1916. Although there is record of county fairs dating 

back to 1892, the Kern County Agricultural Association is 

the only one that has lasted. Unlike other County Fairs, the 

Kern County Fair is actually a part of the 15th District 

Agricultural Association that is governed by an official 

board. These board members are each appointed by 

the governor. 

If you attended the Kern County Fair in 1892, you had 

a much different view compared to our present day fair. 

Not only would the grounds be full of tents rather than 

buildings, you would be at a completely different location 

than where the Kern County Fair currently stands. 

Originally, the Kern County Fair was located on 106 acres 

off of Chester Avenue, two block north of Thirty-Fourth 

Street and just south of the Kern River Bridge. This is 

where the Kern County Museum, the Clock Tower, and 

Sam Lynn Ball Park now reside. 

Twenty thousand county school children accompanied 

by a total of 65,000 patrons passed through the gates 

during the six-day fair in October 1925. Throughout these 

six days, the public enjoyed activities like parachute 

jumps, aerialists, balloon ascension, motorcycle races, and 

a fifteen-mile sweepstakes horse race. Howard K. Dickson, 

also known as “Mr. Kern County Fair,” also spearheaded an 

effort to organize the first youth livestock auction at this fair. 

On September 24, 1930, the Sixth Annual Kern County 

Fair opened their gates to 14 community exhibits, 112 Kern 

County school exhibits, and 100 individual commercial 

exhibit buildings. However, during the depression in the 

1930s, the fair closed their gates for two years. It was 

then moved from the North Chester location to the current 

location in 1952. The first fair at the current location was 

only a five-day event. Nevertheless, throughout the years, 

the Kern County Fair continued to extend their event until 

they reached their current twelve-day stint starting in 1983. 

Today, the Kern County Fair consists of 168 acres, 

five large exhibit buildings, auction barn, livestock show 

rings, grandstand, horse arenas, outdoor theater, several 

community stages, and a large, well-groomed outdoor area 

where they host over 400,000 people throughout the 

twelve-day event. People can still enjoy many of the same 

exhibitions, sales of food, livestock, and entertainment, 

just in a larger, more updated scale. The grounds stay 

maintained throughout the year with blooming flowers 

and various foliage to host over 120 private interim events 

with an estimated attendance over 700,000. 


182


183

KERN COUNTY 

SUPERINTENDENT 

OF SCHOOLS 

÷ 

Below: Student leaders from Kern’s AVID program. 

Opposite, top: Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Lizardi 

Frazier (2009–present) visits a Ready to Start preschool classroom. 

Opposite, bottom: Fish Derby for Richardson Center students. 

As advocates for children, the Kern County Superintendent 

of Schools provides leadership, education and support for 

students, school districts, and the community through 

programs, services and fiscal accountability. 

California’s public education system consists of three 

levels—state, district, and county. Regulations, funding and 

fundamental policies are established at the state level, while 

the day-to-day education of students is the responsibility of 

individual school districts. County offices of education 

are the third level and provide an important support system 

for local schools and districts. Kern County Superintendent 

of Schools (KCSOS), Kern County’s office of education, 

does not oversee or govern any one Kern County district, 

but rather serves and supports them all. 

Specifically, KCSOS audits and approves district budgets, 

helps formulate new curricula, and assists with staff development 

and training programs in addition to a variety 

of other services. KCSOS also has the responsibility of 

monitoring districts for adequate textbooks, facilities and 

teacher qualifications. 

KCSOS provides support to Kern County’s forty-seven 

local school districts in addition to serving students 

that other districts cannot serve, including students in State 

preschool, Alternative Education, and Special Education. 

Among its many other responsibilities, KCSOS transports 

students throughout the county and services vehicles for 

other districts. The Superintendent of Schools also operates 

KETN, Kern’s educational television station. 

KCSOS operates the California Living Museum, Kern 

County’s native zoo and wildlife rehabilitation center, and 

Camp KEEP, which provides hands-on learning in natural 

environments for students of all ages. 

The history of KCSOS dates from the very early days of 

Bakersfield. When Colonel Thomas Baker and his family 

moved to what would later become known as Bakersfield in 

1863, there were only five houses within a mile of the city’s 

present day downtown. Soon after arriving at her new 

home, Baker’s wife, Ellen, started a school in her home and 

education in Kern County was born. KCSOS was formally 

established on April 2, 1866, with the purpose of adopting 

textbooks and establishing rules and regulations governing 

the conduct of schools. 

Kern County’s first Superintendent of Schools was 

Joseph R. Riley, a twenty-seven-year-old physician who 

served only three months before moving on to a long and 

successful medical career in Bakersfield. One of the most 

influential early superintendents was Lewis A. Beardsley, a 

former principal and teacher at Bakersfield School, who was 

elected to the post in 1874. Enrollment in county schools 


184

grew under his leadership and a bond issue was approved 

to fund a new $5,500 schoolhouse. Sixty-five of seventy-six 

eligible voters approved of the bond issue. 

Perhaps the individual who had the most impact on 

education in the county’s early days was Alfred Harrell, 

publisher of the Bakersfield Californian. Harrell was elected 

Secretary of the Board of the Kern County Superintendent of 

Schools in 1886. During his tenure, he developed a modern 

course of study, lengthened the school year, and started 

personal visits to schools throughout the county. He was 

elected to three additional terms before retiring in 1898. 

By 1896 there were fifty-six school districts in Kern 

County, serving 2,644 students. By 1918, due to the oil 

boom, there were 108 school districts. Currently, there are 

forty-seven school districts serving almost 180,000 students. 

Today, Kern High School District is California’s largest high 

school district, serving some 37,000 students. Bakersfield 

City School district is California’s largest elementary school 

district, serving 30,000 students. Blake is one of California’s 

smallest school districts, serving only eight students. 

In more recent years, Kelly Blanton, who served as superintendent 

from 1986 to 1999, created statewide subsidiaries 

to serve hundreds of school districts throughout California 

today. For example, Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC) 

provides insurance services to districts, and the Fiscal 

Crisis Management Team (FCMAT) helps California’s local 

educational agencies fulfill their financial and management 

responsibilities by providing fiscal advice, management 

services, and training. 

Larry Reider, superintendent from 1999 to 2009, helped 

create the Target Reading First Collaborative, Kern County’s 

first comprehensive approach to addressing illiteracy rates. 

He also helped organize the Ready to Start program, a public/private 

partnership that prepares children with little or 

no pre-school experience to be ready for kindergarten. 

Current Superintendent Christine Lizzardi Frazier, 

who began in 2009, is the first elected female County 

Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Frazier has reorganized 

Kern County’s Office of Education to meet the districts 

future needs and support the development and oversight 

of Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) at each 

district to honor local stakeholder input and prioritize 

funding for targeted services. She has also created a countywide 

effort to approach a renewed focus on Career 

Technical Education strategically so the school districts 

can create meaningful partnerships with local industry to 

help student get real jobs in the community. 

Ever since state lawmakers created the office of County 

Superintendent of Schools nearly 165 years ago, the primary 

mission of the County Superintendent has been to tailor 

local solutions that best meet the needs of the students. 

This approach will continue to govern KCSOS as it meets 

the challenges of the future. 


185

BAKERSFIELD 

ADULT SCHOOL 

Adults who are ready to open the door to their future 

turn to Bakersfield Adult School (BAS), where they learn 

English, study the history and culture of the United States, 

strengthen their employability skills, or complete their high 

school diploma. To help students thrive in the new digital age, 

BAS also provides innovative technology to insure students 

achieve digital literacy. Adult students return to school 

because they know education is the key to their success. 

BAS began operation in the basement of Kern Union High 

School in 1917. Bakersfield Adult School celebrates its 

centennial anniversary in the 2016-2017 school year. Since 

then, more than 500,000 adult students have earned a 

bright future through classes at BAS, which is part of the 

Kern High School District. 

BAS moved its main campus to its current site on South 

Mount Vernon Street in 1985. The forty-nine-acre main 

campus is adjacent to the Regional Occupational Center, 

Adult Based Life Experience (ABLE), and Tierra Del Sol 

Continuation High School. A satellite campus is located on 

‘F’ Street, and adult education classes are also held at the 

Lerdo Correctional Facility, BARC, and throughout local 

school sites. In the fall of 2016, the school will open a 

Culinary Arts program and a working café in conjunction 

with Americans Job Center. In January 2017 a ‘One Stop Job 

Spot’ will open in South Bakersfield to help train and serve 

adult learners in that rapidly growing area. 

BAS has been blessed with strong leadership throughout 

its existence. Wallace Webster was named the first principal 

of Bakersfield Adult School in 1957. Webster was followed by 

Daniel Soelberg in 1982 through 1984. In 1984, Clint Osthimer 

became principal and oversaw the construction and move of 

the main campus to its current home on South Mount Vernon 

Street and Highway 58. Dr. Dennis Scott took the reins at BAS 

in 1994. At that time, the campus was serving more than 20,000 

adult students per year, making it one of the largest adult 

schools in California. Karen Christiansen became principal in 

the fall of 1996 and served until the spring of 1998. Boyce 

Caffee became principal in 1998 and grew enrollment to its 

all-time high of nearly 28,000 students. Susan Handy became 

principal in 2002 and developed the award-winning Health 

Careers program that is currently located on ‘F’ Street in 

downtown Bakersfield. Mark Wyatt was appointed principal in 

2010. The Adult School took a new direction under Wyatt, 

focusing on innovation, on-line learning and Career Technical 

Education for rapidly changing local job and industry sectors. 

The school has become a leader in tablet technology, not only 

within its own district, but throughout the state. 

The school currently serves approximately 12,000 students 

each year in and around greater Bakersfield. BAS currently 

grants about 300 high school diplomas each year, along with 

an additional 250 GEDs and certificates for approximately 

150 medical career students, including vocational nurses. 

During the economic downturn and recession of 

2006-2008, adult school funding was cut drastically and 

many adult schools were forced to close or cut programs. 

The Kern High School District maintained funding and 

showed incredible foresight in riding out the storm until 

the economic turnaround of 2014. Enrollment held steady 

from 2010 through 2016. 

BAS is part of Kern High School District (KHSD), the 

nation’s largest 9 to 12 high school district, serving more than 


186

35,000 students with 4,000 employees. KHSD campuses 

comprise nearly 3,500 square miles, about forty-three percent 

of the total area of Kern County. 

Founded in 1893, KHSD includes 18 comprehensive 

campuses, 5 alternative education campuses, 2 career 

technical education sites, 4 special education centers, and 

2 adult education center. 

Through its students, faculty and staff, BAS is involved 

with a number of community organizations, including Kern 

Adult Literacy, Kern Economic Development, Kern County 

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Chamber of 

Commerce, Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, and 

Kern AEBG Consortium, 

The future looks bright for adult education in Bakersfield. 

Bakersfield Adult School has evolved into an efficient 

educational institution with the ability to focus on the needs 

of the community and the adult learners it serves. The 

school is prepared to give its twenty-first century students 

the very latest in technology and job readiness. BAS has built 

stronger relationships with its local business partners and 

higher education institutions in order to focus on transitioning 

students to work and educational opportunities. Bakersfield 

Adult School remains a critical factor in the economic 

development within the Southern San Joaquin Valley. 

To learn more about Bakersfield Adult School, check the 

website BAS@kenhigh.org or on Twitter @BAS4yourfuture. 


187

CLINICA SIERRA VISTA 

÷ 

Right: Migrant and seasonal workers at work in the fields. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCK PHOTO. 

Below: Dr. Anuradha Rao with one of her many patients. 

Clinica Sierra Vista (originally called the Kern Liberation 

Movement, then Clinica de los Campesinos), was established 

in 1971 to provide healthcare services to poor migrant and 

seasonal farmworkers who harvest the lush agricultural fields 

in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Clinica’s service area 

now encompasses several thousand square miles of rural 

farmland, urban centers, desert, and mountains in Kern, 

Fresno and Inyo Counties. Clinica serves a geographically 

dispersed, low-moderate-fixed income, ethnically diverse, 

frontier-rural-urban-migrant-homeless patient population. 

The service area is challenged by a host of unfavorable 

socio-economic conditions—poverty, high unemployment, 

increased high school dropout rates, low literacy rates, high 

teen pregnancy rates, high crime rates, lack of access to fresh 

quality foods, and serious environmental conditions. Among 

Clinica’s patient population, nearly 70 percent live below 

the federal poverty level; 90 percent live below 200 percent 

of the federal poverty level. The poor health indicators facing 

our communities include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, 

dental caries, tobacco and substance abuse, as well as many 

other conditions. The service area also suffers from a persistent 

shortage of primary care physicians, in comparison to 

other parts of California and the nation. Clinica’s core mission 

is to provide healthcare access to the most medically 

vulnerable people and improve the quality of life for 

low-income, underserved community residents of all ages. 

Clinica Sierra Vista is a federally-qualified health center 

(FQHC), providing primary care, health education and 

prevention services, perinatal care, social services, case management, 

WIC, and enrollment assistance to underserved 

populations and other marginalized and isolated groups. The 

organization provides its patients with high-quality services 

at the most efficient cost, regardless of a person’s ability 

to pay. In addition to primary medical services, Clinica 

provides comprehensive dental and behavioral healthcare 

services. Additionally, the organization operates two fortyfoot 

mobile units that are capable of providing both medical 

and dental services in a variety of locations. Clinica has been 

accredited by The Joint Commission, the standard-bearer 

of quality for healthcare facilities, since 1998. As of 2016, 

Clinica Sierra Vista provides its services in over seventy 

different sites throughout its service area. 

The organization has grown substantially since its inception—from 

one storefront clinic in Weedpatch, California, to 

one of the largest comprehensive community/migrant health 

center systems in the nation. Over the course of its history, 

Clinica has responded to emerging health needs by 

establishing services in impoverished and often isolated 

communities. As an example, one of the health centers, the 

McFarland Community Health Center, was established in 

direct response to a childhood cancer cluster that was 

identified in the 1980s. Clinica has been responsible for 

bringing much-needed healthcare services to communities 

that previously had no access to care, including Frazier Park/ 

Lebec, Arvin, Delano, Lake Isabella, Wofford Heights, and 

Shoshone. In 2008, Clinica absorbed a failing community 


188

÷ 

Left: Ribbon cutting at the Baker Street Village Community Health Center. 

Bottom, left: Adan Romero Lopez and Arlenis Barroso Perez, 

resident physicians. 

Below: The Elm Community Health Center. 

Bottom: The East Niles Community Health Center & Dental Center. 

health center (Sequoia Community Health Foundation) 

located in Fresno. Had Clinica not stepped up, more than 

40,000 low-income children and adults would have lost 

access to their medical and dental homes in the greater 

Fresno area. 

In addition to providing direct patient care services, 

Clinica Sierra Vista began the Rio Bravo Family Medicine 

Residency Program in 2014, in order to participate in the 

training of new physicians to help meet the great need in 

the Valley for primary care providers. This “Teaching Health 

Center,” accredited by the ACGME, is affiliated with the 

UCLA School of Medicine. 

Clinica Sierra Vista is a nonprofit organization, governed 

by a community, patient-based board of directors. The 

organization is consistently recognized locally and nationally 

as a model of excellence. Among its accolades, Clinica 

received the nation’s Migrant Health Center of the Year 

award in 2010. 

Clinica Sierra Vista has always embodied the characteristics 

of a medical home, providing accessible, continuous, 

coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, compassionate, 

and culturally-appropriate services to its special patient 

populations. Clinica’s staff members are from the communities 

it serves, and we are deeply rooted in our mission that 

no one is denied services based on who they are, where 

they live, or what they earn. Our high-performing team of 

professionals has built a sustainable system of care, serving 

as an anchor organization and a catalyst for making overall 

changes to the improving quality of life of both our patients 

and the greater community, becoming a bridge of opportunity 

and hope. Wherever our patients are, we speak your 

language, honor your traditions, value your experiences, 

and want you to be well. 


189

HISTORIC UNION CEMETERY 

The oldest cemetery in Bakersfield, Historic Union 

Cemetery, was established in 1872 with the burial of Colonel 

Thomas Baker, the founder of Bakersfield. Colonel Baker 

moved to Kern County in the middle of the nineteenth 

century and ultimately settled in what was then known 

as Kern Island. A prosperous lawyer, politician, and 

businessman, Baker hand-selected the parcel of land as 

the place he wanted to “Lay (his) bones.” 

Baker’s grave in 1872 marked the beginning of Union 

Cemetery, which for nearly 150 years, has been the resting 

place of thousands of pioneers and settlers, Civil War 

soldiers, prominent local families, cowboys, farmers, bankers 

and builders—remarkable men and women who have 

shaped the community’s history. 

Union Cemetery is so named because, in the late 1800s, 

both the City of Bakersfield and the City of Sumner had 

old, neglected and rundown cemeteries. The newspaper 

complained about them so much that when Colonel Baker 

was buried at the present location, the townspeople wanted 

that area to become the new cemetery. The 

county bought the property and the name 

of Union Cemetery was adopted when the 

two cemeteries were united as one. The term 

‘Historic’ was added to the name in 2012 

in recognition of the history and heritage 

preserved here. 

Union Cemetery is owned and managed by 

the Union Cemetery Association, a nonprofit 

organization that has cared for the property 

continuously since 1904. Union Cemetery 

continues to serve area residents with a wide 

variety of burial and cremation properties at 

the eighty acre, one-of-a-kind memorial park. 

The most recent additions to the park are 

the new Heritage Pavilion featuring a beautiful 

selection of cremation niches and an outdoor all-faiths 

committal chapel, and the Garden of Innocence, a moving 

and solemn burial place for unidentified infants that have 

been abandoned. 


190

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GREG IGER. 


191

SAN JOAQUIN 

VETERINARY HOSPITAL 

Dr. Tom Willis grew up in the Lamont area of Bakersfield 

and even after earning his veterinary degree and working 

in the northern part of the Central Valley for fifteen years, 

he always dreamed of moving back home. 

Dr. Willis was raised on the family farm his father 

established in Southwest Bakersfield after his return from 

World War II. In addition to farming, Stanley Willis served 

as president of the Kern-Delta Water Association as well 

as serving on the Arvin-Edison Water Board. 

Growing up on a farm exposed Dr. Willis to a variety of 

animals and by the age of thirteen, he had his mind made 

up—he wanted to become a veterinarian, although he was 

not exactly sure what a vet did. 

After graduation from UC Davis, Dr. Willis began 

practicing veterinary medicine in the northern part of the 

Central Valley. His main practice focused on large animals 

and dairy medicine. 

With deep roots and a long family history in the area, 

Dr. Willis and his wife, Linda, nurtured the idea of returning 

to Bakersfield. After fifteen years away from home, they 

began traveling to Bakersfield at least twice a month to scope 

out the best location for starting a mixed animal practice. 

“The area had changed tremendously since Tom had lived in 

Bakersfield, but there were still the familiar family spots— 

Luigi’s, Woolgrowers, and, of course, Dewars,” Linda says. 

“The first place the Lord led us to was a ten-acre parcel of 

land farthest west of Bakersfield. It turned out to be the ideal 

location. The projected growth rate in the area was phenomenal 

and it certainly lived up to and beyond expectations.” 

Groundbreaking for the new veterinary hospital at 

3441 Allen Road took place at the beginning of 2000 and 

the building was ready for occupancy in June. 

“The first day we opened our doors, we had three client 

files on the shelf,” Linda recalls. “Each time the front door 

would open or the phone would ring, we answered in 

anticipation of greeting another future client. We were in 

a rather remote area of Northwest Bakersfield that hadn’t 

seen its full growth yet, but as the years have passed the 

area has become vibrant with homes and businesses and is 

still growing. 

“Upon arriving in Bakersfield, we discovered the 

Marketplace on Ming Avenue. It was the gathering place for 

shopping, moving and eating. The Northwest Promenade, 

a wonderful asset to the area, had yet to be built, nor had 

the Shops at River Walk. We were so thrilled at the prospect 

of being in a new, thriving and growing area,” explains 

Linda, who now serves as the hospital’s practice manager. 

As with any new business, the early start-up times were 

demanding, frustrating and fretful. The new veterinary 

hospital would be empty one moment and full of clients 

the next. Through advertising, but especially through word 

of mouth, the practice grew steadily to its current status. 

“We feel truly blessed to serve the hardworking people 

of Bakersfield who have allowed us to be a part of their 

pet’s care,” Linda says. 


192

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital began in 2000 with 

three clients and currently serves more than 16,000. The 

facility provides full-service animal medicine and surgery, 

including routine care, sick and injured treatments, dentals, 

emergencies and orthopedics. The practice also cares for 

equine, pocket pets and farm animals and livestock. 

Boarding and grooming services are also available. 

When Dr. Willis learned Kern County had an unfortunate 

reputation for having a ‘high kill’ rate in its county animal 

shelters, he decided to do something about it. The practices’ 

mobile veterinary hospital was utilized to provide spay 

and neuter surgeries in many outlying areas of Kern County. 

The mobile unit was set up in Maricopa, Buttonwillow, 

Arvin, Lake Isabella, Tehachapi, and Portersville. Kern County 

is now fast becoming a ‘No-Kill’ area. 

“We love working with the many nonprofits that promote 

animal welfare,” Linda says. “We have strong relationships 

with local shelters that also team with some of the nonprofits 

to provide spay and neuter services to dogs and cats, which 

are then placed in ‘forever homes’. Through the years, we 

have been able to donate our time to spay or neuter more 

than 3,000 animals.” 

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital has been the consulting 

veterinarian for the California Living Museum (CALM) for 

many years, working with the museum’s staff to provide care 

to their animals indigenous to California. This experience has 

included providing x-rays for a four-month-old mountain lion. 

Dr. Willis and Linda are proud of their fabulous 

staff, some of whom have been with the practice since it 

opened. “Our receptionists, technicians and kennel staff 

are exceptional in their care of the animals they tend to. 

They go above and beyond—even after hours—to provide 

the best medicine possible,” Linda explains. 

The Willis’ two children have also been involved in caring 

for the animals. Their son, Tommy, is currently attending 

Kansas State University in the pre-vet program, and their 

daughter, Natalie, is a sophomore at the local high school. 

“We have found Bakersfield to be a great place to raise 

our children and grow our practice,” Linda says. 


193

CENTRE FOR 

NEURO SKILLS 

÷ 

Right: Dr. Mark J. Ashley, founder, president, and CEO of Centre for 

Neuro Skills. 

Below: The Centre for Neuro Skills flagship clinic is located on Ashe Road 

in Bakersfield. 

In 1980, when Dr. 

Mark J. Ashley founded 

Centre for Neuro Skills 

(CNS), he had just three 

patients. All people in 

need of care are vital to 

him, but one in particular 

was extraordinary. It was 

his older brother, Steve 

Ashley, who had suffered 

an aneurysm while serving 

in the military. 

The previously gregarious Steve could not speak, walk, or 

eat without assistance. He had lost control of his ability to 

move and respond to his environment. Stricken by a brain 

injury, he struggled to do the simple things most of us take 

for granted. 

In Steve’s hospital room, the Ashley family looked on in 

hopelessness. The only sign of life was his chest moving up 

and down as a machine kept him breathing. They knew that 

the life he once lived was over. 

“At the time, treatment for brain injury was very limited,” 

Dr. Ashley recalls. 

Steve’s stark disability triggered something in Dr. Ashley. 

That something has evolved into CNS, a world-renowned 

post-acute neurologic treatment facility that has provided 

intensive therapy for thousands of people with brain injury. 

“I’m not someone you say ‘No’ to,” Dr. Ashley says of his 

tenacity. “Conventional wisdom was that Steve’s brain would 

never send signals to the muscles of his body.” 

But Dr. Ashley defied conventional wisdom and opened 

CNS with a staff of ten. He was twenty-three years old at 

the time. 

Today, the corporate headquarters are in a state-of-the-art 

clinical facility in Bakersfield, a 28,000 square foot building 

that includes a therapeutic pool with water current features, 

advanced therapeutic technology, specialized research 

equipment, medical offices, counseling suites, a patient computer 

and education training center, and executive offices. 

The company has grown to 750 employees, and now 

has locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas. 

CNS provides medical and rehabilitative treatment to 

people who have sustained a brain injury from trauma, 

hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, tumors, lack of oxygen, 

and infections. 

Dr. Ashley’s personal experience of caring for and treating 

his brother created a family culture at CNS that extends to 

staff, patients, and relatives of patients. In fact, his passion 

for treating people with brain injury has inspired many 

members of his family to join the company. 

Sue Ashley, Dr. Ashley’s wife, is the Executive Vice 

President of Clinical Services. Two of Dr. Ashley’s sons also 

work with the company. Matthew J. Ashley, M.D., J.D., is a 

Consulting Neurologist and Nicholas A. Ashley, J.D., is the 

General Counsel. 

Other relatives serve in key roles as well. They include: 

Vice President Ellen Katomski, Clinical Services; National 

Project Manager Steve Katomski; Controller Lindsay Ashley; 

Neuroscientist Jessica Ashley, Ph.D; and Case Manager 

Assistant Victoria Katomski. 

Many employees have been with the company for more 

than thirty years. 

A crucial and unique aspect of CNS treatment focuses 

on neurobehavioral intervention for patients struggling 

to manage their emotions and behavior. This intensive 

treatment helps people develop appropriate responses, communication 

and skills that support successful community 

re-entry. Staff behavior analysts are specially trained and 

licensed, and work with patients daily to correct aggression 

and difficulties that may impede a return to normalcy. 


194

Brain injury impairs the ability to carry out simple 

duties, such as self-care, safety practices, cooking, shopping, 

cleaning, learning to budget, hygiene, managing medications, 

integrating into the community, and returning to work. Many 

patients participate in the CNS residential rehabilitation 

program, which helps individuals to regain mastery of these 

meaningful skills in a home-like setting near each clinic. 

This emphasis on independence is a treatment philosophy 

as well as a driving force behind CNS’ success. It can 

be summarized in a core company ethic—“Patients Don’t 

Plateau.” All employees live by this credo. 

A highly skilled, trained, and educated clinical staff 

provide individualized treatment planning focused on 

skill-building, achieving patient goals, and independence 

post-injury. Treating the complexities of brain injury require 

an interdisciplinary team that specializes in the therapy 

domains of cognition, physical, occupational, speech, education, 

counseling, and medicine. 

CNS also has a respected research department, led by 

neuroscientists whose work appears in such esteemed publications 

as the Journal of Neurotrauma. Their articles focus on cost 

effectiveness and traumatic brain injury care, growth hormone 

deficiency in patients, and neuropathology and exercise, 

among other topics that advance understanding of brain injury. 

In his thirty-five years as a thought leader and patient 

advocate, Dr. Ashley has become a noted expert in the field 

of neurotrauma, having lectured globally on treatment 

outcome, best practices, and neurodegenerative processes. 

He authored Traumatic Brain Injury: Rehabilitation, Treatment, 

and Case Management, now in its fourth edition. 

Both the Ashleys and CNS staff are clearly driven 

to accomplish great things. But as a family-owned and 

operated company, CNS has never 

strayed from the memory of Steve 

Ashley. Having walked the path of 

devastation, the Ashleys make sure 

that patients’ loved ones are honored 

and cared for. 

“Brain injury is a shock to the 

family,” Dr. Ashley says. “It disrupts 

the entire home structure. The oncecompetent 

parent, executive, student, 

or coed is now shattered—unrecognizable 

in some instances—and the 

entire family must heal.” 

CNS family counseling helps loved 

ones acknowledge the injury and 

rebuild together. 

“Every one of our patients is a 

Steve Ashley,” he observes. “We treat 

everyone as if they are family.” 

÷ 

Above: Two therapists demonstrate use of the ZeroG Gait and Balance 

System, which helps patients to regain skills of walking and balancing. 

Left: CNS’ Bakersfield clinical facility has a state-of-the-art therapeutic pool 

with water current features, which helps patients regain strength and agility. 


195

BAKERSFIELD FIRE 

DEPARTMENT 

÷ 

Below: BFD steam fire engine #2, c. 1900. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE BAKERSFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

Below: BFD Heavy Task Force #1. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE BAKERSFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The Bakersfield Fire Department (BFD) is a multi-dimensional 

public safety organization, and includes an “all-risk” 

approach in its emergency service delivery system. The BFD 

provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, 

heavy and technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, 

water rescue, arson investigation, fire code enforcement, 

emergency medical dispatching, public service and 

assistance, and other life safety services around-the-clock 

to a growing community of over 370,000 citizens. 

The Bakersfield Fire Department was formally established 

on May 13, 1877, as the official fire department of 

the then unincorporated City of Bakersfield. The department 

has been in continual operation since that inception 

date, and has been in operation longer than any other fire 

department in Kern County. 

After suffering several disastrous conflagrations in 1890, 

1898 and 1904, local leaders decided they would never 

allow the community to be devastated by another massive 

fire again. From that point forward, the BFD began its rise 

as a progressive and respected west coast fire department. 

In the early 1900s, the 

Bakersfield Fire Department 

served the community with a 

fleet of “steamer” fire engines, 

hook and ladder trucks, chemical 

fire engines, and hose wagons. 

These early firefighting machines 

were faithfully pulled by at least 

twenty-five noble BFD fire horses 

with names like Prince, Ned, 

King and Mike. The last BFD fire 

horse made its final alarm run 

and was sent out to pasture in 

1914, the year the department 

was completely motorized. 

In the 1920s and 1930s, the department grew to four 

central fire stations serving a commercial core and residential 

perimeter. The firefighting fleet consisted of many 

state-of-the-art apparatus, including early motorized fire 

engines that pumped thousands of gallons of water through 

massive deck guns. 

City firefighters protected the young but urbanized 

Bakersfield, stopping major commercial blazes in the 

downtown area through sheer will and a barrage of water 

from brass nozzles. BFD Firefighters routinely found 

themselves in harm’s way due to exposure to clouds of 

noxious smoke and collapses of unreinforced masonry 

structures that were prevalent in the central district. 

Progressive chief fire officers began to rise through the 

ranks and implement improvements to fire suppression 

and fire alarm systems that would set the standard for 

future fire protection in the City of Bakersfield. In 1956 

the Bakersfield Fire Department was awarded the highest 

ISO rating in the United States—and a “class 1 fire department” 

designation. 

Today, the Bakersfield Fire Department operates with 

240 sworn, support, and reserve personnel deployed from 

fourteen fire stations located throughout the city ready to 

meet challenges within the community, region and state. 

The BFD is an insurance services office (ISO) rated class 2 

fire department, residing in the top 1.5 percent of fire 

departments nationwide. 

The men and women of the Bakersfield Fire Department 

are among the finest the community has to offer. Newly 

appointed BFD Recruit Firefighters attend the academically 

rigorous and physically challenging twenty-four week BFD 

Fire Academy. BFD Recruit Firefighters that are successful are 

then assigned to BFD Probationary Firefighters status, and 

spend a year working in the field under the guidance of 

tenured BFD Fire Officers. 


196

BFD Firefighters spend a significant amount of their career 

training for the complex, three-dimensional life safety problems 

they will be called upon to deal with in the local urban environment. 

The department is proud to offer a diverse workforce 

of dedicated personnel possessing a variety of skills, 

talents, and abilities. BFD personnel are motivated public 

service professionals, dedicated to serving their community. 

The Bakersfield Fire Department participates in regionalized 

fire services and jointly operates the Emergency 

Communications Center (ECC) and the Olive Drive Fire 

Training Facility (ODFTF). Additionally, the BFD operates its 

own Southeast Live Fire Training Site with state-of-the-art, 

computerized, clean-burning, fire-fueled props that allow for 

environmentally friendly and safe firefighting training sessions. 

As a participating agency in the State Master Mutual Aid 

System, the BFD deploys firefighters to numerous largescale 

incidents across California every year. BFD Firefighters 

assist, along with many other agencies, in mitigating fires 

and other disasters threatening communities that require 

reinforced, statewide assistance. 

The BFD also provides a wide array of non-emergency 

services related to fire prevention, fire safety education, fire 

code inspections, and disaster preparedness. The department 

values community alliances and public participation as part 

of its service delivery process through collaborative mitigation 

efforts with the Salvation Army and Red Cross, partnerships 

with various community groups, nonprofit organizations 

and governmental agencies. The BFD Community Services 

Office assists with many media and public access requests, 

as well as providing the timely dissemination of public 

information and social media engagement. 

The Bakersfield Fire Department is the parent organization 

to numerous BFD nonprofit organizations that serve 

the community including the Bakersfield Firefighters’ 

Burn Foundation (BFBF), Bakersfield Firefighters’ Relief 

Association (BFRA), Bakersfield Firefighters’ Historical 

Society (BFHS), and Bakersfield Professional Firefighters’ 

Local 246 (BPF). 

The Bakersfield Fire Department is a dedicated local public 

safety agency and widely respected fire service organization. 

The men and women of the BFD are proud and honored 

to be part of a tradition of city fire service that began over 140 

years ago, and look forward to carrying out their very important 

mission in this century as “Bakersfield’s Firefighters.” 

÷ 

Above: BFD engine firefighters engage a brush fire. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TREY SPOONER. 

Top, left: BFD truck firefighters deploy hoselines. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DAN MILLER. 

Left: BFD engine firefighters in structural firefight. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ROY PEÑA. 

Bottom: BFD truck firefighters ventilate. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DAN MILLER. 


197

BAKERSFIELD PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 246 

BPF is a nonprofit organization and collaborates with other 

nonprofit organizations that are affiliated with the Bakersfield 

Fire Department, including the Bakersfield Firefighters Relief 

Association, the Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation and 

the Bakersfield Firefighters Historical Society. Collaboration 

with the other Bakersfield Fire Department affiliated nonprofit 

organizations has allowed BPF members to participate 

in numerous charitable events such as “Fill the Boot” for 

Muscular Dystrophy, Firefighters Creating Memories, 

“Fill the Helmet” for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a 

local “Trunk or Treat” event, just to name a few. 

÷ 

Above: BPF Station tours. 

Right: BPF members support MDA Fill-the-Boot Drive. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TBC MEDIA. 

Bakersfield Professional Firefighters Local 246 (BPF) 

represents more than 170 uniformed personnel employed 

by the Bakersfield Fire Department. BPF works in close 

coordination with both the staff of the Bakersfield Fire 

Department and the city manager’s office to ensure that the 

highest quality of service and protection are provided to 

the citizens of Bakersfield. 

A majority of firefighters enter the profession because 

they have a profound desire to help others and be a part of 

solutions to some of life’s greatest crises. This desire to help 

others often transcends into the lives of many firefighters 

away from the job, compelling them to continue with their 

sense of service. BPF members are a great example of the 

civic minded, helpful people that many associate with being 

a firefighter. 

Information about the Bakersfield Professional Firefighters 

may be found at www.bakersfieldfirefighters.com. 


198

Bakersfield Heart Hospital, Kern County’s heart and 

vascular leader, is focused on providing the latest and most 

effective technologies and treatments for its patients. By specializing 

on the nation’s number one killer, Bakersfield Heart 

Hospital gives patients the benefits of advanced technology 

while also providing services to meet their individual needs. 

The concept for a specialized heart hospital began 

in 1995 when a group of local physicians organized an 

ambitious project to bring a new standard of heart and 

vascular care to Bakersfield. A partnership was formed and 

the concept of a forty-seven-bed hospital dedicated to 

patient-focused care began to take shape. 

During construction of the center at 3001 Sillect Avenue 

many of the first employees were actually housed across 

the street in the Stevenson Building. Staff members created 

policies and procedures, ordered supplies and got everything 

ready to open as they watched the facility being constructed. 

Staff members were used during ‘trial run’ exercises to 

be sure the staff, equipment and supplies were ready prior 

to opening. Some of the staff even served as mock patients 

during training exercises. Bakersfield Heart Hospital opened 

its doors to the community in 1999. 

BHH provides 47 private in-patient beds, 3 operating 

rooms with complete facilities for heart and vascular surgery, 

4 cardiac catheterization labs with 1 lab equipped for 

electrophysiology, 11 outpatient surgery beds, an 8-bed 

emergency department, and the most technologically 

advanced cardiovascular equipment. 

The original focus of BHH was on cardiac care, but other 

services have been added through the years to meet 

the needs of the community. A Women’s Heart Center was 

added in 2012 to provide education about the unique 

symptoms of heart disease among women. The women’s 

center provides information about heart disease risk factors 

and early detection of heart disease. 

A Center for Wound Healing was added in 2014 because 

Kern County has a high incidence of diabetics who must 

contend with wounds that will not heal. The center has two 

hyperbaric chambers and podiatrists and plastic surgeons 

are available for consultation. 

BHH also has a Joint Replacement Program that provides 

a ‘Joint Camp’ where patients and family members learn 

about the procedures and hear first-hand from the care team 

what to expect before and after surgery. 

Bakersfield Heart Hospital is very active in the community. 

Staff members participate in the Go Red for Women and 

Heart Walk each year. The hospital partners with Central 

Cardiology physicians to present heart health topics to various 

groups, clubs and businesses. BHH also offers screenings 

for businesses and has partnered with Olivia’s Heart Project to 

screen teens and young adults for heart related abnormalities. 

BAKERSFIELD 

HEART HOSPITAL 


199

GEMCARE 

÷ 

Above: GEMCare’s Comprehensive Care Center. 

Below: The GEMCare main office on California Avenue. 

Today’s complicated and confusing medical care system 

makes it difficult for patients to choose the best medical care 

available for their particular need. Navigating today’s world of 

healthcare is not easy, but GEMCare Medical Group is providing 

an option for more and more individuals and businesses. 

GEMCare has served the community since 1992 and now 

offers a variety of plans and benefits, including more than 

130 highly rated primary care centers and 200 specialty care 

physicians. GEMCare serves members in Bakersfield and 

the outlying communities of Arvin, Delano, Lake Isabella, 

Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco. Members have access to 

Dignity Health, Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, as well as 

available treatment at five urgent care locations. Equally 

important is access to care management and wellness 

services to keep you and your family healthy year-round. 

GEMCare was first organized in 1991 when a group of 

physicians saw the need for another healthcare option in 

Kern County and organized as an Independent Practice 

Association (IPA). 

In 2010, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and Mercy 

Hospitals, in a joint venture with GEMCare physicians, created 

a new organization known as GEMCare Mercy Memorial 

Health System (GMMHS). This organization was formed to 

provide an integrated healthcare delivery system that would 

ensure a comprehensive approach to total patient care. 

A key component in the integrated system is the 

Comprehensive Care Center (CCC). The CCC was formed to 

improve the quality of care for members through a holistic, 

patient-centered, team-based collaboration of medical and 

allied professionals. This clinic for medically high-risk 

patients has received the highest level of national recognition 

as a NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home is located near 

downtown Bakersfield. 

The NCQA seal is a widely recognized symbol of quality. 

For consumers and employers, this seal is a reliable indicator 

that an organization is well-managed and delivers high 

quality care and service. 

GEMCare has gathered the finest group of medical 

providers, including a Physician Board Certified in Internal 

Medicine and Geriatrics, Nurse Practitioners, RN Case 

Managers, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Clinical 

Pharmacists and health educators. All work together to 

enhance delivery of member’s healthcare. CCC members 

have a thirty-five percent reduction in emergency room visits 

and a twenty percent reduction in admissions to the hospital. 

Patients are extremely satisfied with their healthcare, 

averaging 4.8 on a 5-point scale. 

GEMCare is leading the way to a new model of care delivery 

by remaining true to its core values of responsibility, 

compassion, education, and support. 


200

The historical documents of Greenlawn Memorial Park, 

founded in 1931 by Ed Helm (1891-1952), begin with 

this creed: 

“We believe in Life Eternal—a life supremely happy. We 

believe that those of us left behind should be glad in the true 

belief that those gone before have entered into that happier 

life. We believe most of all, in a God who smiles and loves 

you and me. We therefore know the cemeteries of yesterday 

are obsolete and that they depict an end, not a beginning. 

They have consequently become antiquated places that do 

nothing for humanity save a practical act. 

“We therefore prayerfully resolve that we shall endeavor to 

build Greenlawn Memorial Park as different, as unlike other 

cemeteries as sunshine is unlike darkness, as Eternal Life 

is unlike Death. We shall endeavor to build at Greenlawn 

a great park, devoid of misshapen monuments and other 

customary signs of earthly Death, but filled with sweeping 

lawns, majestic trees, cheerful flowers, splashing fountains 

and beautiful, winding roads and pathways. We 

believe these things add to the general betterment 

of the community. 

“Greenlawn shall become a place where lovers 

new and old will want to stroll and watch the setting 

sun, planning for the future and reminiscing 

of the past, where the sacred bonds of marriage 

are solemnized; a place where children romp and 

play; where artists study and sketch; and where 

the sorrowing will be comforted because it will be 

God’s garden. A place that shall be protected by 

an adequate Perpetual Care Fund, the principal 

of which can never be expended.” 

With the Ed Helm Monument Company 

established in 1927, Ed forged ahead with his 

dream. After the opening of the cemetery 

overlooking the Bluffs in Northeast Bakersfield, 

construction began on a mortuary office in 1941, making 

Greenlawn the first in Bakersfield to provide both the 

undertaking and cemetery services in one location. After 

Ed’s death, his son, Marshall Helm, carried on the vision. 

The business opened a location in Hemet, California, in 

1975, and the expansion continued on Panama Lane in 

the Southwest part of Bakersfield with Greenlawn Southwest 

Memorial Park opening in 1974 and Greenlawn Southwest 

Mortuary in 1978. The groundbreaking in 2011 of the 

Celebration of Life Center further expanded the Southwest 

location with a chapel that seats over 500, a flower shop, and 

a reception area. Greenlawn acquired Wood Family Funeral 

Service in Tehachapi in 2007, and The Woods Pavilion, An 

Outdoor Event Center, was opened in the summer of 2014. 

Representing the third generation, Ed’s grandchildren 

are involved in what is now known as Greenlawn Funeral 

Homes, Cremations and Cemeteries, and the dedication to 

the families of Kern County continues. 

÷ 

Left: The Greenlawn Memorial Park Fountain of Chimes. 

Below: Ed and Lucille Helm. 

GREENLAWN 

FUNERAL HOMES- 

CREMATIONS-CEMETERIES 


201

HOUCHIN COMMUNITY 

BLOOD BANK 

In times of illness or accident, a safe and adequate blood 

supply is essential to a patient’s treatment and recovery. 

Since 1953 the Houchin Community Blood Bank has 

collected and provided this precious supply of blood for 

residents of Kern County. Blood collected from volunteer 

donors is manufactured into multiple products, including 

red blood cells, platelets and plasma for human transfusion. 

The Blood Bank serves eleven hospitals, cancer, burn and 

transfusion centers in Kern County. 

The organization’s history traces from the early 1940s 

when a group of local physicians and interested residents 

met at the offices of Doctors Coker, Crawley and Varney to 

discuss the need for a nonprofit community blood bank. 

Because of the lack of blood supply in Kern County, blood 

had to be shipped from Los Angeles or San Francisco and 

these deliveries could not meet the critical need for blood. 

At the time, Kern General Hospital—now Kern Medical— 

was the only facility equipped to draw and test blood. 

In 1951, members of the Kern County Medical Society 

called a meeting with C. Elmer Houchin, also a member of 

the group, to discuss a permanent location for a future 

community blood bank. Houchin donated a location on 

G Street in downtown Bakersfield in memory of his mother, 

Sarah Alice Houchin. Additional donations and endowment 

funds allowed the blood bank to open in April 1952. 

In the early days, there were no mobile collection buses 

and blood drives were set up on tables at businesses, 

churches and other locations. Most blood was collected 

at one donor center in glass bottles, which did not provide 

a long shelf life. Donors were scarce and sometimes had 

to be called on in the middle of the night to meet urgent 

patient needs. A variety of ‘donation clubs’ such as the 

‘10 Gallon Donor Club’ were used to increase interest 

in donations. Today, the Blood Bank has more than 

1,200 donors who have given ten gallons or more. 

A new donor center was constructed at 5901 Truxtun 

Avenue in May 1988. Followed by a new headquarters 

at 11515 Bolthouse Drive on land donated by the William 

Bolthouse family in February 2013. More than a hundred 

people are employed at the two locations. Greg Gallion 

serves as president and CEO. 

More than 18,000 volunteer donors are greeted each 

year at the Truxtun and Bolthouse Donor Centers and at 

mobile drives held throughout Kern County. As a result of 

these generous donations, Houchin Community Blood Bank 

is able to supply more than 8,000 platelets and 30,000 units 

of red cells for patient needs annually as it continues to live 

its motto: ‘People Live when People Give.’ 


202

It takes a special kind 

of physician to treat patients 

with pulmonary (lung) 

diseases, and Alpha J. 

Anders MD, FCCP of 

Bakersfield, California, is 

that type of doctor. He 

opened his private practice, 

Comprehensive Pulmonary 

and Critical Care Associates, 

seventeen years ago. He 

takes pride in delivering state-of-the art personal care 

to patients with various pulmonary diseases along with 

Heidi He DNP, MSN, FNP-C. “We get to know our patients 

personally. We have the latest diagnostic, treatments, and 

technology available; at our office a human being actually 

answers the telephone,” he says, smiling. 

Dr. Anders, a diplomat of the American Board of Internal 

Medicine in critical care, pulmonary and internal medicine, 

treats any lung disease from asthma to chronic obstructive 

pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung disorders 

in between. Heidi He, a certified nurse-practitioner, who 

obtained her doctorate in the science of nursing, assists 

him with treating and educating pulmonary patients about 

their diseases. They adhere to the practice’s mission of 

“Where caring is an art and healing is a science.” 

Lung diseases make it hard for patients to breathe; therefore, 

Dr. Anders is a proponent of avoiding cigarettes and 

other chemical irritants that can cause lung disease years 

following exposure. “Pulmonary patients should check local 

news outlets for poor air quality that can aggravate their 

conditions and make breathing more difficult. 

“Some patients aren’t aware they have lung disease until 

they develop a cough or feel out of breath walking, climbing 

stairs, or exercising. Still, exercise is a vital component for 

anyone suffering from lung disease. But, it takes a special, 

structured-type of exercise,” he adds. “With many chronic 

lung disorders, the airflow is disrupted in and out of 

patients’ lungs and reduces functionality. Many (but not all) 

patients use oxygen to breathe. My practice is centered 

on helping patients achieve optimal health and maintain a 

good quality of life.” 

Dr. Anders is triple board certified in pulmonology, 

critical care, and internal medicine. He is a member of 

Healthgrades’ Honor Roll, never having received board 

action, sanction, or adverse malpractice issues. He has been 

on the organization’s honor roll eighteen times, and received 

seven Healthgrades awards. 

He has served as chief of staff at both Mercy Hospitals, 

and president of the Kern County Medical Society. He has 

been a mentor to physicians in training. A graduate of 

Cornell Medical University, he served his residency in 

Denver, followed by a pulmonary fellowship at USC. 

Heidi obtained her nursing degree in Bakersfield. She 

holds a Master of Science degree from UCLA and a Doctor 

of Advanced Nursing Practice degree from San Jose State. 

She is the coordinator of the Nurse Practitioner program at 

California State University Bakersfield. 

÷ 

ALPHA J. ANDERS, MD, 

FCCP 

Above: Dr. Alpha J. Anders, MD, doctor of pulmonary, critical care and 

internal medicine. 

Below: Dr. Anders and his nursing staff. 


203

BAKERSFIELD 

MUSIC HALL OF FAME 

Bakersfield is a city full of music history and the 

Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting 

and cherishing it, from its Dust Bowl roots to its contemporary 

manifestations. The Hall of Fame, located in the city’s 

beautiful downtown arts district, celebrates legends like 

Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Susan Raye, Billy Mize, 

Hank Thompson, Bonnie Owens, Tommy Collins and Red 

Simpson, to name a few. But Bakersfield is not just country. 

Artists such as Lawrence Tibbett, star of the New York 

Metropolitan Opera; blues great Luther Davis; jazz virtuoso 

Mary Osborne; and chart-topping thrash-metal-rap act 

Korn have also made their marks. Now Bakersfield has a 

place specifically dedicated to recognizing them for their 

contributions to our musical city. 

The Hall of Fame is more than that, though. It is a 

musical venue built with great, detailed workmanship. It is 

a state-of-the-art performing arts theater built with sound 

and lighting standards that will please the most discerning 

and adventurous listener. One of the Hall of Fame’s primary 

goals is to help nurture and establish up-and-coming 

hopefuls, much like what the Bluebird Café has done for 

musicians and songwriters in Nashville, Tennessee. Two 

fully equipped recording studios capable of producing 

top-caliber recordings are producing everything from 

commercial jingles to music in the finest tradition of the 

true Bakersfield Sound. The Hall of Fame’s founders, 

Bakersfield country singer Kim McAbee and her husband, 

Kyle Carter, one of Bakersfield’s finest homebuilders, 

together have brought a unique and heartfelt venue to the 

music community of Bakersfield. 

The original building, once used by a shipping company, 

is over 100 years old. The original architecture of concrete 

walls, exposed ceiling trusses, exquisite hardwood floors 

and wood stained slats creates the right ambiance. The 

original charm is intact, but renovations have created an 

intimate, up-close concert setting. Each month the Hall of 

Fame hosts new performers and events; artists make their 

way into one of the studios; and the gift shop bustles with 

local folks’ music, books and other merchandise. Whatever 

the occasion—weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, 

business conferences or social mixers—the Hall of Fame 

is equipped to host it. Memberships are available to all, 

whether they are musicians or music enthusiasts. This is 

an establishment that will surely continue to add to 

Bakersfield’s legacy of great music. Folks are already 

stopping by from all over the world and you will surely 

want to see the transformation as well. History is once 

again in the making! For more information, visit the Hall 

of Fame’s website at www.bakersfieldmusichalloffame.com. 

Or call (661) 864-1701. 


204

No one deserves to be hired more than our nation’s veterans. 

To help connect veterans with jobs, Chevron has partnered 

with the Kern County Veterans Service Department 

to design, develop, and implement the Kern Patriot 

Partnership. The partnership provides an online portal to 

match the skills, knowledge, and dedication of our veterans 

with high quality employers who are willing to give veterans 

a first look when they are looking to hire good people. 

First discussed in an interview with The Bakersfield 

Californian in December 2012, and again in the August 

2013 issue of the Kern Business Journal, the Kern Patriot 

Partnership is an idea that developed out of the Kern County 

Veterans Service Department to unite veterans and businesses. 

Businesses cite the strengths of veterans as very appealing 

to them when seeking employees. Some of those strengths 

include a strong work ethic, a sense of duty, working 

well as a team, demonstrating self-confidence, and having 

the ability to follow through on assignments, even under 

difficult or stressful circumstances, to name a few. 

A common concern among business leaders and human 

resource managers is that the current process seems to be too 

cumbersome or even nonexistent. The goal of the Kern Patriot 

Partnership is to address those issues using innovation, technology, 

good old-fashioned hard work, and proven mentorship. 

Kern Patriot Partnership’s vision includes the goal of 

providing as many job opportunities as possible for veterans 

and transitioning military personnel. We provide personalized 

service to help translate military skills to civilian terms 

that hiring managers understand. Our team empowers transitioning 

U.S. military members and veterans to succeed in 

the civilian workforce through personalized career coaching 

and employment preparation counseling. Our services are 

provided at no cost to the transitioning military member and 

veteran. You will be individually partnered with a highlytrained 

program specialist who works collaboratively with 

you to: Create a tailored civilian resume that effectively highlights 

your skills and achievements; Translate military experience 

into civilian terminology; Learn effective job search, 

strategic networking and interviewing techniques; and get 

connected with companies who want to hire veterans. 

Our services are available to all honorably-discharged 

U.S. military veterans, regardless of separation date and 

term of service. Whether you are looking for full-time or 

part-time work, internships, or training opportunities, our 

team is here to help you. 

We define success as helping transitioning military 

members and veterans meet or exceed their employment 

goals, one veteran at a time. Across America, employers are 

discovering the value of hiring veterans of the United States 

military who possess the training, leadership skills, and 

strong work ethic they require. Each of our veterans has 

made profound sacrifices to protect freedom and democracy 

and to keep us safe. Pledging support to veterans is one way 

to express heartfelt gratitude. We ask interested businesses 

to join our Kern Patriot Partnership, not to guarantee jobs 

for veterans, but to make a pledge to give veterans a first 

look when their businesses are preparing to hire. 

We encourage veterans seeking employment and businesses 

who would like to join our Partnership to visit our website 

at www.KernPatriot.org. You will find links for “Veterans” 

and “Employers” along with other useful information 

and resources. 

KERN PATRIOT 

PARTNERSHIP 

÷ 

Above: As military members transition into civilian life, Kern Patriot 

Partnership stands ready to assist our veterans seeking employment and to 

connect them with employers seeking to hire and are willing to give veterans 

a first look when they have job openings. 


205

FOX THEATER FOUNDATION 

In the early days of the motion picture industry, magnificent 

theaters were built across the nation to reflect the 

glamour and excitement of the movies. One of the most 

opulent of these grand movie houses was the Fox Theater in 

Bakersfield, where generations of movie goers enjoyed the 

latest Hollywood movies and stars, from Humphrey Bogart 

and Lauren Bacall to Gone with the Wind, as well as stage 

performances by the most popular entertainers. 

The Bakersfield Fox Theater was constructed at 2001 H 

Street for Fox West Coast Theaters and opened on Christmas 

Day, 1930, with the feature film, Just Imagine. Designed by 

S. Charles Lee, the Fox was built as both a performing arts 

theater and a movie theater. The theater featured an atmospheric 

Mediterranean interior with 1,575 seats. It was one 

of the most beautiful theaters of its type ever constructed. 

In 1953, as television began to bite into movie theater 

attendance, the Fox was modernized in an effort to lure 

audiences back to the theater. Renowned designer Charles 

Skouras was hired to create a new identity for the Fox and 

designed the lavish Art Deco interior that still exists today. 

The new design featured ornate ceiling murals in the lobby 

and mezzanine, breathtaking gold leaf plumes and acoustic 

cloud in the auditorium, and a blue atmospheric ceiling 

with twinkling stars. The Art Deco makeover also included a 

one-of-a-kind marquee with hundreds of feet of flashing 

neon tubes announcing the latest attraction. 

The Fox continued to prosper into the 1970s but 

the arrival of multiplex theaters and continued growth of 

television—combined with a decline of the downtown 

area—led to the closing of the Fox in 1979. 

In an effort to preserve the historic landmark, the 

Fox Theater Foundation was formed in 1990 to purchase, 

restore and operate the Fox Theater for the benefit of the 

citizens of Bakersfield. After many negotiations over price, 

the owners of the long abandoned theater finally agreed 

to sell it for $500,000. A huge ‘Save the Fox’ campaign 

helped raise the necessary funds and the property was 

acquired in 1994. After extensive renovation to preserve 

the priceless Art Deco interior, the Fox Theater reopened 

in 1995. 

The Fox has become a vibrant part of a renewed 

downtown and is once again a magnet for children and 

families wishing to enjoy popular movies, concerts, or 

entertainment that cannot be seen anywhere else. The 

eighty-five-year-old civic treasure also serves as a venue 

for graduations, weddings, and special events. 

The movies, shows and private events occurring year 

round at the Fox provide an economic stimulus for 

downtown, including opportunities for area businesses to 

provide services to Fox audiences. Thanks to community 

support, the historic Fox Theater continues to thrive, 

contributing to both the vitality and livability of Bakersfield. 


206

The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra (BSO), long considered 

a ‘community treasure’, is now in its eighty-fifth season 

of performing some of the world’s greatest music for enthusiastic 

audiences in the Central Valley. In the 1930s, concert 

music in Bakersfield was found largely in churches, high 

school bands, and the occasional group of touring artists. 

The seeds for what would become BSO were sown at a 

piano recital in January 1932 when it was announced the 

High School Musician’s Club would sponsor a concert 

series by a symphony orchestra drawn from members of 

the community. The inaugural concert of the Bakersfield 

Community Orchestra occurred on November 22, 1932. 

This was the beginning of a community’s love for wonderful 

music while engaging the local talent. As an example of this 

deep commitment to the BSO, one of our recently departed 

patrons, Margaret Urner, attended the first concert in 1932 and 

virtually every performance until her passing in January 2016. 

With the exception of a hiatus during World War II, the 

orchestra has filled the air with timeless and vibrant music. 

In 2012 the BSO Board of Directors hired Bryan Burrow 

as president/CEO to revitalize the organization. The next 

four years experienced increase in average attendance of 

sixty-seven percent, expansion of its student outreach, 

diversification of its patrons, broader visibility within the 

community, and additional concerts to the lineup. During 

this exciting time, the BSO transitioned to a new conductor. 

Throughout the 2014-2015 season, the Bakersfield community 

participated in choosing the next conductor from 

the six finalists, which were the top candidates from a 

pool of 160 worldwide applicants. As the youngest music 

director in the orchestra’s history, Stilian Kirov was appointed 

music director of BSO beginning in the 2015-2016 season. 

Kirov, a graduate of the Julliard School in orchestral 

conducting, has won numerous awards and prizes for 

outstanding achievements. His electric style of conducting 

and strong connection with audiences propelled him as an 

immediate favorite within the community. 

The BSO performs an 

impressive six season concerts 

annually, as well as 

several Pops style concerts. 

These Pops concerts 

reach out to all demographics 

in the community. 

Examples of the BSO’s 

Pops concerts include: 

movie themes, chamber 

programs, as well as concerts 

showcasing holiday 

and cultural favorites. 

Whether at our season 

concerts or Pops concerts, 

soloists have joined the 

BSO from as far as the four corners of the globe to as close 

as Kern County. 

Outreach is an important part of the BSO’s mission. 

The Young People’s Concerts hosts over 12,000 students 

each year for fun and educational concerts as they add 

culture and art to their curriculum. The most recent and 

very successful program is called BSO Next. The BSO Next 

program provides Kern County students tickets to season 

concerts through the generosity of donors. This impacts over 

3,000 students annually. Another program, Kid’s Discover 

Music, sends BSO musicians into classrooms for a close 

up interaction with the professional musicians. Finally, 

the Health and Healing program hosts musicians at local 

hospitals soothing the hearts of patients, families, and staff. 

To learn more about the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra 

and its upcoming schedule, please check the website at 

www.BSOnow.org. 

BAKERSFIELD 

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

÷ 

Left: Music Director Stilian Kirov with members of the Bakersfield 

Symphony Orchestra. 

Below: NEXT Students attending the last concert of the season, May 2016. 


207

GARCES MEMORIAL 

HIGH SCHOOL 

÷ 

Above: The Padre Garces Statue. The Kern County Historical Society, 

chaired by Dr. P. N. Root, commissioned John Palo Kanga, a well-known 

sculptor, to create a statue of Father Garces for the front of the school. 

On November 27, 1949, the statue was unveiled and dedicated. Sheriff 

John Loustalot presided as master of ceremonies and County Superintendent 

of Schools Jesse D. Stockton was the guest speaker. Dr. Root unveiled the 

monument and Monsignor William MacLaughlin blessed the statue. 

Below: Father Garces was moved from his street location to the current 

location, making him the focal point and landmark at the main 

campus entrance. 

For the past sixty-nine years, Garces Memorial High School 

has fulfilled the mission of the church by developing students 

spiritually, academically and socially in Kern County. 

Garces Memorial traces its origins to the very early days 

of Catholic education in Kern County. In 1910 the Sisters 

of Mercy founded St. Frances Elementary School in the 

basement of St. Francis Church on Truxton Avenue. In 1926 

a new two-story school building was built next to the 

convent. As the years passed, Pastor Leo Beacon and the 

Sisters began planning a high school that would utilize a 

vacant second floor in the school building. 

A 9th grade was added in 1940, followed by 10th and 

11th grades the following two years. The addition of a senior 

class for the 1943-44 school year marked the beginning of 

a fully functioning high school and generated tremendous 

excitement in the community. Students made their first 

strides in competitive athletics and mounted a successful 

comedy production. A new science lab was outfitted and 

biology was added to the curriculum. A business department 

was started with classes in typewriting, and the students 

enjoyed several dances. 

The need for a central Catholic high school serving all of 

Bakersfield soon became evident and a decision was made to 

build and conduct a high school modeled on the success 

of San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. The Sisters 

would teach the girls and the Brothers of the Christian 

Schools would teach the boys. 

In 1945 the Kern County Land Company sold the 

diocese a forty-acre plot in a new residential area called 

La Cresta for the sum of five dollars. Ground was broken 

for a new central Catholic high school and, in 1947, 

Garces Memorial High School opened as a co-educational, 

interparochial high school with an enrollment of 150 

students. The new school was named for Padre Francisco 

Garces, a Franciscan missionary who was the first European 

to enter the area known today as Bakersfield. 

The high school continued to grow and develop for a 

number of years until a major crisis developed in 1970. 

Because of a drastic decrease in vocations, the Christian 

Brothers announced they could no longer staff the school. 

Due to the anticipated cost of filling this void with lay 

staff, it appeared that the school would be forced to close. 

However, a committee of concerned parents and other 

members of the Catholic community committed themselves 

to keeping the school open. 

The school has continued to advance in recent years, both 

academically and by expanding and modernizing its facilities. 

Garces Memorial High Schools remains committed to its 

mission of instilling in every student the courage to act with 

faith, knowledge, compassion and justice. 


208

Getting veterans what they have earned is the mission 

of the Kern County Veterans Service Department. The 

Department provides no-cost services to veterans, their 

dependents and survivors. These services include counseling, 

advice, and assistance regarding rights, benefits, and 

privileges available to veterans under federal, state, and local 

laws, regulations and policies. 

The Kern County Board of Supervisors established 

the Veterans Service Department in 1944, during World 

War II. The goal remains the same today as when it 

was established—assist veterans, their dependents, and 

survivors in obtaining the benefits they earned through their 

military service. 

“Because we see about 1,000 to 1,500 clients a month, we 

know what strategies work and what strategies don’t work 

when it comes to helping a veteran,” explains Dick Taylor, 

the county’s Veterans Services Officer, who serves as director 

for the Department. Taylor, a Bakersfield native who served 

in the U.S. Marine Corps, adds that with the help of his 

department, veterans can reduce the likelihood of having 

to redo a claim. 

Another service offered by the Kern County Veterans 

Service Department is help with education for the families 

of veterans. The California College Fee Waiver Program 

benefits the children of U.S. veterans who have a service 

connected disability. Students meeting the eligibility criteria 

may get their college tuition-type fees waived if they attend 

a California community college, a California State University, 

or a University of California campus. 

The Department can also provide information about 

nonservice-connected ‘Pension with Aid and Attendance’, 

a needs-based benefit for war-era veterans or their surviving 

spouses. This benefit provides income for those in need 

of assistance with the activities of daily life, whether through 

in-home care or an assisted living facility. Not all will qualify, 

but for those who do, it can be a life changing benefit. 

The Department also assists veterans with many other 

issues, including compensation for the veteran and family, 

pensions for war-era veterans, death benefits for survivors, 

dependent allowances, requests for military records and 

decorations and much more. 

Veterans, by nature, grow accustomed to moving through 

life without complaints. Duty, sacrifice and suffering in 

silence are all heroic qualities, yet also can keep veterans 

from receiving support they need, deserve and earn. The 

Kern County Veterans Service Department reaches out 

with open arms to the distinguished veterans in our area. 

“Everyone that works in this office truly has a servant’s 

heart and wants to help veterans,” Taylor says. “We really 

love to serve in that capacity; it’s really a joy and an honor.” 

The Kern County Veterans Service Department is located 

at 1120 Golden State Avenue in Bakersfield. For additional 

information, visit the website at www.co.kern.ca.us/veterans. 

KERN COUNTY VETERANS 

SERVICE DEPARTMENT 

÷ 

Left: Ceremonies commemorating significant events are held at the Kern 

County Veterans Service Department. Our community is very supportive of 

our veterans as shown in this photo from our November 10, 2015, 

commemoration of the Marine Corps birthday. 

Below: The Kern County Veterans Service Department was established in 

1944 during World War II to serve our veteran community. The office sits 

on the same parcel of land as the original building, and now occupies the 

structure which was once the Kern County Personnel Office in the 1970s. 


209

PETROLEUM CLUB 

OF BAKERSFIELD 

÷ 

Above: The Stockdale Tower, in Bakersfield, California. 

Below: Thomas J. Fitzgerald was the Petroleum Club’s first president. 

The Petroleum Club of Bakersfield has a 

rich history with ties not only to the oil 

industry, but the agricultural, financial, and 

legal community as well. The club is the 

gathering place of leaders from young to 

mature, with a philosophy that reflects a 

commitment to excellence in all facets. The 

Petroleum Club is a group that gets things 

done—with people you can count on. 

The club was formed in 1952 by founding 

board members George L. Bradford, a landman 

and real estate developer; geologists 

William D. ‘Bill’ Kleinpell, John H. Beach, 

and Everett W. Pease. Thomas J. Fitzgerald, 

a geologist and engineer with Gene Reid 

Drilling, was the club’s first president. 

The primary purpose of the club was to aid in the 

association and fellowship of men connected with 

the petroleum industry and to encourage and sponsor 

new ideas, which would benefit the oil industry as 

a whole and provide men possessing special talents 

with recognition. 

The club originally held its meetings at the Bakersfield 

Inn from 1952 to 1969. The club then moved to the 

Elk’s Lodge at 1600 Thirtieth Street next to the Garces 

Circle, meeting there from 1970 to 1985. From 1985 to 

1993 the club was located downtown in the Bell Tower, 

a converted church in Old Church Plaza. From 1993 to 

2002 the club was located in the old Cask & Cleaver 

Restaurant on Truxtun Avenue. In 2003 the move was made 

to the current location on the top floor of the Stockdale 

Tower, the tallest building in Bakersfield. 

“The club truly is a point of light for the city,” 

comments current President Dave Plivelich. “I’ve lived in 

Bakersfield since 1981 and the one thing that always 

amazes me about this community is how connected the 

people are here, and how down to earth it is.” 

Prior to the move to the Stockdale Tower, club membership 

totaled around 200. By 2014, membership had risen to 

1,140. Weakness in the oil economy dropped membership 

to around 950 in 2015, but the club has begun to see 

an increase because of a wider variety of associations in 

its membership. 

Under the leadership of Plivelich, the club has become 

the center point for all community leaders and represents 

not only the oil industry but a wider variety of associations, 

people and businesses. The Petroleum Club is extremely 

supportive of local nonprofits and also hosts an annual 

golf tournament, which provides scholarships for future 

petroleum engineers. The club hosts many civic service 

clubs’ meetings, including Rotary, Kiwanis, and Petroleum 

Wives of Bakersfield, as well as serving as a premier location 

for wedding receptions, class reunions, celebrations and 

business presentations. 


210

The prologue leading to Hall Ambulance Service’s fortyfive-year 

history started on a dare—literally. Working as an 

orderly at Mercy Hospital in 1960, Harvey L. Hall ran into a 

friend employed as an ambulance attendant. A conversation 

ensued and the acquaintance dared Hall to go for a ride 

along. The experience was so exhilarating; he changed his 

career path and for the next ten years learned every facet of 

the ambulance industry. 

Hall yearned to establish his own service based on his 

expectations and vision for building the best ambulance company 

in America. This included how a customer should be 

treated; why it is important to present yourself in proper uniform; 

arriving at the medical aid request in an ambulance that 

is showroom clean; and how you can make your customer’s 

day better by exhibiting compassion for their situation. 

With a $15,000 bank loan, two ambulances, and his 

personal residence serving as headquarters, Hall Ambulance 

Service commenced business on February 10, 1971. 

As a Bakersfield-based company, Hall Ambulance has 

purposely limited expansion to Kern County, so that they 

may fully serve those in their immediate community. For 

Hall, it comes down to a commitment that there never be an 

unmet need for emergency medical transportation services 

in the communities served by his company. 

This philosophy has worked well for Hall Ambulance 

Service, with several communities inviting him to become 

their 911 paramedic provider, often times, when the previous 

company would cease operations. Other opportunities 

came through acquisitions. 

Looking back at forty-five years of EMS milestones, 

you can see the progress of the company split across 

the decades. The 1970s brought an elevated level of care 

when Hall launched the first mobile intensive care paramedic 

program in Kern County. His first expansions took place 

in Arvin (1975), Lamont (1976), Frazier Park (1978), and 

Tehachapi (1979). 

The 1980s saw the implementation of specially 

configured EMS vehicles to support ambulance 

operations. This included the deployment of the 

first paramedic field supervisor units (1984), and 

the county’s first private mobile medical communications 

unit (1985). 

During the 1990s, Hall Ambulance expanded its 

footprint across Kern County, with service to the east 

Kern communities of Mojave, Rosamond, California 

City, and Boron (1994). Hall purchased Taft 

Ambulance (1995), followed by Shafter Ambulance 

(1999) when their respective owners retired. 

Perhaps the key milestone for the company 

occurred in the summer of 1999 when Hall 

Ambulance became Bakersfield’s sole 911 paramedic provider 

after purchasing Golden Empire Ambulance’s EOA 5 permit. 

As Hall entered the twenty-first century, the company 

focused its efforts on embracing technology to save lives, 

and the addition of air ambulance (2001) and critical care 

transport services (2009). 

In 2014, Hall Ambulance expanded service towards the 

northwest portion of Kern County, with the acquisition of 

Kern Ambulance, serving the city of Wasco. 

To commemorate Hall Ambulance’s forty-fifth anniversary, 

artist Chuck Caplinger produced a nine by sixty-foot 

mural depicting highlights of the company’s history, which 

celebrates the accomplishments of Harvey L. Hall, widely 

respected as a pioneer of modern EMS in California. 

÷ 

HALL AMBULANCE 

SERVICE, INC. 

Top, left: The forty-fifth anniversary paramedic ambulances feature a 

commemorative paint scheme that includes each of the company’s service 

areas featured in the checkerboard design. 

Above: Founder and President Harvey L. Hall, and his wife, Lavonne, 

celebrate forty-five years of providing exemplary paramedic ambulance 

service to Bakersfield and the majority of Kern County. 


211

LINKS FOR LIFE 

÷ 

Right: Sharyn Woods, founder and volunteer CEO from 1992 til 2010. 

Below: Lace’n It Up for Links for Life to kick-off Breast Cancer 

Awareness month. 

What began with 

a golf tournament to 

raise funds for mammograms 

has grown into 

a solid organization, 

which assists thousands 

of Kern County women 

and men with breast 

cancer issues each year. 

Links for Life was 

established in 1992 by 

a group of ten local 

women who wanted to 

create an organization 

catering to the specific 

breast health needs of 

women (and men) in Kern County. The driving forces 

behind creation of Links for Life were Sharyn Woods and 

co-founder Carol Barraza. Sharyn served as the unpaid, 

volunteer CEO of the organization for eighteen years before 

passing away from pancreatic cancer. 

Links for Life provides funding for clinical breast services 

for any underinsured or uninsured person under the age 

of forty. Additional support programs include a wig 

boutique, breast cancer support groups, and a cancer 

resource library. Links for Life also provides breast cancer 

health education and outreach throughout Kern County. 

Many of these programs target rural areas and minority 

populations in order to provide early detection, treatment, 

and general breast health information. 

Links for Life has provided more than 3,500 wigs, funded 

3,600 mammograms and 5,600 ultrasounds, and 442 needle 

biopsies for underinsured and uninsured women in Kern 

County, diagnosing thirty-seven women with breast cancer 

who would otherwise had gone without treatment. 

When state health officials made significant cuts to 

breast screening services for low income women in 2009, 

changing the coverage for breast screening from the age 

of forty to fifty, Links for Life Executive Director Jennifer 

Henry decided to do something about it. She urged the 

board of directors to dedicate an additional $100,000 

toward mammograms ultrasounds, and needle biopsies for 

Kern County women. 

Eleven months later, “The state reinstated the ‘Every 

Woman Counts’ program to provide diagnostic screening 

for women over forty,” Henry says. “That means Links for 

Life is able to use our funds to pay for mammograms 

for women under forty.” While the funding was frozen for 

women in their forties, Links for Life diagnosed eleven 

women with breast cancer. With the diagnosis they were able 

to receive treatment. 

Education and awareness of breast health and early 

detection of breast cancer are key to improving survival rates 

from breast cancer. Links for Life’s education and outreach 

volunteers are passionate about educating the community 

about the importance of breast health and go throughout 

the community speaking and educating the public. 

A breast cancer support group which meets on the first 

Tuesday of each month averages twenty-five women who range 

from those newly diagnosed to twenty-plus year survivors. 

Links for Life is supported by contributions and revenue 

from the Sharyn Woods Memorial Pro-Am Golf Tournament 

and Gala, Lace’n It Up walks, the Paint the Town Pink fashion 

show, grants, and donations from many philanthropic 

local businesses. Links for Life is the only breast cancer 

organization located in Kern County, where 100 percent 

of funds raised stay in Kern County to assist women and 

families facing this dreaded disease. 

For more information about Links for Life, check the 

website at www.linksforlife.org. 


212

The Boys & Girls Club of Kern County provides academic 

support, enrichment, and social bonding activities through 

after-school programs and summer camps. The club is 

focused on an established youth development strategy 

based on five core programming areas: character and 

leadership, education and career development, health and 

life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. 

More than 600 youth development professionals work 

with over 7,000 school age club members on a daily basis. 

Participants come from a broad socio-economic level; from 

children living in homelessness to affluence. 

The organization was initially established in 1966 by 

local community leaders as the Boys Club of Bakersfield to 

serve young men in the community. The activities were 

hosted in a small warehouse and served twenty-five boys 

with such activities as pool, ping-pong, and craft classes. 

As the program evolved and served more young men, the 

activities moved several times, finally settling down in a 

small church in East Bakersfield in the late 1970s. 

Recognizing the club also served the sisters of many of the 

young men, the name was formally changed to the Boys 

& Girls Club of Bakersfield in the mid-1980s. 

The club was initially operated with a ‘gym and swim’ for 

boys philosophy. In fifty years, it has transformed to be the 

largest Boys & Girls Club in the nation with programs that 

enrich, educate, and sustain lives. Statistics demonstrate that 

‘Club Kids’ score higher than their peers in both 

reading and math, and 100 percent of the teens 

graduate from high school with a plan for the future. 

In 1995 the club secured a $1 million grant 

from the California Youth Authority and raised 

another $650,000 to build a new facility to house 

its growing membership. A local couple—Jack 

and Monica Armstrong—invested thousands of 

dollars of their own money to purchase land for 

the club to ensure members had access to such amenities 

as computer lab, art studio, library and teen center. 

The Jack and Monica Armstrong Youth Center opened in 

1997 and continues to be the hub of the club’s operations, 

serving more than 200 children daily. 

In 2000 a partnership was established with Bakersfield 

City School District to deliver programs on school campuses 

when school is not in session. The programs grew exponentially 

over the next years and the Lamont Boys & Girls 

Club was established with seed money from Kern County. 

The next club established was the Boys & 

Girls Club of Frazier Mountain. The club 

was then asked to organize programs with 

the Delano School District and, at this point, 

the name was officially changed to Boys & 

Girls Clubs of Kern County. 

As of 2016 the Boys & Girls Club facilitates 

sixty-two after-school programs at separate 

locations in partnership with Bakersfield 

City School District, Lamont School District, 

Arvin School District, DiGeorgio School 

District, Vineland, General Shafter, Beardsley 

and Standard School Districts. 

The main headquarters is at 801 Niles 

Street. The club also hosts freestanding club 

houses in Southwest Bakersfield and Lamont. 

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB 

OF KERN COUNTY 


213

÷ 

It is not a fiesta without a mariachi band to fill the air with the folkloric sounds of Mexico. 

Performers dress in traditional Charro attire and in place of a bolo tie, wear a large red bow on their chest. 


214

The Marketplace 

Bakersfield’s retail and commercial establishments offer an impressive variety of choices 

Kern Federal Credit Union...................................................................................216 

Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc. ..............................................................................220 

Luigi’s Restaurant & Old World Delicatessen ..........................................................222 

Canteen of Coastal California, Inc. .......................................................................224 

Galbraith Van & Storage .....................................................................................226 

Young Wooldridge, LLP ........................................................................................228 

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce .............................................................230 

Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce ..............................................................231 

North of the River Chamber of Commerce ...............................................................232 

Visit Bakersfield.................................................................................................233 

Bakersfield Downtown Business Association.............................................................234 

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace .................................................................................235 

Carney’s Business Technology Center .....................................................................236 

Kern Schools Federal Credit Union ........................................................................237 

Guitar Masters ..................................................................................................238 

Hodel’s Country Dining .......................................................................................239 

Bakersfield Condors ............................................................................................240 

Valley Gun, Inc. .................................................................................................241 

Dewar’s Soda Fountain and Fine Candies................................................................242 

Emporium Western Store......................................................................................243 

Valley Republic Bank...........................................................................................244 

KGET, Telemundo and the CW Bakersfield ..............................................................245 

Smith’s Bakeries .................................................................................................246 

Gregory Iger’s Photographic Art, Inc. 

dba Iger Studio .............................................................................................247 

THE MARKETPLACE 

215

KERN FEDERAL 

CREDIT UNION 

Kern Federal Credit Union was organized in February 

1949 by a small group of county employees looking for a 

better way to save, borrow and invest their money. 

The effort to establish a credit union was led by Howard 

Delamore, who had recently retired as a Kern County 

firefighter. Two years earlier, Delamore had successfully 

organized the first Firefighters Union in Kern County, 

a forerunner of the IAFF Local 1301. He was recruited by 

several of his colleagues to investigate the possibility of a 

credit union. 

The first ‘vault’ for the credit union was the trunk of a 

Kern County Sheriff’s Department cruiser and all operations 

were done by volunteers on weekends around a kitchen 

table. Deposits were taken and loan decisions were made by 

county employees for county employees and their families. 

Formation of KFCU provided employees of Kern County 

with a strong financial foundation and the ability to borrow 

for such large ticket items as homes and automobiles. It also 

provided a safe place for them to save for their future. 

KFCU was founded on the core principle of people 

helping people, following the lead of a network of grass 

roots financial institutions across the county, giving buying 

and saving power to the common individual. 

A credit union is similar to a bank in that it offers 

financial services and savings that are federally insured. 

However, there are a few key differences: credit unions 

are owned by their members, like a co-operative, while 

bank customers do not own any shares in the financial 

institution. Credit unions are run by a volunteer board of 

directors. Credit unions also are not-for-profit, which 

means KFCU works to put profits back in the pockets 

of its members—in the form of low rates on loans and 

special discounts. 


216

In February 1980, KFCU moved into a building at 

1717 Truxtun Avenue, the current home of the credit 

union’s downtown branch and administrative operations. 

KFCU’s first and—so far—only female CEO, DeAnn Straub, 

began as a teller in 1972 and was one of only thirteen 

employees at the time. She took over as CEO in 1994 

after then CEO Fred Doering’s battle with cancer forced 

him to leave the credit union. Straub retired in July 2015 

after forty-three years of continuous service. 

KFCU offers a wide array of checking and savings 

options for its members, including basic, plus, and fresh 

start checking, savings accounts, money market accounts, 

share certificates and IRA accounts. Loans are available for 

homes and autos, along with lines of credit, MasterCard 

credit cards, home equity loans, and home equity lines 

of credit. 

Kern Federal now has $232 million in assets. It has 

20,000 members and employs sixty-five people. In addition 

to the main location on Truxtun Avenue, there is a 

Riverlakes branch at 4180 Coffee Road. 

KFCU is governed by a board of directors composed of 

a volunteer group of members elected by the membership 

to determine basic policies and plan for the credit union’s 

future direction. The current board is comprised of Chairman 

Steve Long; Vice Chairman Margo Raison; Treasurer John 

Devlin; Secretary Jackie Denney; and Directors Guy Greenlee, 

Glenn Basconcillo, and Debbie Stevenson. 


217

A supervisory committee—also a volunteer group—is 

responsible for ensuring that government regulations and 

Board polices, as well as good business and accounting 

practices, are followed by the credit union. Lito Morillo is 

chairman of the supervisory committee and Bret Black and 

Ginny Krebs are members of the committee. 

The CEO of Kern Federal is Brandon Ivie, who assumed 

the position in 2015. Ivie is a graduate of the University of 

Oregon and has worked in credit unions for twenty-five 

years, starting as a part-time teller while in college. “I never 

believed I would stay in credit unions once I graduated from 

college, but I was offered a position in the accounting 

department while still in school and since I was a starving 

college student and it was more money, I jumped at it,” 

he recalls. “I soon realized that I loved the family atmosphere 

of credit unions and had found my calling.” 

Ivie worked for three of the largest credit unions in 

Eugene, Oregon, and later in Sacramento as he moved up 

in his career. He joined Kern Federal in 2013 as CFO. 

Ivie and his wife, Mercedes, have two children, Mercedes 

(named for her mom) and Daniel. 

Kern Federal Credit Union takes pride in its commitment 

to Kern County. With strong alliances with the Kern County 

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the North of River 

Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of 

Commerce, the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce 

and the Downtown Business Association, KFCU is prepared 

to support business owners in the area and improve the 

financial wellbeing of the consumers who make the local 

economy run. 


218

KFCU is also dedicated to financial literacy and devotes 

countless hours each year to teaching high school students 

and young parents the ins-and-outs of household finance. 

The credit union has donated hundreds of thousands of 

dollars to local charitable institutions whose missions are 

to improve the welfare of Kern County residents. The credit 

union is a strong supporter of CASA, the Kern County 

Museum, Dress for Success, Cal State University 

Bakersfield, Community Action Partnership of Kern County, 

the Dolores Huerta Foundation, CARE, Relay for Life and 

dozens of others. The mission is to improve the county 

and to support charities and organizations that do the 

most good. 

KFCU is passionate about serving Kern County and all its 

residents and feels it is imperative that its membership reflect 

the county’s diverse and growing population. Kern Federal 

will not let language, socio-economic status or city of residence 

be a barrier between potential members and their 

ability to receive low cost financial services, education, and 

counseling. Through community outreach, financial education, 

a strong online presence, and a diverse and welcoming staff, 

KFCU pledges to be a financial haven for every resident of 

Kern County. Kern Federal Credit Union is truly here to serve. 

To learn more about the Kern Federal Credit Union and 

details of the many programs it offers, check the website at 

www.kernfcu.org. 


219

TEL-TEC SECURITY 

SYSTEMS, INC. 

÷ 

Above: Tel-Tec Security Systems' executive team (left to right): Vice President 

of Technology, Owen Freeman; Vice President of Operations and Finance, 

Patrick Bergin; President Morgan Clayton; and Director of Operations, 

Brian Humes. 

Below: Morgan Clayton in the beginning years. 

A passion for design and determination to do more was 

the driving force behind the vision for Tel-Tec Security 

Systems, Inc., a Bakersfield security firm specializing in 

custom security designs and integrating systems. 

Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc., was founded in 1982 by 

Morgan E. Clayton, who possessed the energy and dedication 

to make his vision a reality. Several key individuals joined 

in Clayton’s journey, including Virgil Correl, Steve Park, 

Bruce Clayton, Pat Bergin, Chris Taylor and Owen Freeman. 

“An action plan with a mission and the right people was 

a requirement for survival during the inception of the 

business,” Clayton explains. “Failure was not an option and 

the key words were ‘follow through’. The development of the 

brand was essential and it was imperative a good impression 

was left with each customer. Customer development was 

accomplished by referrals, which had to be earned. I’ve 

always believed that people do business with people they 

know, they like and they trust.” 

Today, Tel-Tec is an independent security firm, which 

provides security solutions for thousands of clients. Tel-Tec 

designs, installs, services and maintains enterprise level 

security and life safety solutions. All products sold in relation 

to fire, burglary, access control and cameras are installed with 

the discretion of certified and experienced designers. 

“Our goal is providing quality security, service and peace 

of mind,” Clayton says. “We are a full service company and 

we monitor the products we install through our 24/7 UL 

listed monitoring center. With more than thirty-four years in 

the security business, we have the competency and proven 

past performance to manage various security projects. 

“Our streamlined organization provides efficiency through 

clean, simple and effective processes and communication,” 

Clayton continues. “We have flexibility and adjust quickly 

and dynamically to unanticipated requirements. We are a 

local business with capabilities and experience that rivals the 

performance of much larger firms.” 


220

Tel-Tec has never been a job for Clayton; it is a lifestyle. 

Putting his vision into action was never something that could 

be evaluated by calculating the number of hours he invested. 

Clayton showed up daily to live and share his passion with 

others. He believes “there is no such thing as retirement when 

you are passionate and love what you do each day.” 

The success of his security business has allowed Clayton 

to have greater involvement in the community and he serves 

on a number of local boards and sponsors events to aide local 

nonprofits that serve youth and families. 

In 1998, Clayton attended the Bakersfield Business 

Conference, an annual conference where nationally known 

speakers discuss the business and political issues that 

affect our world. After hearing General Colin L. Powell speak 

on the story of America’s promise, Clayton developed 

the visionary idea of founding a local youth conference 

planned by young people for youth to give them a 

voice and provide a forum in which to discuss issues 

that impact teens. Planning for the Leaders in Life Youth 

Conference began in 1999 with about fifty students 

and adults. In 2000 the first conference was held with 

approximately 500 students. The sixteenth annual Leaders 

in Life Youth Conference was held in 2015, with more than 

2,000 students attending. 

Conference participants are educated about issues that are 

important to them so they can make healthy and informed 

decisions regarding drug and alcohol use, future career 

exploration, and youth advocacy. The students are motivated 

to help others make positive decisions. 

Looking to the future, Tel-Tec Security Systems will 

continue to reinvest in the community while building upon 

its vision to expand with the demands of the industry. Its 

creative and talented team of security experts who are 

dedicated to the mission of providing peace of mind will 

continue to propel the vision of a quality product backed by 

quality service. 

÷ 

Above: President of Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc., Morgan Clayton. 

Below: Morgan Clayton with his family. 


221

LUIGI’S RESTAURANT & 

OLD WORLD DELICATESSEN 

Luigi’s and Lemucchi Grocery has been at its present 

location since 1910 and is one of Bakersfield’s oldest 

continuously family-operated businesses. Joe Lemucchi, the 

founder of the business, came to California from Lucca, 

Italy, and started his original café on Summer Street in 

1905. Joe’s nickname was ‘Biondo’ or Curley, and the 

business was first named Curley’s Café. 

Joe married Emelia Deguili, also an Italian immigrant, 

and the couple moved in 1910 to the present location of 

the business at 725 East Nineteenth Street. The original 

store had family quarters in the rear where the couple’s four 

children; Louis, Lena, Harry and Helen were born. 

The early business featured a grocery, café, bakery, and 

gasoline station. Nineteenth Street was the main thoroughfare 

between Bakersfield and the then town of Sumner. The 

streetcar line from Bakersfield extended east on Nineteenth 

Street and terminated at the Southern Pacific Depot on 

Baker Street. East Nineteenth Street also ended at the 

Lemucchi Store, merging into Edison Highway, which 

became the main highway exiting and entering Bakersfield 

on the east side. Joe catered to the many Italian immigrant 

families who came to Kern County in the early 1900s. 

Some lived in the immediate neighborhood while many 

were engaged in farming and drove in for their groceries. 

The grocery store featured domestic and imported goods. 

At the rear of his store, Joe constructed several small 

cottages or apartments, which were rented by bachelor 

Italian immigrants. Late afternoon and weekends would 

find groups of immigrants out back of the store under 

the grape arbor discussing the latest news and world events 

in Italian. 

The café and grocery store were always lively places 

with visiting and shopping being conducted in several 

languages. The now famous Luigi sandwich originated in 

the café where Joe and Emelia always had fresh stew, pasta, 

and minestrone for hungry customers. Small, but intimate 

in the back corner of the grocery, the café was always a 

popular gathering spot. 

After Joe’s death, Emelia and her son, Louis (Luigi) continued 

the business. The bar was added next to the old store 

and the restaurant expanded into a building to the east. 

In the 1920s and 1930s, the concrete and steel structure now 

housing the restaurant was rented by Shell Oil Company 

and at one time was their Kern County headquarters. 

The newly expanded bar and restaurant were name 

‘Luigi’s. Luigi was an incessant collector of photos and 

sports memorabilia and he covered the walls of his business 


222

with photos of local athletes spanning more than eight 

decades. The photos displayed on the walls constitute 

only a small portion of Luigi’s pictorial collection. The 

pictures in Luigi’s are a constant attraction to multiple 

generations of Kern County patrons who return frequently 

to view favored photos with a friend, relative or member of 

a new generation. 

Since the death of Luigi in 1989, Luigi’s has been operated 

by a new generation of the Lemucchi family: Tonia 

Valpredo; Monte Valpredo; daughters, Monica and Lanette; 

and son, Gino are the third and fourth generations of the 

family to operate the popular East Bakersfield establishment. 

“We’ve tried to continue the atmosphere and delicious 

food that have made Luigi’s so popular over the years,” says 

Gino. “We’ve tried to update the facilities but keep the 

traditional feel of the family restaurant.” 

A walk-in wine cellar was added in 2001, and the 

Wine Shop at Luigi’s has become a popular destination for 

knowledgeable wine enthusiasts. Lanette Valpredo Caratan, 

a certified sommelier, runs the Wine Shop and is always 

available to help customers select just the right wine to pair 

with various menus. Lanette’s passion is old-world Italian 

wines, but she is also an expert on the many fine California 

wines produced in the region. Wine dinners and weekend 

wine tastings are a popular feature of the Wine Shop. 

Another popular section of Luigi’s is an authentic, 

old-world delicatessen reminiscent of the store operated 

by Joe a century ago. The deli features genuine Italian 

prosciutto and salami, along with 

dozens of other selections and seventyfive 

different types of cheese. “All the 

food is fresh and never pre-packaged,” 

Gino explains. “We try to emulate the 

great delicatessens you would find in 

San Francisco or New York.” 

Luigi’s is open for lunch Tuesday 

through Saturday, and the Deli and 

Wine Shop are open the same days 

from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the 

evening the restaurant is available for 

special events or private parties, with 

delicious food and drink catered by 

Luigi’s chef and staff. Off-premises 

catering is also available. 

Luigi’s currently employs forty-five 

people including five descendants of 

Joe and Emelia. Several members of 

the staff have been with the restaurant 

for twenty-five years or longer. 

Gino and others members of the 

family feel an obligation to continue the 

tradition established by their ancestors 

110 years ago. “We preach consistency 

in the kitchen and we are all focused 

on customer service,” comments Gino. 

“We take pride in keeping Luigi’s among 

the most popular restaurants, delis and 

wine stores in Bakersfield.” 


223

CANTEEN OF COASTAL 

CALIFORNIA, INC. 

Canteen of Coastal California, Inc., a full-line vending 

service company, is a family operated business with an 

emphasis on excellent customer service. 

The company was founded by 

Gerald A. ‘Scotty’ Scott, a native 

of Nebraska. He served on a mine 

sweeper in the North Atlantic 

during World War II. After the 

war, he met and married Dorothy 

Blizzard in Maryland and they 

moved to California. 

In 1951, Scotty began working 

for a vending machine company 

called Canteen and this 

job led to his life-long career. 

Although he was not highly educated, he was able to work 

his way through the ranks of Canteen Corporation through 

his work habits, attitude, honesty, and integrity, eventually 

becoming the general manager of the Bay Area operation 

in northern California. 

In 1972, Scotty bought a small vending franchise, moved 

his family to Oxnard and named his fledgling business 

Canteen of Coastal California, Inc. The operation began in 

one-half of a two-car garage with only thirteen accounts, 

but Scotty enlisted his family’s support and the business 

began to grow and moved to a warehouse in Ventura. 

As a full-service vending service company, Canteen of 

Coastal California, Inc., can meet all its customer’s requirements 

including soft drink vending machines, vending machines for 

coffee, candy and other snacks, as well as vending machines 

with healthy food and beverage alternatives. Micro Markets are 

the newest innovation in refreshment services and provide a 

convenience store environment right in your place of business. 

Canteen of Coastal California, Inc., with more than 1,300 

accounts, 4,700 vending machines and nearly 100 Micro 

Markets, has grown to become the largest vending operation in 

Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. 

The success of the canteen company has allowed the 

Scott family to become very active in local philanthropies 

and civic organizations. Long before there was a campus— 

or even a name—for Ventura County’s four-year public university, 

the Scott family was championing it. Early supporters 

of the university since the 1970s, Scotty and Dotty passed 

that zeal on to their children; Jerry, Mark, and Andrea. 

Today, the family is a major sponsor of scholarships, events 

and other gifts, providing assistance personally and through 

their business. “Cal State Channel Islands is an asset to the 

community,” says Dotty. “When you support the university, 

you’re supporting the entire community.” 

“As business owners, we have a stake in creating a 

healthy community and business environment in Ventura 

County,” adds Vice President and General Manager Jerry 

Scott. “By investing in CI, we can be part of the effort to 

create a more highly skilled, educated workforce and to 

attract and retain businesses to our region.” 

The Scotts and Canteen of Coastal California, Inc. are 

keen contributors to CI, providing everything from scholarships 

and sponsorship funds to water, sodas and snacks for 

campus relays and other events. They also recently became 

the lead donors for the Founder’s Court, CI’s newest 

fundraising initiative to launch an intercollegiate athletics 

program. Avid golf and sports enthusiasts, the family looks 

forward to contributing to another significant step in 

CI’s advancement. 

“An athletic program is something that will really promote 

health and wellness and build on CI’s culture of camaraderie 

and community partnership,” Jerry says. “We love 

seeing how beautifully the campus has transformed and 

knowing that something tangible is happening as a result of 

our involvement.” 


224

Along with their three children, Scotty and Dotty established 

the Scott Family Endowed Scholarship, which 

sponsors students in their studies at CI. 

The Scott family supports causes ranging from children’s 

charities and food banks to cancer research, cultural institutions 

and education. The Scotts want to make educational 

opportunities available to deserving students in the community. 

Among the organizations supported by the Scotts are 

AAKP, American Cancer Society, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, 

Boys & Girls Clubs, Channel Islands, Camarillo Healthcare 

District, Camarillo Family YMCA, Carnegie Art Museum, 

Casa Pacifica, Cato Institute, Dave & Bob’s Foster Children’s 

Fund, Dogs for the Deaf, Easter Seals, Food Share, 

Foundation for Retarded Citizens, Hospice, Intercollegiate 

Studies Institute, Interface Family Services, Katrina Relief 

Fund, KCET-TV, La Rena High School, Meals on Wheels, 

Military World Games, Moorpark College Baseball Team, 

Mount Vernon and the Rotary Club of Camarillo. 

Jerry is a committed member of the Camarillo Rotary 

Club and served as its president. The Scott family 

established the Rotary Vocational Scholarship in Scotty’s 

honor to help others who share the same desire to prove 

that through perseverance, hard work and dedication, 

they also can become successful. 

Scotty passed away in 2006 after a long illness but the 

business is still family-owned and operated. His wife, Dotty, 

is still involved in daily operations, and their sons Jerry 

and Mark, daughter, Andrea, and daughter-in-law, Loretta 

are all involved in the business. Their grandmother, Nellie 

Blizzard, worked in the office until she was ninety-seven. 


225

GALBRAITH 

VAN & STORAGE 

÷ 

Right: A vintage horse-drawn wagon used by Bekins Moving and 

Storage Company. 

Below: The original building of Galbraith Van & Storage. 

Galbraith Van & Storage was founded in 1912, the same 

year New Mexico and Arizona were admitted to the Union, 

the first streetcars took to the streets of San Francisco, 

and the Titanic set sail on its maiden—and final—voyage. 

Galbraith Van & Storage has been family owned and operated 

for over 100 years and is now in its fourth generation. 

Things were far different in 1912 when George H. 

Galbraith started his moving company with horses and 

wagons and two ‘auto trucks’. “George used to move 

commodities to the railroads with a team of horses and 

wagons when everything began,” explains the company’s 

current owner, Ben Geissel. 

Much of the company’s early business involved transporting 

agricultural products but Galbraith was soon ready to 

branch out into other areas and decided to get into moving 

and storage. Galbraith became the first company to sign on 

as agents for Bekins Van Lines, which became the industry 

leader for several decades. 

George managed the business for some time before passing 

it on to his son, Jack, following World War II. Jack had 

been a prisoner of the Japanese during the war and somehow 

managed to survive the infamous Bataan Death March. 

During the time Jack was running the company, the first 

Geissel family member entered the picture—Ken Geissel, 

who was married to Jack’s niece, Sue. Ken was working 

as a draftsman for Standard Oil when he decided to take 

some time off to investigate the opportunities in the moving 

and storage business. Ken liked what he saw and never 

returned to Standard Oil. Ken eventually became a partner 

in the company. Sue also joined the company, serving as 

bookkeeper for many years. 

“She was the bookkeeper, but basically did anything that 

needed to be done,” Ben recalls. “The same thing went for 

my dad. He was president and head of operations, but he 

was also the truck maintenance guy when they needed it, 

the broom pusher, you name it. At one point, they were the 

two people holding the business together.” 

Over time, Ken and Sue managed to build a strong staff 

of dedicated employees and the company developed a 

family-like atmosphere that continues today. Debbie 

Fullerton has been with the company more than thirty 

years. An integral part of the company, Ben has seen a lot of 

changes over the years. 

“When I started, there were only two warehouses and 

now we have three,” Ben remembers. “One of the traditions 

that will always hold true for Galbraith Van & Storage is 

that everyone is treated like family. If anyone is struggling, 

we try to get everyone to chip in and help out. Holidays 

and birthdays are always celebrated; we know each other’s 

children and have watched them grow up together. We are 

definitely more like family than co-workers,” Ben remarks. 

Galbraith Van & Storage was the agent for Bekins Van 

Lines nearly seventy-two years, but became North American 

Van Lines agents twenty years ago in 1995. 


226

Galbraith Van & Storage is a professional, full service 

moving company, offering relocations from any point in 

Bakersfield, Kern County, the U.S., or anywhere in the 

world. Over the years, Galbraith has helped thousands of 

families and businesses move to a new home or relocate to 

Bakersfield. The firm was one of the major movers for State 

Farm Insurance when the company opened a regional office 

in Bakersfield. Galbraith was the firm entrusted with moving 

the Kern County Hall of Records, and Galbraith moved the 

Bakersfield National Cemetery administrative offices on the 

day of its dedication by the Secretary of the Interior in 2011. 

Galbraith also stores sensitive documents for doctors, 

lawyers or anyone who needs reliable, safe keeping of 

their records. 

Galbraith Van & Storage has Pro Mover status with the 

American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) and is an 

accredited business with the BBB, enjoying an A+ rating. 

Galbraith is deeply involved in the community and takes 

its responsibilities very seriously. The company has 

partnered with United Way of Kern County and the 

Bakersfield Condors for fifteen years to collect and transport 

the stuffed animals that are donated at the annual 

‘Teddy Bear Toss’. The company also partners with Habitat 

for Humanity to move Habitat families into their new homes 

and hauled truckloads of Ikea goods from the distribution 

center to Habitat’s Restore facility. 

Galbraith has also partnered with Guarantee Shoe Center 

for twenty years, helping with the annual shoe drive that 

helps the Bakersfield Homeless Center. For twenty years, 

the firm has donated cartons and material annually to the 

American Legion for their holiday food baskets and has 

delivered 26,000 pounds of clothing and supplies donated 

by the city of Bakersfield for the victims of hurricane 

Katrina in Louisiana. Galbraith has also moved veterans of 

Kern County gratis in partnership with the Wounded 

Heroes of Kern County. 

Sue was chairman of the board of the California Moving 

and Storage Association (CMSA) in 1996. Ken and Ben 

both served on the board of directors of the CMSA for 

many years and through this association the company has 

supported the Special Olympics of Southern California. 

After more than a century of business, the success 

of Galbraith Van & Storage is clearly explained in the 

company’s motto: “People Make the Difference.” 

÷ 

Left: A Large Galbraith Van & Storage moving truck parked outside of a 

home in a residential neighborhood. 

Bottom, left: A side view of a Galbraith Van & Storage small moving van. 

Below: Ken and Sue Geissel. 


227

YOUNG WOOLDRIDGE, LLP 

÷ 

Clockwise, starting from the top left: 

Co-founder John Young in the late 1950s. Young, with a farming background, 

represented a number of local agricultural clients and played a key role in 

establishing the firm’s water department that now represents over twenty-five 

water districts and public agencies throughout California. 

Co-founder Joe Wooldridge working in his office in the late 1950s. 

Wooldridge’s practice focused on representing Kern County businesses. 

Young Wooldridge, LLP has been located on the fourth floor at 

1800 Thirtieth Street since 1993. The firm has been practicing law in 

Bakersfield, California, since 1939. 

Left to right, Business Attorneys Chris W. Hamilton, Jerry W. Pearson, 

Jefferson X. Eberhardt, Robert J. Noriega and Michael A. Kaia in 2016. 

The business department handles a wide range of legal matters on behalf of 

Kern County businesses including formation, transactions, litigation, 

employment and labor law, taxation and more. 

In 1939, newcomer Joseph Wooldridge had just passed the 

California State Bar examination and was working downtown 

in the Haberfelde Building as an insurance adjuster. When 

Wooldridge arrived, Bakersfield was a typical small town, rich 

in family values and community pride. Agriculture and oil 

created many jobs and offered a solid economic foundation 

for the city and Kern County. 

Kern County native John Young, an attorney, had an office 

down the hall from Wooldridge and the two met while 

pursuing a claim for an injured client. The two men quickly 

discovered they shared one powerful idea about the practice 

of law—that it should be, first and foremost, a public service. 

When the case was settled, Young and Wooldridge became 

partners and their vision of the legal profession and their 

friendship became the foundation for one of Kern County’s 

oldest and largest legal institutions. 

Young, born and raised on a farm just south of Bakersfield, 

developed a circle of agricultural clients while Wooldridge 

represented businesses in Kern County. Their efforts reflected 

a deep understanding of the county’s economic base in 

agriculture and oil and the legal needs of its residents. 

For more than seventy-five years, Young Wooldridge has 

represented business and corporate clients, public agencies, 

families, and individuals in a broad range of legal matters. 

The firm’s services include water, special districts and 

public agency law, business transactions, business and 

civil litigation, employment and labor law, oil and gas law, 

real estate law, complex tax matters, estate planning and 

probate, personal injury and wrongful death. 

As the firm began to expand following World War II, 

several additional attorneys joined the firm. A. Cam Paulden, 

known as ‘Cam’ joined the firm in the mid-1950s and 

became a partner by 1959. Robert Self joined in 1961 and 

became partner within a year, and G. Neil Farr joined the 

firm in 1970 and became partner in 1971. 

Paulden, Self, and Farr added balance, additional expertise, 

and even more energy to an already motivated and 

growing organization. The firm’s practice continued to be 

based on the belief that clients deserve service above and 

beyond what is required. 

Young and Paulden played a key role in establishing 

and developing an expertise in the complex areas of water, 

public agency, and land use law when State and Federal 

water projects were being constructed in Kern County in 

the late 1940s through the 1960s. 


228

The Water Department at Young Wooldridge continues 

to build on the knowledge of Young and Paulden and has 

assisted—among other things—with the development and 

formation of several state water banking programs. Currently, 

Young Wooldridge is general counsel to more than twentyfive 

water districts and public agencies throughout California. 

By the mid-1970s, the firm was known as Young, 

Wooldridge, Paulden, Self and Farr. The practice continued 

to evolve with new attorneys and partners throughout the 

1980s and early 1990s. In 1993 the firm moved to its 

current location at 1800 Thirtieth Street and reverted to its 

original name, Young Wooldridge. 

Today, Young Wooldridge, LLP is a mid-sized law firm 

with vast experience, extensive legal expertise, and a warm 

personal approach to working with clients. Though services 

have expanded, the firm’s basic values remain unchanged. 

The personal touch that the firm’s founders brought to 

the practice of law is still part of the everyday operation. 

Many of the firm’s clients are third and fourth generation, 

a testament to the quality, integrity, and warmth of the 

attorneys and staff. 

The firm has been voted as a Favorite Law Firm in the 

Bakersfield Californian’s ‘Best of Readers’ Choice Poll’ for four 

consecutive years, each year since the category’s inception. 

As of summer 2016, Young Wooldridge is home to thirtyeight 

employees and fourteen attorneys who practice across 

a variety of areas. The eight partners are Larry R. Cox, 

Ernest A. Conant, Scott K. Kuney, Michael A. Kaia, 

Steven M. Torigiani, Gregory A. Muir, Jerry W. Pearson and 

Ned Dunphy. 

Young Wooldridge is actively involved in supporting Kern 

County businesses and industries. The firm supports local 

chambers and organizations throughout the area including, 

but not limited to: Kern County Bar Association, Greater 

Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Hispanic 

Chamber of Commerce, NOR Chamber of Commerce, Society 

of Human Resources Management, Water Association of Kern 

County, Kern County Farm Bureau, Kern County Builders 

Exchange and Taft College Foundation Petroleum Partners. 

In addition to supporting our local industries, Young 

Wooldridge believes in giving back to the community in 

which it serves. The firm supports numerous local efforts 

benefitting education and the arts, health and humanitarian 

services, public safety and community development. 

Attorneys and staff have worked on various community 

boards in leadership positions including: Rotary Club of 

Bakersfield–Downtown, South and Breakfast, Friends of 

Mercy Hospital Foundation, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital 

President’s Circle, San Joaquin Community Hospital 

Foundation, board of directors of the Kern County Fair 

Board, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Henrietta Weill 

Child Guidance Clinic Board of Directors, Brain Injury 

Association of California, Kern Citizens for Sustainable 

Government and Kern County Historical Society. 

Young Wooldridge’s commitment to education is demonstrated 

in a number of ways. Attorneys at the firm have 

participated as coaches and judges in local mock trial programs 

and the firm has sponsored the annual Hometown 

Sports Scholar Athlete of the Year scholarship, in partnership 

with television station KBAK, for over twenty years. 

One of the firm’s favorite annual events supports the 

American Red Cross—Kern Chapter. Each year, Young 

Wooldridge hosts a reception to introduce the Heroes of 

the American Red Cross, recognizing local citizens for 

their heroic acts of kindness, selfless action, and exemplary 

behavior in the community. The heroes go on to be 

recognized at a dinner and award presentation hosted by 

the American Red Cross. 

For more information about the attorneys and services at 

Young Wooldridge, LLP, visit www.youngwooldridge.com. 

÷ 

Above: Left to right, the firm’s personal injury department in 2016 

includes Attorney Thomas A. Brill, Investigator Frank Wooldridge, Attorney 

Scott D. Howry, Attorney Gregory A. Muir and Attorney Ned Dunphy. 

Below: Estate planning Attorney Larry R. Cox and Paralegal Dee Fringer. 

Fringer has assisted Cox in the estate planning department for over 

thirty-five years. 


229

GREATER BAKERSFIELD 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce has 

been a strong advocate for local business since 1920. 

The chamber works to engage, enhance and empower 

its members by providing programs, services, and events 

that will help take member’s businesses to the next level. 

Whether it is meeting with lawmakers about issues that 

impact local businesses, providing 

opportunities for members 

to connect, or working tirelessly 

to keep members up-to-date 

about the latest business trends, 

the chamber prides itself on 

being a lobbying firm, publicist 

and HR department for all 

its members, all rolled into 

one package. 

The chamber, then called the 

Bakersfield Civic Commercial 

Association, held its first meeting 

on November 26, 1920. The 

association’s main goals were, 

“The appropriations of funds 

to alleviate flood conditions, 

housing needs, taxation to effect 

a more efficient government, 

highways, parks, education, 

economic development and 

transportation.” The chamber’s 

first officials were President 

Louis Oclese, Vice President 

C. W. Newberry, and Treasurer 

Arthur S. Crites. 

The chamber has been at 

the forefront of a number of 

civic improvements over the 

years. According to a history of Bakersfield by author 

Richard Bailey, the chamber organized the campaign 

that established a city manager form of government during 

the early 1940s. During the 1960s, the chamber strongly 

supported construction of the Civic Auditorium, which 

brought conventions, trade shows, sporting events and 

other activities to the city. 

Currently, the chamber is known for its strong advocacy 

efforts to ensure a healthy business climate for everyone. 

The Government Review Council (GRC) meets weekly 

to discuss and debate issues affecting the local business 

community. Members may also support important political 

campaigns and issues by contributing to the chamber’s 

Political Action Committee. 

The chamber provides several professional development 

opportunities for its members, including the Leadership 

Bakersfield program that provides key business and 

community leaders a different perspective on what makes 

Bakersfield tick. In addition, the chamber has sponsored 

the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards since 1990. These awards 

honor individuals and businesses that help Bakersfield 

realize its slogan of ‘Life as it should be.’ The chamber 

also sponsors After Hours Mixers to provide opportunities 

for networking and hosts the annual Business Expo, the 

region’s largest business-to-business trade show. 

The chamber has more than 1,100 members, representing 

nearly 3,000 member representatives. The chamber has 

seven staff members who work to provide high-caliber 

programs, events and services for its members. President 

and CEO of the chamber is Nicholas Ortiz. 

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce is located 

at 1725 Eye Street in the heart of downtown. The chamber’s 

former home on Truxtum Avenue is now home to the 

Rabobank Arena, built in 1998 as an addition to the 

Bakersfield Convention Center. 


230

Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce provides unique 

opportunities for small and African American businesses in 

low and moderate income communities to grow their business 

and fulfill their business diversity, advocacy, access, and 

socialization needs. The services provided by the chamber 

are designed to guide small businesses to the next level of 

potential wealth building through economic development. 

The need for a chamber of commerce to address the 

specific needs of African American businesses in Kern 

County became evident in the early 2000s. Although efforts 

were being made to organize a chamber in the northern 

part of the valley, it was felt that a focus on Kern County 

was needed. Ali and Earlena Morris and other officers of 

the San Joaquin Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, based 

in the Fresno area, worked with interested business owners 

in Bakersfield to establish the local organization. 

KBCC was founded by Ali and Earlena on July 11, 2002. 

Other important leaders in the effort were Albert Prince, 

Art Powell, Jeffery Palmer, Jerry Johnson, J. R. Hester, 

Mary Palmer, Nate Williams and Vivienne Stanford. 

Early meetings of the chamber were held in the dining 

hall of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. After meeting 

in several other locations, the chamber moved into its 

own offices at 1222 California Avenue in the fall of 2005. 

The organization’s ‘coming out’ was the first annual 

Black History Luncheon. 

KCBCC, currently located at 1309 L Street, has a 

membership of 200 and operates with a team of five staff 

and dedicated volunteers. In addition, the chamber has 

an Ambassador program composed of twenty community 

individuals who promote and advocate the work of the 

chamber. The Board of Directors is comprised of fifteen 

professionals from different industry sectors. 

The California Junior Black Chamber of Commerce–Kern 

County Chapter was organized in 2008 and soon began the 

first Junior Black Apprentice competition. The Junior 

Chamber also hosted a radio show entitled ‘Real Talk: 

The Urban Life’, which played on 95.3FM Roots Radio. 

Other activities of the junior chamber included the Young 

Entrepreneur program as well as a series of youth forums. 

In 2012, Ali retired as president of the organization and 

Nick Hill took over as interim executive director. Fred Prince 

became the new board chair. In June 2015, Tomeka Powell 

became the new president/CEO of the organization. 

The KCBCC Development Foundation, founded in 2006, 

serves as the chamber’s charitable arm. The Foundation provides 

a number of youth development programs including 

the Junior Chamber, STEM education for kids, financial 

literacy, small business development, self-esteem programs 

and Leadership Empowerment for Girls. 

For more information about the Kern County Black 

Chamber of Commerce, please check their website at 

www.kcbcc.net. 

KERN COUNTY BLACK 


÷ 

Below: Junior Chamber Advisory Board. 

Bottom: Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce Board installation. 


231

NORTH OF THE RIVER 


For more than eighty-eight years, the North of the River 

Chamber of Commerce has worked to advance the general 

welfare and prosperity of the North of the River area. The 

members share a mutual dedication, passion and enthusiasm 

for expanding business and employment opportunities for 

residents of Kern County. 

North of the River Chamber of Commerce was founded 

on October 17, 1928, as the North of the River Club and 

was responsible for many public utilities and institutions 

in the area. The organization eventually evolved into the 

chamber of commerce it is today. 

In the early days, membership in the club was limited 

to men only. Among the prominent members were 

Ralph Gifford, head of the Oildale Mutual Water Board; 

Don Silvus, teacher and counselor at Standard School; 

Dock Hatcher, Realtor ® and member of the water board; 

and Jack Scoles, secretary/treasurer of the Retail Clerk’s 

Union and member of the NOR Municipal Water Board. 

Judy Scoles, a retired aide in the Standard School 

District, often attended meetings with her husband and 

notes that she was always the only woman in attendance. 

She recalls asking several questions during one of the 

meetings in the early-1970s and the members, impressed by 

her questions, asked her to join the club. The next meeting, 

two more women attended and joined and the organization 

has been open to both men and women since that time. 

The ‘Oildale Men’s Club’ as the organization was sometimes 

known in its early years, supported the recreation 

and parks department efforts to organize the annual 

Christmas Parade. The club worked with such organizations 

as the Lions, Kiwanis, Optimist, and Rotary Clubs to support 

the needs of residents and businesses in the Oildale area; 

helping to raise funds for the North Chester Bridge, street 

lighting, street numbering and creation of the entrance sign 

to Oildale in 1985. 

In the early 1990s, one of the NOR Chamber’s fundraisers 

were to host an annual Honorary Oildale Mayoral 

Race. Votes cost $1 and the organization raised an average 

of $4,000 annually. 

The NOR Chamber cosponsored the Graffiti Removal 

Project with the Optimist and Beardsley Junior Optimist, 

North High students and the Interact Club, along with the 

Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

The North of the River Chamber kept offices in director’s 

homes for many years. It now operates from a small office 

within one of the member’s office. 

The chamber is currently run by one part-time employee 

who serves as executive director/office manager, a sixmember 

board of directors and nine board members. 

There are 150 members who include local businesses, nonprofits, 

schools, other local chambers and the downtown 

business association. 

The North of the River Chamber’s annual fundraising 

projects now include a business expo, golf tournament, economic 

conference, football booklet and Oktoberfest. These 

annual events support local students through a scholarship 

program for graduates of North, Liberty, Centennial and 

Frontier High Schools. 


232

Bakersfield was founded on hospitality. In the mideighteenth 

century, Colonel Thomas Baker was known for 

offering travelers a place to rest in the area he settled. It 

was called “Baker’s Field.” From the town he plotted in 1869 

to the city of more than 150 square miles today, Visit 

Bakersfield, formerly the Bakersfield Convention and Visitors 

Bureau, welcomes visitors to do as much—or as little—as 

they would like: explore the city’s world-renowned music, 

unique food, dynamic agricultural products, museums and 

arts community, and exciting outdoor activities. 

Bakersfield is a city of festivals, where there always seems 

to be one going on—from mac and cheese to nut, bluegrass 

to jazz, Greek to Scottish, Celtic to Basque, and craft beer 

to wine. Bakersfield also is a city of music. While “The 

Bakersfield Sound” is popular worldwide, the city’s association 

with various other types of music means there are actually 

Bakersfield Sounds (plural), all waiting for you to explore. 

This southern gateway to California’s fertile Central Valley 

is perfect for a weekend trip or week-long stay. Explore 

the Bakersfield Museum Trail, a driving route that connects 

four unique and family-friendly museums: Bakersfield 

Museum of Art, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and 

Science, California Living Museum (CALM), and Kern 

County Museum. Check out Bakersfield’s thriving arts scene 

and First Friday ArtWalk downtown. With more Basque 

restaurants than any other city in the 

nation, indulge yourself with Bakersfield’s 

unique and memorable food experiences. 

Bakersfield has countless ways to 

enjoy the outdoors. These include the 

Kern River Parkway, the Panorama Vista 

Preserve, the Panorama bluffs walking 

trail, Lake Ming, and Wind Wolves 

Preserve. With “‘field” in its name, 

Bakersfield and sports are synonymous: 

catch Bakersfield Condors AHL hockey, Bakersfield Blaze 

baseball, Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (now competing 

at the NCAA Division I level), and Bakersfield College 

Renegades. Racing fans can watch the action at Bakersfield 

Speedway, Auto Club Famoso Raceway, and Kern County 

Raceway Park. 

Bakersfield is in the middle of one of 

the largest agricultural producing areas 

in the world, and what is grown here 

finds its way to points all around the 

globe. For example, did you know that 

almost ninety percent of California’s 

carrot crop is grown around Bakersfield? 

The friendly staff at Visit Bakersfield 

is ready to make your stay enjoyable 

with free maps, personal assistance, and 

coupons for some family-friendly local 

attractions. The visitor center is in 

downtown Bakersfield, in front of the 

Amtrak station, next to the Kern 

Veterans Memorial, and just a few blocks 

from the Convention Center. 

One thing is certain: Bakersfield continues to deliver 

more than visitors expect. That is why we say that in 

Bakersfield there really is…“More to Explore!” 

VISIT BAKERSFIELD 

÷ 

Left: Visit Bakersfield is ready to welcome visitors at 515 Truxtun Avenue in 

downtown Bakersfield. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SCOTT HISLOP. 

Below: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Boulevard, 

is Bakersfield’s premier live entertainment venue and top tourist attraction. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF VISIT BAKERSFIELD. 


233

BAKERSFIELD DOWNTOWN 

BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 

÷ 

Below: Concerts at the creek, band performs at Third Thursday. 

While Bakersfield has gone through an unprecedented 

period of growth and expansion over the last two decades, there 

is a renewed focus inward, toward developing the city’s center. 

Some of the city’s most noteworthy historical structures 

call downtown home, as do several financial institutions, city 

and county government offices and two hospitals—Mercy 

Hospital and San Joaquin Community Hospital—which 

contribute so much to our community as well. 

But when the office buildings close, an entire other side 

of Downtown is just getting warmed up. 

Downtown is the heart of Bakersfield’s dining scene. From 

fine dining and steakhouses, to diners, food trucks and burger 

joints. Local award-winning food from Chinese, Sushi, and 

Thai cuisine, to Caribbean, Latin American, and Italian, 

not to mention an assortment of pizza parlors, sandwich 

shops, juice bars, BBQ and more. They are scattered all over 

the downtown map, with around fifty 

restaurants to choose from on any given day. 

The museum, arts and entertainment 

scene flourishes as well with the Bakersfield 

Museum of Art, which includes not only 

rotating exhibitions but a botanical garden. 

The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History 

houses an impressive collection of fossils 

and displays highlighting Bakersfield distant 

past. The new Bakersfield Music Museum 

aims to capture the past and present music 

scene. Downtown also features several galleries 

and theaters both intimate and large. 

The Rabobank Theater is home to the Bakersfield 

Symphony, off-Broadway performances and concerts. The 

9,000 seat Rabobank Arena houses concerts, conventions 

and sporting events, including the Bakersfield Condors 

hockey team. The two venues combine to bring hundreds 

of thousands of people into downtown each year. 

Bakersfield’s history comes alive in the heart of the city 

as well with the Fox Theater, a Spanish Colonial Revivalstyled 

theater built that opened in 1930. The DBA played a 

major role in re-opening the Fox in the mid-1990s, and 

today is one of the primary venues for live entertainment 

in the city. The Padre Hotel, built in 1928, dominates the 

downtown skyline and is one of the epicenters of social 

activity in the city. 

Central Park at Mill Creek sits as an oasis on the edge 

of downtown, lined by palm trees and an expansive lawn, 

it includes a fountain-filled waterway and hosts events 

such as the DBA’s Third Thursday, with live entertainment, 

art, vendors and more. It is also flanked by the beautiful 

Bakersfield Federal Courthouse. 

The DBA has recently launched a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 

arm, the Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation, 

to help attend to the city’s redevelopment needs. By focusing 

on the community’s desires to create a safe, secure and welcoming 

city center, the DBDC will help take downtown and 

the DBA forward into a new generation of growth. Turning 

its sights on an urban design plan, and effecting change in 

the lives of those in need among the downtown community 

by fostering partnerships within the nonprofit sector. 


234

In the summer of 1969, Buck became co-host of Hee Haw, 

which became one of the top syndicated television successes 

of all time. In 1989, Buck had a resurgence in popularity 

with a new younger group of fans and scored a number one 

hit with Streets of Bakersfield a duet with his friend, Dwight 

Yoakam. Subsequent generations rediscovered his music and 

now keep his name shining as one of the great innovators 

and true legends of country music. 

BUCK OWENS’ 

CRYSTAL PALACE 

÷ 

Top, left: The Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. 

Left and below: Buck Owens. 

Born in Sherman, Texas in 1929, Buck Owens came West 

with his family in the great “Grapes of Wrath” migration of 

the 1930s. By 1951, he settled into Bakersfield, California, 

and found himself playing guitar and singing in the local 

honky-tonks. He quickly became a local favorite and then in 

1953, Buck got a break by playing for the then hot Tommy 

Collins. He started playing lead guitar on Tommy’s records, 

and during the next few years became a popular session 

player for Capitol Records in Hollywood. After making a few 

records of his own on the Pep label, Buck signed as a solo act 

with Capitol in 1957. For the next five years his hits were 

steady and his star was rising, but in 1963 his career really 

took off. Buck Owens & His Buckaroos had seventeen 

number one hit singles over the next six years, including 

Act Naturally, Together Again, Tiger By The Tail, Crying Time, 

and Love’s Gonna Live Here, which stayed in the number one 

slot on Billboard for sixteen weeks straight! By the late 1960s, 

Buck led a huge organization based in Bakersfield, including 

publishing companies, several radio stations (KUZZ AM/FM, 

KCWR, and KRJK FM), television, newspapers, and more. 

In 1996, Buck opened the Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace 

in Bakersfield. Since then it has become famous worldwide 

as an important venue of country music. Buck & His 

Buckaroos played there Friday and Saturday nights until his 

passing in March of 2006, and hundreds of country music 

stars have graced the stage of the Crystal Palace including the 

Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, and Taylor Swift. 

An all-in-one restaurant, museum and theater focusing 

on the rich history and sounds of West Coast Country 

Music, the Crystal Palace has been on national television 

specials, and honored as night club of the year multiple 

times by the Academy of Country Music. It features outstanding 

food, fascinating memorabilia and great live 

music...an amazing place to visit! 


235

CARNEY’S BUSINESS 

TECHNOLOGY CENTER 

÷ 

Right: From left to right, Rick, Chris and Jeff Kreiser. 

Below: Our first office in 1978, from left to right, Red LeCain, Kris and 

Rick Kreiser and Bob Carney. 

Building on a successful career in office equipment sales 

and management for other Kern-based businesses, 

Bob Carney made the decision to go out on his own in 

December of 1977. In a spare bedroom of his northeast 

Bakersfield home, and armed with little more than a strong 

reputation for providing superior customer service, Bob 

realized his entrepreneurial vision and Carney’s Office 

Equipment was born. 

With the support of his family and loyal customers, sales 

grew steadily during the fledgling company’s first few 

months. In July 1978, Bob was joined by his son-in-law, 

Rick Kreiser, and their first official showroom was opened 

on Easton Drive. Quality products and reliable service 

attracted new customers and, within two years, additional 

space was needed. The company moved just across the 

parking lot to larger space to accommodate their growing 

business. That location served the company well until it 

moved to its current home at 2001 Westwind Drive. 

As the growth of technology exploded and businesses 

increasingly relied on IT services, Carney’s official name was 

changed to Carney’s Business Technology Center to reflect 

the new direction. 

“If you are like most business owners, technology is 

something that you obviously need, but don’t necessarily 

want to have to think about. After all, you have a company 

to run,” says Rick. “Chances are, if you are thinking about 

your IT infrastructure it’s because something is not working 

as it should, or it’s holding your company back. We help our 

clients protect their assets and improve effectiveness, efficiency, 

productivity and profitability by using technology.” 

Over the past nearly four decades, Carney’s has represented 

best-in-class products and services from a range of top 

technology partners. More than simply ‘vendors,’ Carney’s 

works hard to identify the right products and solutions for 

the markets it serves. Once the solution has been engineered 

and installed, the effective support programs made possible 

through Carney’s partner relationships keep the project 

delivering results well beyond client’s expectations. 

Carney’s leadership is transitioning to a third generation 

as Rick’s sons, Chris and Jeff, continue to chart the company’s 

direction with a keen eye on future trends while keeping 

true to the values upon which the business was built. 

Kern County is a great place to live and work and 

Carney’s believes that giving back to the community helps 

strengthen the business environment while achieving a sense 

of personal fulfillment. To this end, Carney’s leadership 

and team members support business, professional, and 

community service organizations at a variety of levels. 

Among these organizations are the Greater Bakersfield 

Chamber of Commerce, the Bakersfield College Foundation, 

Kern Economic Development Corporation, Bakersfield West 

Rotary, and the Friends of Mercy Foundation. 

Over the years, Kern County has experienced explosive 

growth and technology has changed every aspect of the way 

we live and do business. But one thing remains the same as 

it did on that winter day some forty years ago—Carney’s 

commitment to the Kern County business community. 


236

Kern Schools Federal Credit Union has served the needs 

of its Members and the entire Kern County community for 

nearly eighty years. Since its humble beginnings in 1938, 

when a small group of dedicated and concerned teachers met 

to form a financial cooperative for school employees and 

their families, Kern Schools has embodied the credit union 

philosophy of, “People Helping People.” 

Originally known as Kern County School Employees 

Federal Credit Union, Kern Schools was granted a federal 

charter in 1940. The first Kern Schools “office” was actually 

a small room located in the library of Bakersfield High School. 

A single volunteer conducted all the operations for the Credit 

Union, with Member transaction receipts kept in a shoe box 

and locked in a desk drawer after hours. By the end of its 

first year, Kern Schools had 141 Members, approximately 

$1,300 in assets, and was well on its way to serving the school 

employees of Kern County with a lifetime partnership through 

quality financial products and services. 

Although the name was shortened to Kern Schools Federal 

Credit Union in 1969, the goals of the organization remain 

the same: helping people throughout the community achieve 

their dreams. 

Membership does make a difference! Unlike a conventional 

bank, which is driven by shareholders and profit, a credit 

union is a not-for-profit entity designed to assist the financial 

needs of its members through smaller fees, higher dividends, 

and lower loan rates. Similarly, a credit union board of 

directors consists of unpaid volunteers, as opposed to large 

shareholders, who are elected by the membership to lead 

the organization. 

Today, Kern Schools is the largest member-owned financial 

institution headquartered in Kern County, with more than 

150,000 Members and $1.3 billion in assets. The Credit 

Union is open to all Kern County residents. 

From a single volunteer, the Credit Union has grown to 

more than 400 team members whose sole purpose is to 

provide the best Member service possible. With ten branch 

offices and more than seventy ATMs, Kern Schools provides 

a wide array of products and services, including extensive 

home and auto loan programs, the latest in online and 

mobile technology, as well as wealth management services. 

Kern Schools is ready to serve Kern County for another 

seventy-eight years and beyond. 

Come find out why Kern Schools has been voted “Best 

Financial Institution in Kern County” for more than twenty 

years in a row. Members of Kern Schools experience personal 

service and attention each day and every time they visit 

because, “Together, we have something special.” 

To learn more about becoming a Member of Kern Schools, 

please visit our website at www.ksfcu.org. 

KERN SCHOOLS 

FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 

÷ 

Left: Warren Hall located on the campus of Bakersfield High School. 

Below: Kern Schools Federal Credit Union’s administration building located 

at 11500 Bolthouse Drive. 


237

GUITAR MASTERS 

÷ 

Above: Tommy Emmanuel. 

Right: Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo. 

Guitar Masters, LLC, an ongoing community concert 

series, was born of a simple desire to present the finest musicians 

in the world—primarily guitarists—in an intimate ‘listening 

room’ environment. 

Guitar Masters began in 2011 and grew out of local 

businessman Rick Kreiser’s love for guitar music and 

performances. “In the summer of 2010, my wife Lorie and 

I decided to take in something called a ‘house concert’ in 

Los Angeles featuring an exceptionally talented musician, 

Paul McCartney’s former lead guitarist, Laurence Juber,” 

Rick explains. “I looked around the room, counted the 

number of seats (forty-six), did some simple math (door 

donations times the number of people) and thought— 

we could do this! So I asked the artist if he would consider 

performing in Bakersfield. He said he’d love to.” 

Rick soon realized there was no way he could fit fifty 

people into his house for a concert, so he started looking for 

a private, music-friendly venue and settled on an old church 

turned social club called The Bell Tower. 

There was no budget for publicity, so they tapped 

the power of social media—and the phone—to contact 

everybody they could think of, and nearly 150 people 

turned out for the very first Guitar Masters show. Today, 

most of the shows are sellouts in the beautifully reimagined 

Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame. 

“We’ve learned a few things along the way,” Rick says. 

“Key among them is the fact that almost all musicians live 

to play for appreciative audiences. I don’t know of a single 

artist who wouldn’t jump at the chance to return to 

the Guitar Masters stage. They know they will be well taken 

care of and every detail of their show will be handled 

with professionalism.” 

Rick emphasizes that the success of the Guitar Masters 

concerts has been possible only through the faithful support 

of sponsors, patrons and guest musicians. He also credits 

the encouragement of his family. “My sons, Chris and 

Jeff, capably operate the family business so I can pursue 

this passion, and my daughter, Katie, captures each show 

with her beautiful photography. And, Lorie’s friendly smile 

greets visitors at each performance.” 

The mission of Guitar Masters goes deeper than just 

providing outstanding and unique musical offerings to the 

community. Whenever possible, the artists are invited to 

give a short lecture or guest clinic at one of the high schools 

or colleges during their stay. 

“Perhaps the most important measure for us is the 

increasing number of dedicated patrons and sponsors,” 

Rick says. “Over the past five seasons, we have provided 

the highest quality live performances for more than 

7,000 fans. 

“Guitar Masters will live on as long as artists want to 

play for us and patrons want to be there to hear them. 

We keep our ticket prices reasonable by design, allowing 

guitar fans from around the central valley (and beyond) 

to gain an appreciation for world-class music.” 

For more information about Guitar Masters, check the 

website at www.guitarmasters.org. 


238

a Bakersfield institution for fifty 

years, is a story of achieving success through perseverance, 

hard work, and a strong faith in God. 

Today, Hodel’s is a multifaceted operation on Olive Drive 

in Bakersfield where people up and down the state enjoy 

the savory flavors of Hodel’s fine food. With banquet rooms 

seating ten to 400 people, Hodel’s restaurant provides many 

organizations and groups a quiet and pleasant atmosphere 

with exceptional service and delicious food. Hodel’s also 

caters many large local events, receiving high marks for the 

quality of food and creative presentation. 

The story of Hodel’s begins with Lydia Bartel Hodel, 

whose determination to persevere despite enormous obstacles 

created the culture that still guides the organization 

today. Lydia’s life began in hardship when she lost her mother 

during the flu epidemic of 1917. Lydia was only eleven 

years old but had to take over the cooking, cleaning and 

bottle washing for her family, which included nine children. 

Beginning with this experience, ‘Mom Hodel’ lived a life of 

service to others. 

Her family escaped the dust bowl of Oklahoma and 

moved to California in 1921 and Lydia found a job cooking 

for hay harvesting crews. In the late 1920s, she and her 

sisters became domestic help in Bakersfield. One of her 

employers was property investor Arthur Crites, an accomplished 

amateur chef, who sensed Lydia’s natural abilities as 

a cook and taught her many helpful teaching techniques 

including sharing recipes from the White House. 

Lydia married Sam Hodel in 1928. The couple settled in 

Bakersfield just in time for the Great Depression of the 

1930s, when jobs were hard to come by. Lydia found a job 

with the Gettle family and when they decided to move to 

Beverly Hills they offered Sam a job as chauffeur if Mom 

Hodel would continue as cook and nanny. Mom Hodel 

prepared many fine meals for the Gettle family and their 

distinguished guests, who included department store founder 

JCPenney. Their three children, daughters Beverly and Darlene 

and son Bob were born during their stay in Beverly Hills. 

The family returned to Bakersfield in 1942, where 

Sam earned the reputation as a quality custom hay bailer. 

Mom Hodel went to work as manager of the new Greeley 

School cafeteria, a position she held for twenty-one years. 

At the school, she produced such delicious and nutritious 

meals that the federal government investigated to determine 

how she could meet the dietary requirements at a cost 

of only fifteen cents per student. Upon her retirement, 

she received a lifetime membership in the PTA with the 

statement: “We are glad you are retiring because we are 

tired of the children asking why the food is better at school 

than it is at home.” 

Mom Hodel retired in May 1967, but when her son 

Bob opened Hodel’s Valley Plaza Restaurant in September, 

she joined the family business and 

worked for another twenty-one years. 

During the 1970s, several other 

Hodel’s Restaurants were developed, 

including the very popular Hodel’s 

at Northridge Fashion Center Mall 

for a nineteen year run. 

There is much more to the story 

and heritage of Hodel’s but it 

is important to understand the 

values and standards of the original 

staff and the example set by 

Lydia and Sam. The Hodel family 

is thankful for its heritage and 

firmly believes that its blessings 

have come from God’s grace. They 

continue to seek His blessings in 

their future endeavors. 

HODEL’S COUNTRY DINING 


239

BAKERSFIELD CONDORS 

This is Condorstown. For nearly two decades, the top 

sports draw in Bakersfield, and one of the best outlets for 

FUN in all of Kern County, has been the Bakersfield Condors. 

The Condors began play in 1998 and have earned a 

reputation in Kern County as one of the top draws for 

family friendly entertainment, and nationwide for their 

attention-grabbing promotions. 

Nearly 4 million fans have passed through the turnstiles 

to see the Condors since 1998. The team’s commitment to 

the community is at its core, contributing nearly $5 million 

in cash, goods and services to local schools and nonprofits 

during their history. Annual events, such as Tip-A-Condor, 

golf tournaments, and Jersey Off Our Backs auctions inject 

needed funding into the coffers of local charities and connect 

the players to the fans. 

No event embodies both Condors community involvement 

and the passion of the Condorstown fans like the annual 

Teddy Bear Toss. Held each year on the Saturday after 

Thanksgiving, fans are invited to bring stuffed animals to the 

game and when the Condors score their first goal, throw them 

onto the ice. The teddy bears are collected by the United Way 

and distributed throughout the county to dozens of agencies 

in need throughout the holidays and beyond. Teddy Bear Toss 

is annually the biggest game of the season, and over 100,000 

stuffed animals have been collected in the event’s history. 

Meanwhile, the Condors have proven to be second to 

none in generating nationwide—or even global—attention 

for their promotions. Famous for offering Canadian-born 

pop star Justin Bieber a contract, bringing out a live condor 

on the ice (and the bird getting loose from her handler), 

hosting a Charlie Sheen Night, or sporting a slew of 

extraordinary specialty jerseys, the Condors have never 

taken themselves too seriously, nor missed an opportunity 

to steal a moment of the spotlight. 

It was just that international recognition, and the team’s 

support from the community, which led to the purchase of 

the team in 2014 by the five-time Stanley Cup Champion 

Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Already 

having graduated a dozen players to the NHL from the 

“AA” level, the Condors on-ice product was about to receive 

an unexpected boost from the top of the sports world. 

In October 2015 the Oilers made the Bakersfield 

Condors part of a newly-created Pacific Division of the 

American Hockey League—the primary development 

grounds for the NHL. The new division included five 

teams from California, and brought the AHL right into the 

backyard of the West Coast NHL teams. 

The AHL is the proving ground for hockey’s future stars, 

with nearly ninety percent of players in the NHL first 

learning the ropes in the AHL. The role Bakersfield is to 

play in building hockey’s future was evident immediately, 

with nearly twenty players moved back and forth between 

Bakersfield and the NHL in the team’s first AHL campaign. 

The reception from the fans followed suit, with the Condors 

posting their highest attendance in five years. 

Keeping their eyes on the prize on the ice, combined with 

a spirited connection to the community off the ice, is sure 

to make Bakersfield remain Condorstown for years to come. 


240

A gun shop that began in a little shack more fifty-three 

years ago has grown to become the favorite destination for 

Kern County shooters. Valley Gun, Inc., Kern County’s only 

existing second generation, family-owned gun shop, has 

become successful by providing services others do not and 

by treating clients the way they would want to be treated. 

Valley Gun, known originally as Valley Gun Shop, 

opened for business in 1963 in a small, wooden building at 

301½ East California Avenue. The business was organized 

by Gene Wamble, an accomplished gunsmith, and Maylon 

Quarnberg, who had a love and fascination for firearms. 

“My dad only worked in the business part-time at first, 

because he had another full-time job. So, Gene ran the store 

until it was able to support both men,” explains Maylon’s 

son, Ken Quarnberg. After about a year in business, the 

shop moved to a building at South Chester and Ming, 

where it shared space with a coin shop. Soon after, Valley 

Gun moved into its own building at 1614 South Chester. 

In 1971, Gene and Maylon opened a second location at 

2728 Chester Avenue and for several years, the partners 

operated two stores with Gene running the South Chester 

store and Maylon operating the downtown location. 

The partnership between Maylon and Gene was eventually 

dissolved, although the two remained friends. 

When Maylon retired in 1999, his son, Ken, took over 

the operation. 

Ken, who says he ‘grew up in the business’, starting working 

at the shop part-time while still in high school and 

learned the business alongside his dad. His sister, Jan, also 

joined the staff and still works at the shop. 

Since taking over the shop, Ken has channeled his energy 

into providing superior customer service, providing a 

large selection of quality firearms and accessories and 

hiring an experienced staff dedicated to the best customer 

service possible. 

Valley Gun’s wide selection of new and previously owned 

firearms fulfills a variety of needs for all types of sportsmen, 

collectors, law enforcement, military and general firearms 

enthusiasts. In addition to its extensive stock of new and 

used firearms from some the most respected manufacturers 

in the industry, Valley Gun carries a large selection of ammunition, 

optics, gun safes, cases, holsters, knives and hunting 

and shooting accessories. The shop also carries vintage and 

antique firearms. 

As a certified arms appraiser, Ken is able to help clients 

with firearms appraisals for estates, firearms sales and 

insurance purposes. 

Valley Gun and its eight employees are involved in 

a number of organizations, including Friends of NRA, 

California Deer Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 

California Waterfowl Association, Tulare Basin Wetlands 

Association, Breakfast Rotary Club of Bakersfield, Kern 

County Fair Junior Livestock, Wounded Heroes Fund, 

Small Miracles Foundation, SJCH’s Cancer Center, Honor 

Flight and Sportsman’s Night. 

VALLEY GUN, INC. 

÷ 

Left: A vintage shot (left to right) of Maylon Quarnberg and his business 

partner, Gene Wamble, in front of the 1614 South Chester Avenue location. 

c. mid-1960s. 

Below: Ken Quarnberg, his sister, Jan Koch and Buddy the labrador. Buddy is 

often seen in the store and has become one of Valley Gun’s attractions. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BILLY SIMKINS. 


241

DEWAR’S SODA FOUNTAIN 

AND FINE CANDIES 

÷ 

Right: In 2009 Dewar’s celebrated their 100th year anniversary. 

Below: J. H. Dewar behind the counter at the Chester Avenue location. 

Bottom: Baker Street location. 

George, Michael and Heather Dewar are dedicated to 

preserving a Bakersfield institution—the delicious, delectable 

candies and ice cream produced by their family for more 

than a hundred years. 

Dewar’s Soda Fountain and Fine Candies is one of the 

very few family businesses still being run by the third 

and fourth generations. It all began in 1909 when James H. 

Dewar and his brother, George, opened The Chocolate Shop 

located at 1665 Chester Avenue, the first door north of the 

Hall of Records. 

Dewar’s world famous taffy chews were first introduced 

in 1909. The tasty one-inch long chews were hand rolled, 

cut, and then hand wrapped. Ice cream and chocolates were 

introduced in 1930. The ice cream was hand cranked with 

salt brine and the chocolates were hand dipped. 

Locations changed frequently as the first generation built 

the business from the ground up. The business finally ended 

up at 1120 Eye Street in 1930, where it still operates today. 

James A. Dewar, the son of James H., took over the 

business in 1947 and expanded the sales market share in 

fountain, ice cream, chocolates and candy, and the Dewar’s 

chew became even more popular. 

George C. Dewar joined the family after college in 1965, 

working alongside his father. Working together, they 

mechanized the production of chews, increasing chew 

production from individually hand cut and wrapped, to 

two machines that produced 180 chews per minute. 

The company continued 

to grow and gift items 

were introduced to the 

product list sold at Dewar’s 

Candy Shop in 1986. A 

faster and more efficient 

machine was purchased to 

keep up with the demand 

for Dewar’s chews and production per minute soared from 

180 per minute to 450 per minute. 

With the addition of Michael, the fourth generation, 

the chew production was moved to a much larger facility 

and chew production was doubled. Chocolate production 

was also moved to the manufacturing facility, with the 

exception of hand dipped chocolates that were made 

by second generation daughter, Rosie. Dewar’s became 

computerized in 1994 and a wholesale market was 

launched in 1995. With the anticipation of future locations, 

ice cream production was fully renovated in 1999 to allow 

for the production and storage of more ice cream. 

Heather Dewar joined the business in 1999 as the company 

continued to grow. A new warehouse was constructed, 

the first satellite retail location was opened in Riverlakes and 

Sugar Free chews were introduced, along with ten new 

flavors. A new 6,400 square foot retail facility was opened on 

Calloway Drive in 2012 and won the Beautiful Bakersfield 

award for architecture. More recently, a Dewar’s Express 

drive-thru was opened and the company joined the food 

court at The Outlets at Tejon. 

Dewar’s provides nearly 115 jobs for the community and 

donates products to many causes and fundraisers. 

Dewar’s goals for the future are to produce the best 

product possible, serve its customers with the best service 

possible, and continue to appreciate the team of professionals 

that make all these things happen. 


242

The Emporium Western Store, a familiar local landmark 

now located at 1031 Nineteenth Street in Bakersfield, was 

founded in 1909, although the name of the original owner 

is lost to history. The store started as a true ‘emporium’ 

or general store in the heart of downtown Bakersfield and 

has serve valued customers ever since. 

In 1928 the store was purchased by Isaac Rubin, grandfather 

of the current owners, and has remained in the 

family through three generations. In 1946 operation of the 

store passed to Rubin’s daughter and son-in-law, Rose and 

Al Goldwater. 

It was in 1948 when Al began to convert the store 

into a specialty western clothing store, one of the first in 

California, and changed the name from ‘Emporium’ to 

‘Emporium Western Store.’ Currently, the store is owned 

by the Goldwater’s two children, Stephen Goldwater and 

Carol Goldwater Durst. 

Over the decades, hundreds of wonderful employees 

have worked at Emporium Western Store. Besides family 

members, including the fourth-generation children, notable 

long-time employees include: Juanita Clark (credited with 

being the one to convince Al to go western in the late 1940s), 

Charley Brown, Herman Sohl, Louis and Jessie Barraza, 

‘Big Al’ Gonzales, Danny Lipco, Deborah Baker, Micky Moya 

and Fred Mungia. 

Emporium Western Store is a well-known institution in 

Kern County as well as in the Western industry. In fact, it has 

been recognized frequently by manufacturers and others 

as being the best in the country. The store has won awards 

such as the Wrangler PRCA Dealer of the Year, Justin 

Boot Company Dealer of the Year, and the Resistol Hat 

Windy Ryan Award. In 1995 the Emporium Western Store 

was the first Western store outside the State of Texas to 

win the Western Image Award ‘Retailer of the Year’ for a 

single-location store. Locally, it has been voted the Best 

Western Store in Kern County every year since 1908 when 

The Bakersfield Californian started its annual reader’s poll. 

The strengths of the Emporium Western Store over the 

years have been its service, selection and value. You can find 

a wide selection of boots, hats, jeans, shirts and belts, as 

well as all the other favorite Western accessories and gift 

items. Customer service is old fashioned at the Emporium 

Western Store, where many customers are welcomed by 

name as they enter the store. Longtime local families have 

shopped at the store for three or four generations and 

friends are always running into each other while shopping. 

The Emporium Western Store prides itself in being the 

oldest and largest locally owned, full-service Western store 

in Kern County, the store where the real cowboys shop. 

EMPORIUM WESTERN STORE 

÷ 

Left: The second location of the Emporium, at 1316 Nineteenth Street, 

during the 1930s. 

Right: Second generation owners, Al and Rose Goldwater, taken in the 

early 1950s in front of the third location of the store after it moved to 

1219 Nineteenth Street. 


243

VALLEY REPUBLIC BANK 

÷ 

Above: Valley Republic Bank’s corporate headquarters is located on 

California Avenue in Bakersfield. 

Below: Board Member Greg Bynum; Chairman of the Board Eugene Voiland; 

President and CEO Bruce Jay; Vice President, Loans Janet Hepp and 

Executive Vice President Philip McLaughlin.. 

In 2009, the right people came together at the right time, 

at the right place, and established Valley Republic Bank. The 

twenty-four founders believed bank customers deserved a 

local financial institution that could respond to them quickly, 

efficiently, consistently and personally. 

Valley Republic became profitable after only eighteen 

months of operation and has recorded unprecedented 

growth quarter after quarter. By early 2016 the bank’s total 

assets exceeded $500 million. 

Valley Republic officials credit the bank’s phenomenal 

success to providing a high level of confidence and service 

to local professionals and the business community. The 

entire team at Valley Republic lives in Bakersfield and 

has raised their families here. The bank’s board, under the 

leadership of Eugene Voiland, is composed of successful 

local business people who have a finger on the pulse of the 

community and know the needs of Kern County customers. 

The management of Valley Republic has assembled one 

of the highest quality teams around. The bank consciously 

selects Bakersfield’s ‘best and brightest’ with every new hire. 

As a result, customers can count on an experienced, focused 

group of professionals who provide uncommon service that 

is second to none. 

Customers say they appreciate the bank’s ‘local flavor,’ its 

quick loan decisions, personal meetings, and the policy of 

‘no 800 numbers’. When customers 

visit a Valley Republic Bank branch, 

the employees know them by name. 

Managers understand that banking is 

a people business and are committed 

to a community that values relationships. 

Valley Republic is fully invested 

in the success of its client’s businesses 

and considers itself a partner in their 

future growth. 

This ‘relationship banking’ approach provides customers 

with competitive products and services, the latest technological 

conveniences and a sincere appreciation for the customer’s 

business. Valley Republic tries harder than anyone else to 

stay one step ahead—in every regard. 

Valley Republic’s main branch is located at 5000 California 

Street. In 2012, a second branch was opened in the Grand 

Island Village at the corner of Ming Avenue and Buena Vista 

Road. Located in the heart of the Seven Oaks area, this 

branch provides convenience for businesses and professional 

customers in the surrounding neighborhoods. In 2016 the 

Riverlakes branch was opened in Northwest Bakersfield. 

Valley Republic posted its ninth consecutive quarter of 

record earnings for the quarter ending March 31, 2016. 

Quarterly earnings exceeded $1 million, with net income up 

34 percent, net loans up 26 percent, deposits up 7 percent, 

and total assets up 9 percent. 

“At Valley Republic Bank, we recognize that our business 

is critical to the economic fabric of Kern County,” says Bruce 

Jay, president and CEO. “We believe we have a responsibility 

to do what we can do to make our community a better place 

in which to live and work. As an organization, we financially 

support numerous organizations and our staff is involved 

in various nonprofit organizations. We are committed to 

Bakersfield and Kern County. It is our home.” 


244

For news, entertainment and public service, residents of 

the Central Valley have relied on KGET, Telemundo, and 

the CW for nearly six decades. Nexstar Broadcasting Group 

operates the three television stations from a single broadcast 

center in downtown Bakersfield. 

The three stations, under the leadership of Nexstar Vice 

President and station General Manager Derek Jeffery, offer a 

mix of news and entertainment in English and Spanish on 

broadcast frequencies, online, and on social media. 

As the local NBC affiliate, KGET is home to dozens of 

popular drama, reality and sports shows. Telemundo offers 

a similar lineup in Spanish, and the CW network offers a 

variety of first-run and syndicated programs. 

The stations’ mottoes—in both English and Spanish—are, 

“In the Spirit of the Golden Empire,” which reflects the 

company’s commitment to the community it serves. That 

commitment is demonstrated through the dozens of 

nonprofits aided each year through no-cost public service 

announcements and by providing emcees for events. The 

stations have conducted so many fundraising drives that 

nonprofits have nicknamed the station’s parking lot, 

‘Compassion Corner’. The stations’ fundraisers brought in 

more than $300,000 in monetary donations in 2015 alone. 

For more than a decade, KGET has been the number one 

local news station in all time slots in Kern County. The 

morning newscasts anchored by Maddie Johnson and Jason 

Galvin and evening newscasts anchored by Jim Scott and 

Tami Mlcoch have become traditions in thousands of Kern 

County households. Kevin Charette provides dependable 

Pinpoint forecast to morning viewers, and Chief Meteorologist 

Alissa Carlson does the same in afternoon and evenings. 

In the last three years, KGET has won eight Edward R. 

Murrow Awards for investigative and breaking news 

reporting. In 2014 and again in 2016, the station received 

the Edward R. Murrow Overall Excellence Award, the top 

honor among stations in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. 

KGET news has also been honored with seven Emmy 

Awards since 2013. 

Telemundo/Valle Central offers the fastest growing and 

only Spanish language newscast in the county, providing 

information and community service for a formerly underserved 

community. 

The success of both stations 

is built on a culture of honest, 

honorable reporting on topics 

that affect the county’s nearly 

one million residents. 

KGET’s predecessor station— 

KLYD—was founded as an ABC 

affiliate by local businessman 

Ed Urner in 1959. The original 

studios were on Eye Street 

near the present-day San Joaquin 

Community Hospital. Call letters, 

network affiliations and corporate ownership 

changed several times over the years 

until 1984 when the station became 

KGET, led by Vice President and General 

Manager Ray Watson who coined it 

Kern Golden Empire Television. Since 

then the stations have been owned by 

the Ackerley Group (1984-2002), Clear 

Channel Communications (2002-2007), 

Newport Television, LLC (2008-2012) and 

the current owner, Nexstar Broadcasting 

Group, Inc. (2013-current). 

Telemundo/Bakersfield went on the 

air in 2004 and expanded to Telemundo Valle Central in 

2015. The CW station was added in 2006 as a joint venture 

between Warner Bros. and CBS Corporation. 

KGET, TELEMUNDO AND 

THE CW BAKERSFIELD 


245

SMITH’S BAKERIES 

Loyal customers have made Smith’s Bakeries 

a Bakersfield tradition since 1945. Customers 

rave about Smith’s baked goods, particularly its 

mouth-watering champagne birthday cake and 

the famous ‘smile face’ cookies. One customer 

said, “We have come to rely on the quality and 

consistency that Smith’s Bakery offers.” A happy 

newlywed wrote to say, “The wedding cake 

designed for our special day was a work of art. 

We loved it!” 

Smith’s Bakeries has been a well-known 

Bakersfield landmark since it was founded as a market/bakery 

at the corner of Third Street and Chester Avenue in October 

1945 by Howard Smith and Roy Balmain. Their goal was to 

produce the best possible baked goods for the community. In 

1985 the business was sold to Roy’s son, Jim, and his wife, 

Jacque, and they have continued to build on the bakeries 

reputation for unique products and exceptional quality. 

Jim has now worked for Smith’s more than fifty-eight years. 

Generations of Bakersfield families have grown up 

munching on Smith’s cookies, doughnuts, and cupcakes. 

The bakery is famous for its delicious and unusual wedding 

cakes, some of which have been at tall as ten feet. Smith’s also 

makes unique cakes to celebrate such special occasions 

as birthdays and anniversaries. The popularity of Smith’s 

baked goods is based on the tradition of making all its 

products by hand, the old-fashioned way. Jim and Jacque 

are committed to carrying on the high standards set by 

the company founders. 

Smith’s Bakeries still operates from its location at 

2808 Union Avenue, founded in 1956. Satellite bakeries are 

located in Grand Island Village at 11400 Ming Avenue; 

Brookside Market at 4700 Coffee Road; Brookside at the 

Marketplace, 8803 Camino Media Boulevard; and White 

Oaks Plaza at 6401 White Lane. 

Currently, Smith’s Bakeries has forty-seven employees 

who serve a customer base that reflects all aspects of 

the Bakersfield community. The bakery is very active in 

supporting civic organizations and numerous charities. 

After more than seventy years in business, Smith’s 

Bakeries remains committed to producing the finest breads, 

pies, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, Danish, coffee cakes and its 

legendary wedding cakes. 

To learn more about Smith’s Bakeries, check their website 

at www.smithsbakeries.com. 


246

In 1971, Greg Iger 

returned to Bakersfield from 

service in the U.S. Army, 

and a stint in Los Angeles 

as a news photographer for 

United Press International. 

Hollywood was home and 

his career took him to 

shooting movie set publicity, 

“red carpet” openings and 

models’ portfolios. 

His training was at 

Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. He 

started “Photographic Art” on a shirt-tail budget, but soon 

became one of the best-known photographers in the area. 

He specialized in commercial photography and created a 

new look for portraiture in his outdoor studio. Some of his 

clients were large oil companies like Shell, Aera, Occidental, 

Chevron, and Tenneco. Other large farming, land and produce 

corporations like Grimmway and Bolthouse Carrots, 

Tenneco West, Dole and Castle & Cooke were staples for 

the business, as well as many local entities. 

During his many years in Kern County, Iger spent a lot of 

time honing his landscape photography skills which 

spawned two books on Kern County, Buena Vista—a pictorial 

view of Kern County and Buena Vista II—Landscapes of 

Kern County. Iger Studio is now located at 211 H Street near 

downtown Bakersfield. Large photographic images for 

wall décor are now the mainstay of the studio, with clients 

at offices, hospitals and doctors’ lobbies, as well as peoples 

homes and art galleries. 

Iger Studio continues to be a popular favorite for business, 

personal and family portraits, as well as product, aerial, architectural, 

construction, oilfield and agricultural photography. 

Come in for a visit or call 661-327-2768. Iger Studio is 

also located on the Internet at www.igerstudio.com. 

÷ 

GREGORY IGER’S 

PHOTOGRAPHIC ART, INC. 

Left: Greg Iger. 

DBA IGER STUDIO 


247


248

Building a Greater Bakersfield 

Bakersfield’s real estate developers, construction companies, heavy industries, 

and manufacturers provide the economic foundation of the region 

Varner Brothers, Inc. ..........................................................................................250 

Varner & Son.....................................................................................................251 

Metropolitan Recycling, LLC ................................................................................252 

Superior Sanitation.............................................................................................253 

Price Disposal....................................................................................................254 

Howard’s Garbage Service, Inc..............................................................................255 

Ray Scott ..........................................................................................................256 

California Water Service .....................................................................................258 

Chris Bertolucci Construction ...............................................................................262 

The Towery Companies ........................................................................................264 

Hall Letter Shop, Inc. .........................................................................................266 

Griffith Company ...............................................................................................268 

Kern Asphalt Paving & Sealing Co., Inc. ................................................................270 

Castle & Cooke California, Inc. ............................................................................272 

KS Industries, LP ...............................................................................................274 

Bowman Asphalt, Inc...........................................................................................276 

Mazzei Injector Company, LLC .............................................................................278 

Townsend Design ................................................................................................280 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc. ...............................................................................282 

DB & Company ..................................................................................................283 

Malouf Family ...................................................................................................284 

Loyd’s Aviation dba Bakersfield Jet Center & Loyd’s Aircraft Maintenance ...................285 

All American Glass .............................................................................................286 

Martha Johnson Team..........................................................................................287 

Bakersfield Association of Realtors ® /Golden Empire Multiple Listing Service, Inc./ 

Bakersfield Association of Realtors ® Charitable Foundation..................................288 

B&B Surplus, Inc................................................................................................289 

BUILDING A GREATER BAKERSFIELD 

249

VARNER BROTHERS, INC. 

The Varner Brothers, Inc., story began in 1939 when the 

eighth Varner child, Bill, bought a garbage truck after 

working for James Clyde “Pat” on his garbage route. The 

company was originally named “Independent Sanitation” and 

when Pearl Harbor was attacked, Bill enlisted in the Navy, 

along with brother John. Brother and world-class boxer, 

Claude was left to run the business, with the youngest brother 

E. L. “Skeet”, before Skeet also, went to war. 

After the Allied Victory, Bill and Skeet re-joined Claude in 

the operation, and soon they were all married and having 

children. John joined the operation in 1952. Garbage collection 

was tough business and the family could not survive on just 

that work. To make ends meet, the family hauled sulfur from 

mines, raised hogs, took odd-jobs, ran the L. A. Byproducts 

recycling facility and collected tin cans with self-built magnet 

cranes at the burn dumps. Skeet even had a muffler shop. 

In 1957, Kern County came to the decision that in the 

best interest of public health and safety, they would establish 

non-exclusive rubbish hauling franchises with expiring terms. 

In conjunction with this system and under the oversight of 

attorney and judge Roy Gargano, the brothers helped form the 

Kern County Rubbish Association, with Claude serving as the 

first president. Also, in 1957, the operation moved to its current 

site on the 1800 block of Roberts. Also around this time, VBI 

wrapped its contract with the City of Bakersfield on Pierce 

Road into the newly formed Kern Refuse Disposal partnership. 

In 1963, tragedy struck when Claude perished after his 

vehicle was hit by a train at Snow Road. 

In 1970, Varner Bros. was incorporated when brother 

Bob brought his own hauling operation into the group with 

Bill, John and Skeet. Bob retired in 1977, and Bill and John 

retired a few years after. 

Skeet’s responsibilities shifted in 1986 when Governor 

Deukmejian appointed him to the California Waste Board, 

where he was instrumental in helping craft AB 939 (Sher), 

California’s landmark fifty percent recycling bill. At the same 

time, Skeet’s sons Rick and Vernon and son-in-law Dan Panero, 

assumed management of VBI. 

With the dedication and hard work of the staff, the second 

generation has sustained VBI’s valued place in the community. 

In addition to helping spearhead many new programs in 

recycling, mechanical automation and drastic growth of 

Metro-Bakersfield, Dan and Vernon both were presidents 

of their respective Rotary Clubs and Dan was a two-time 

president of the state’s rubbish and recycling industry board, 

the California Refuse Recycling Council (CRRC). Now into 

the third generation of leadership, Dan’s son Jacob completed 

a term as the youngest CRRC President in the organization’s 

fifty plus year history and is president of his Rotary Club. 

The Varner Brothers Family is so thankful for all of the 

hard work and loyalty from our co-workers. And, we have 

been so blessed by the wonderful opportunities we have been 

allowed by the Bakersfield and Kern County communities. 

We take pride in being supporters of many wonderful civic, 

nonprofit, and faith-based causes that help promote and 

restore this terrific place. 

God Bless Kern County and God Bless America. 


250

In 1932, during the Great Depression, Pat Varner rode a 

box car with two of his brothers from Texas to California. 

They ended up working in the produce fields north of 

Bakersfield and Pat became a professional boxer. His wife, 

Archilene Keown, was not fond of his boxing so he quit 

fighting and started a small garbage route using one old 

1930s vintage truck. 

As the business evolved, Pat was instrumental in helping 

family and friends start businesses. Once Varner Brothers 

was established, Pat branched out with his son, Jack, 

and became Varner’s Garbage Service. In the 1970s,Varner’s 

Garbage Service became 

Varner and Sons, Inc. 

and Pat retired. 

Jack continued to 

build the business, 

eventually acquiring 

Lamont Sanitation, Inc. 

before retiring in 1986. 

By then, the third generation—headed by Vint Varner—was 

handling the companies, and today the fourth generation— 

headed by Dane Varner—is involved in the companies. 

VARNER & SON 


251

METROPOLITAN 

RECYCLING, LLC 

Metropolitan Recycling, LLC was formed in 1999 by five 

privately owned Bakersfield area collection companies— 

Price Disposal, Varner and Son/Lamont Sanitation, Howard’s 

Garbage, Superior Sanitation, and Varner Brothers, Inc. This 

collaborative entity at the South Mount Vernon recycling 

complex is the companies’ response to the need of helping 

Bakersfield and Kern County stay ahead of the curve in sustainability 

and recycling in an ever-changing global marketplace. 

MRC is proud to have recently completed construction of 

a state-of-art, twenty tons-per-hour Single Stream Material 

Recovery Facility (MRF) in Southeast Bakersfield. This MRF 

was developed in response to increasing state recycling mandates 

and visionary collection program collaboration with 

the City of Bakersfield and Kern County. The 50,000 square 

foot building is able to accept, house, process, bale and ship 

all of the residential and commercial Blue Cart material in 

the City of Bakersfield and much of unincorporated areas of 

Kern County for many years to come. The purpose-designed 

MRF is a fully adjustable and automated recycling system 

of 13 conveyers, 4 screens, a Dings magnate, 5 container 

bunkers, 2 live floors/in-feeds, and a high capacity IPS tworam 

baler. Keeping all these materials directed are 1 forklift, 

2 Bobcats, a 950 Cat loader, a Tabarelli excavator, 5 equipment 

operators, and 22 quality control specialists. 

In addition to the Blue Cart MRF, MRC also has the only 

fully permitted Construction and Demolition (C&D) MRF 

in metro Bakersfield. This facility has accepted more than 

45,000 tons per year of material and diverts over seventy 

percent of that material from local landfills. 

Continuing with the sustainable model, MRC invested and 

installed 580 solar panels for power generation on the roof of 

the MRF in 2016. This 162.4 KW DC system is designed with 

the capacity to power all of the sorting equipment throughout 

the majority of the year from the rays of the sun. 

Another successful long-term program is the Curbside 

Large Item Collection program. MRC collaborates with 

Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent DePaul 

to collect large household items at the curb. Then, the 

nonprofit partners rehab and sell what they can, recycle 

what they can, and efficiently dispose of the last of the 

materials residents no longer need. 

MRC would like to thank the City of Bakersfield, County 

of Kern, the local residents, their partners in business, 

their vendors and their loyal staff for the continued 

opportunity to serve this wonderful area. MRC is also 

happy to support many projects in the area that give back 

to the community, including Relay for Life, Keep Bakersfield 

Beautiful, Greater Bakersfield Green Expo, rotary, many 

local churches and Christian causes, local chambers of 

commerce, and numerous others. 


252

In 1956, Elvis recorded the first of his 170 hit singles, 

Heartbreak Hotel; portable black and white televisions 

hit the market; and My Fair Lady debuted on Broadway. 

1956 was also the year Jack and Mary Ann Keown opened 

a business called Superior Sanitation. 

Jack drove the original trash truck as he made his way 

through the neighborhoods selling his collection service 

door-to-door. Mary Ann handled the billing and books. 

In the early days, cost of collection was $1.50 per month 

for twice a week curbside collection. Residents paid an 

extra fifty cents if they wanted their trash picked up from 

the backyard. Curbside grass collection added a dollar 

to the bill. Sideboards were added to the old Ford trash 

truck so it could hold both refuse and grass. 

A hands-on owner, Jack packed and stomped the trash 

himself to ensure the greatest compaction rate. Although 

today’s trucks are much larger and automated, the concept 

of trash collection and compaction remains the same. 

Jack and Mary Ann made quite a team, working hard 

to build a business based on honesty, integrity, and superior 

customer service. The team added more homes and 

businesses to the original 100 collection stops and the 

business prospered. 

A founding member of Kern Refuse, the business remains 

a strong, viable company and has grown on the foundation 

of treating others as they would want to be treated. 

Although Jack and Mary Ann retired in 1993, the 

organization remains a family operation. Their son, Bruce, 

has taken over as vice president; and his sister, Nancy, 

works in the front office. Bruce’s son, Russell, and his 

nephew, Vincent Young are supervisors. Russell is also 

active in customer service. The family tradition of quality 

service is carried on. 

Superior’s fleet now includes twenty trash trucks 

collecting both residential and commercial refuse, as well 

as roll-off trucks for special collections. The company has 

twenty-six employees. 

The company contracts with the City of Bakersfield 

and Kern County to provide refuse collection service for 

residents and commercial businesses within the franchise 

area. With 14,000 residential accounts and 700 commercial 

stops, Superior Sanitation runs trucks six days each week. 

Although the business of trash collection has changed 

greatly, Superior Sanitation’s commitment to quality and 

service still permeate the organization. Monthly safety 

meetings and daily vehicle safety inspections keep the fleet 

running smoothly. 

The company is heavily involved in the community, 

financially supporting the D.A.R.E Program, City and County 

Fire, Bakersfield Police, Kern County Sheriff, California 

Highway Patrol, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Hospice. 

Superior Sanitation is a great example of a well-run 

small business with a big commitment to the customers 

it serves. 

SUPERIOR SANITATION 


253

PRICE DISPOSAL 

÷ 

Above: Elmer and Virgina Price. 

Right: The Price family. 

Elmer, Sr., and Virginia started the Price family legacy of 

public service in 1947 with one man—Elmer, one truck—a 

1929 Model A Ford, and one route—located in the southern 

portion of Bakersfield and Kern County. Elmer said he simply 

wanted to work hard and provide for his family. 

Elmer’s standards of integrity and customer 

service are at the core of how the Price family 

continues to operate today. Walter, Elmer, Jr., 

Wanda Price-England and now third-generation 

Jon Price continue to uphold Elmer, Sr.’s standards. 

Today, the one-truck, one-man, one-route business 

has grown into a fleet of sixty collection 

trucks servicing seven franchise areas with more 

than 36,000 residential, commercial and industrial 

customers. The service area covers more than 

1,200 square miles, which includes Kern County, 

Bakersfield, City of Arvin, Los Angeles County 

and Ventura County. 

Being innovative is at the core of the Price business 

strategy. The Price family was the first local 

hauler to purchase a packer truck (1959), roll-off 

truck (1972), and fully-automated side loader 

truck (1992). In 2006 the ‘Classroom Recycling 

Container Program” began with the Arvin Union 

School District. This has resulted in 2010 and 

2011 ‘Waste Minimization’ trophies from Keep 

California Beautiful. In 2009 the first Recycled Materials Arts 

Festival in California—the Arvin Green Arts Festival—was 

created. Companies like Nestles (Dreyers) have utilized 

Price’s specially fabricated equipment to help compost/recycle 

millions of pounds of material each month. 

The Price family’s community service has always been 

focused on the local youth. They feel that giving back to the 

youth will help the whole community benefit in the future. 

In 2008 the Price family started donating towards the AVID 

Scholarships for Arvin School District students. The AVID 

program helps finance, prepare and encourage students for 

their college experience. These ongoing community programs 

helped the Price family to be recognized as the 2013 

Arvin Business of the Year. 

The Price family, along with the local haulers of metro 

Bakersfield area and Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, has created 

the Greater Bakersfield Green Expo. The Expo is the only 

high school recycled materials arts competition in the state. 

The collaborative group also developed recycling events that 

benefit Bakersfield’s Ronald McDonald House Charities, 

Bakersfield Relay for Life, Campout Against Cancer, Make a 

Difference Day, and America Recycles Day for the City of 

Bakersfield and Kern County. 


254

÷ 

Below: Founders, Larry and Peggy Sewell. 

HOWARD’S GARBAGE 

SERVICE, INC. 

Bottom: Current owners, Nancy and Steve Sewell. 

Howard’s Garbage Service in East Bakersfield began in 

1952 when Pat Varner, a close family friend of Larry Sewell, 

urged Larry to buy a truck and start his own refuse business. 

Larry and his wife, Peggy, decided to give it a try and started 

collecting and hauling residential and commercial waste. 

During the early days, both Larry and Peggy held down 

full-time jobs while operating and expanding the business. 

Before he was able to devote full time to the business, Larry 

had to jockey trucks back-and-forth until the late evening. 

Meanwhile, Peggy served as bookkeeper for the company, 

working from home while raising their family. 

Larry eventually bought a small, open-top truck route 

from the Howard Benge family. He consolidated the route 

into his existing routes and continued to run the new 

business without other drivers. The business expanded, 

slowly but surely, and during his ownership of the company, 

Larry added another truck and four drivers. 

Larry was forced to retire early because of health reasons, 

and the company was purchased in 1975 by Steve and 

Nancy Sewell, who continue to operate the firm today. Steve 

added a commercial side to the business and recently added 

roll-off and recycling divisions. 

In the sixty-four years since it was founded, Howard’s 

Garbage Service has grown from a one truck, one-man 

manual operation—residential only—to a five completely 

automated truck operation with seven employees. 

Steve and Nancy continue to be involved in the business 

while relying on their great field and office staff to carry 

out the daily operations. They continue to be grateful that 

they were given the opportunity to buy the business from 

Larry and Peggy. 

Howard’s Garbage Service is a regular contributor to a 

number of public charities and service groups. In addition, 

the company participates in private ventures to help advance 

the standard of living for local families in need. 

Looking to the future, the company plans to continue 

working with community leaders to provide solutions for 

mandates affecting solid waste generation and disposal. 


255

RAY SCOTT 

÷ 

Right: Bakersfield Centennial Gospel Night. 

Below: Ray and Deann Scott, Veterans Day 2015. 

“Because God Loved Me Through Bakersfield.” 

Bakersfield is a loving community that has a tradition of 

giving to those who are in need due to illness. It is hard to 

find a weekend in Bakersfield when there is not a charity 

event happening. From June 7, 1992, to November 16, 1994, 

the people of Bakersfield encouraged me from moment to 

moment, until I was at the right place and time for God to 

perform His miracle in my life, which had been critically 

impacted by stage four colon cancer. On October 31, 1994, 

I was told I had no chance of remission, no chance of 

recovery and we could only discuss what short time was 

left. Please visit www.extraordinarygod.com for the details. 

Whether it was family, church, Olive Garden and employees, 

Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center, Alcoholic 

Anonymous, American Cancer Society or Mercy Hospitals of 

Bakersfield, they all contributed to why I am here today. So, 

when a dear friend asked me to help with the Bakersfield 

Centennial Celebration and the grand opening of the 

plaza and the Spiritual Heritage Foundation Committees, 

I said “My pleasure.” This birthed the Centennial Bakersfield 

Gospel Night and the start of my position on the executive 

board for Bakersfield Christian High School unto 2004. 

In 2001, after fourteen years in the food industry, God 

placed me with the Price family, one of the local refuse and 

recycling haulers in the Metro-Bakersfield area. This is a local 

family business that believes in community service and was 

one of the founding sponsors of the Arvin Green Arts Festival 

in 2009. This transformed into the Greater Bakersfield 

Green Expo in 2010. The only high school Recycled Material 

Arts Competition in the State of California was immediately 

a success by collaborating with Bakersfield Great American 

Cleanup. In 2011, I was given the opportunity to serve on 

the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Board and Mayor Hall’s 

Great American Cleanup Committee, and additionally as 

chair of the recycling committee, which was supported by the 

fellow haulers recycling events such as McDonald’s E Waste, 

Relay for Life, Kern Green, Area Energy Employee Expo, 

Make a Difference Day and America Recycles Day. 


256

÷ 

Left: Greater Bakersfield Green Expo tent, 2011. 

Below: Relay for Life Kern County Fairgrounds. 

In 2012, I was invited to serve on the Keep California 

Beautiful Board to represent the Haulers of Metro Kern 

County and worked on the statewide K-12 Recycling 

Challenge, which became the key program for Keep 

California Beautiful. In December 2013, I was asked to 

become board president of Keep California Beautiful. In 

November 2015, I received from President Obama a Lifetime 

Achievement Award for Community Volunteer Service. 

In all of this, I have been deeply blessed with the 

opportunity to help provide a greater platform to the 

gracious people of Bakersfield, Kern County and 

California on both the state and national levels. My focus 

was and is to honor God and bless His children. The 

scripture that is in the center of my desk at work is 

James 3:18 (Message Bible): ‘You can develop a healthy, 

robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its 

results only if you do the hard work of getting along with 

each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.’ 

“Because God Loved Me Through Bakersfield.” 


257

CALIFORNIA 

WATER SERVICE 

÷ 

Above: Bakersfield District employees ready the company entry in the city’s 

1930s Western Day Parade. Carl Stahlecker (foreground) served early in his 

career as president of the company’s Utility Workers Union Council. 

Right: Christopher Chenery was the chief executive officer of the company 

until 1939. Chenery was also president of Federal Water Service Company, 

the parent company of California Water Service. 

By living up to its promise of quality, service and value, 

California Water Service—known as Cal Water—has supplied 

water utility services for customers in its Bakersfield 

District for ninety years. Cal Water serves more than 

278,500 people daily through 70,800 customer connections 

in its Bakersfield District, as well as 141,100 people through 

50,700 connections under an operations and maintenance 

contract (O&M) with the City of Bakersfield. 

To deliver water to its thousands of customers, Cal Water 

collects water from its source, treats it to meet stringent federal 

and state water quality and environmental standards, 

tests it for safety, and stores it for delivery to customers 

24/7. Cal Water’s vast network of pipelines, booster pumps 

and other infrastructure includes 960 miles of pipelines in 

Bakersfield, all underground. 

Christopher F. Chenery, 

along with Thomas H. Wiggin 

and George Lewis Ohrstrom, 

created California Water 

Service Company in the fall 

of 1926. 

Chenery, who studied 

Engineering at Washington & 

Lee University and became a 

major in the Army Corps of 

Engineers, met Lieutenant 

Wiggin when they served 

together at Camp Humphries, 

Virginia. Wiggin, a graduate 

of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, later became a 

well-respected civil engineer and was a consultant to more 

than 100 water companies. Ohrstrom, an Army fighter pilot 

credited with shooting down the last German Aircraft in 

World War I, became a New York investment banker after 

graduating from the University of Michigan. 

In 1926, the three men combined their talents to organize 

the Federal Water Service and its subsidiary, California 

Water Service Company. Chenery and Wiggin supplied 

the technical expertise for the venture, while Ohrstrom’s 

experience in investment banking helped secure the capital 

needed for the new utility. 

The nation was enjoying the economic boom times of the 

‘Roaring ’20s’ as Chenery began his efforts to build a water 

utility base in California. Fueling the era’s dynamic growth 

was the fast-moving pace of industrialization, technological 

advances and the billions of dollars being invested in a 

spiraling stock market that investors believed would keep 

rising forever. Amid this prosperity, entrepreneurs such 

as Chenery and his associates recognized the potential lay in 

offering the public an opportunity to invest in the booming 

utilities industry. The stock market provided the vehicle for 

capitalizing on the nation’s insatiable desire for potential 

gains through securities speculation. 

Chenery established a foothold on the West Coast in 

several California communities during the fall of 1926. 

Two of his acquisitions were the Bakersfield Water Works 

and the Electric Water Co. of Bakersfield in 1926. 

When the stock market collapsed in 1929 and the nation 

slowly slid into the economic depression of the 1930s, 

Cal Water was able to survive because of its solid financial 

base and strong leadership. 

In 1941, Cal Water’s Bakersfield District was the first to 

have a union contract, paving the way for workers in seven 

other districts to become union members by the end of 1942. 

Ralph Elsman, CEO at the time, encouraged his employees 

to never forget the importance of maintaining customer 

service, insisting that the paramount rule in the public 

utility business was that “dependable service to the customer 

always comes first.” This commitment to customer 

service became a core value of the company, and this 


258

÷ 

Left: Employees of the Bakersfield District gather for an equipment training 

session, c. 1931. 

Below: The Bakersfield District has fifty-one storage tanks that can hold up 

to 43 million gallons of water at any given time. The tanks ensure the district 

has enough water to meet peak demand times and that there is always an 

emergency supply on hand. The pictured tank can hold 5 million gallons of 

water and is known in the district as the “panorama station.” 

long-standing emphasis on quality and service continues to 

guide Cal Water today. 

In May 1945, an initial public offering of all company-held 

stock was issued at thirty-nine dollars per share. The sale of 

stock brought wide distribution of ownership in thirty-eight 

states. In April 1994, Cal Water common stock began trading 

on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘CWT’. 

The company previously traded on the NASDAQ market. 

A major event in the company’s history occurred in 1961 

when the State of California began construction of the $1.6 

billion state water project, designed to capture and transport 

water from the state’s northern area to more arid regions of 

central and southern California. This project delivered a major 

supply of surface water to Cal Water districts in Los Altos, 

Livermore, Oroville, Bakersfield and the Los Angeles area. 

Cal Water engineers worked closely on this project and 

were able to work with local water agencies to negotiate 

contracts to meet the water needs of its customers. 

Cal Water acquired the Crest Water Company of 

Bakersfield in 1965. This system added 1,650 customers, 

bringing the statewide total to 238,841. Garden Water 

System of Bakersfield was acquired in 1975, adding an 

additional 2,600 customers. 

In 1977, Cal Water first ventured into a management 

opportunity involving the operation of a city-owned 

water system. A contract was signed with the City of 

Bakersfield authorizing the company to assume management 

of the new city-owned water system serving 

4,100 customers. (The city had purchased the water 

operations of Tenneco West, a major land developer in 

the Bakersfield area.) 

The company was forced to deal with the first major 

drought in its history during 1976-1977 when California 

experienced the lowest two-year rainfall recorded in 

modern times. To meet the state emergency, stringent water 

conservation rules were imposed on all customers. 


259

÷ 

Above: Cal Water holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Northeast 

Treatment Plant on November 16, 2001. 

Right: Cal Water processes water for Bakersfield customers through 

two treatment plants that utilize advanced microfiltration membranes. 

Together, the two plants can treat nearly thirty million gallons per day for 

local customers. 

During the five-and-a-half-year drought that began in 

1987, Cal Water was an active participant in the state’s call 

for a ‘memorandum of understanding’ among 123 water 

agencies throughout California. Water purveyors were asked 

to support ‘best management practices’ designed to promote 

efficient use of water. This memorandum was signed by all 

participating agencies in 1991. 

This enabled Cal Water to be well-prepared when the 

state experienced another historic drought that it is still 

enduring. To help cope with the current drought conditions 

in California, Cal Water’s Bakersfield system—and customers—reduced 

water use cumulatively by thirty-one 

percent from June 2015 through May 2016, compared to 

2013. Through a combination of the company’s long-term 

water supply planning and robust conservation programs 

and efforts, the reduction surpassed the requirements set 

for the system by the State Water Resources Control Board. 

Going forward, Cal Water is asking its Bakersfield customers 

to reduce consumption by nine percent until the 

state establishes its framework for permanent conservation 

standards in early 2017. 

In 1996, Cal Water directors took a dramatic first 

step toward developing new growth opportunities for the 

company when they passed a resolution for the formation 

of a holding company, California Water Service Group. 

The group, established on December 21, 1997, was 

comprised of California Water Service (Cal Water), which 

handled regulated utility operations, and CWS Utility 

Services, which handled non-regulated services such as the 

City of Bakersfield O&M contract. 

In 1999, Cal Water was given governmental authority to 

build, own and operate a surface water treatment facility 

in a new and growing area of Bakersfield. The Northwest 

Water Supply Project would eventually serve 15,000 new 

customers with a surface water supply being allocated by 

the City of Bakersfield from the Kern River. 


260

Also in 1999, the company purchased Bakersfield’s 

Olcese Water District, adding 176 customers. This deal also 

included a surface water treatment plant and approximately 

42,000 acre feet of water deposited in the City of Bakersfield 

water bank. 

In 2003, Cal Water’s $49 million state-of-the-art water 

treatment plant opened in Northeast Bakersfield. This was the 

largest capital project in the company’s history and has become 

an integral part of the Bakersfield operations, meeting the 

quality and supply needs of 95,000 customers. The new 

plant allowed the City of Bakersfield to increase population 

in the city’s dynamic growth area to the Northeast. Even 

at one-third of its capacity, the new plant could provide a 

glass of water each day to every person in North America. 

Currently, Cal Water and the Tejon-Castac Water District 

are working together to improve water quality by adding 

another stage of filtration, which will reduce byproducts that 

form during disinfection. The company is also making 

pipeline modifications and operational changes, such as frequently 

refilling the storage tanks and flushing, to improve 

water quality. Cal Water, whose sister subsidiaries provide 

extensive wastewater utility services, also provides wastewater 

utility service to customers in the Tejon-Castac system. 

Cal Water now has about 480,300 customer connections 

statewide. The group has more than 509,000 customer 

connections total, with more than $400 million in annual 

revenue and more than $1.5 billion in gross utility plant 

assets. Across all subsidiaries, the group employs about 

1,125 people, including 129 in Bakersfield. Corporate 

headquarters are located in San Jose and the local Cal Water 

office is at 3725 South H Street. The company operates 

twenty-eight Cal Water Customer and Operations Centers 

throughout the state. 

As part of its continuing effort to improve the quality of 

life in the communities it serves, Cal Water has numerous 

community outreach and charitable giving programs that 

are funded by the company and not paid for by ratepayers. 

“It is important to us to be a good neighbor and support 

organizations that make our communities better places 

to live. This means investing in worthwhile organizations 

such as food banks, economic assistance organizations, 

and services for at-risk youth, among many others,” says 

Martin A. Kropelnicki, president and CEO of Cal Water. 

Cal Water has made contributions to the Elite Service- 

Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Network, which seeks to 

assist service-disabled veterans by helping them successfully 

establish and grow their own businesses. The company has 

also made donations to more than a hundred local charities 

through Operation Gobble to help provide Thanksgiving 

meals to families in need. Additionally, Cal Water supports 

the Bakersfield Police Activity League (PAL), Boys and Girls 

Clubs, City Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber 

of Commerce, Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, BARC, and 

various local sponsorships such as little league baseball and 

soccer leagues. 

By utilizing its core values of integrity, service, value, 

health and safety, corporate citizenship, and respect and 

collaboration, Cal Water is able to provide affordable, 

high-quality water and wastewater services to its customers 

while enhancing stockholder value. 

For the future, California Water Service Group will 

continue exploring appropriate opportunities to expand 

its regulated and non-regulated water and wastewater 

activities in the western United States. These opportunities 

could include system acquisitions, lease arraignments, 

full-service system operation and maintenance agreements, 

meter reading, billing contracts, and other utility-related 

services. The company will remain true to its mission: 

“To be the leading provider of water and wastewater services. 

Our promise is quality, service, and value.” 

÷ 

Above: A class of sixth-grade students at Downtown Elementary School was 

named the winners of Cal Water’s second annual H20 Challenge, a statewide 

water conservation competition. The students designed and conducted an 

experiment to test the impact of greywater on lawns versus freshwater. 

Below: Bakersfield District employees provided a “green makeover” on the 

Bakersfield Police Activities League’s center for at-risk youth. The makeover 

included replacing low-efficiency devices, planting drought-tolerant 

landscaping, and cleaning up the site. 


261

CHRIS BERTOLUCCI CONSTRUCTION 

“Shortly after we started our company we were 

approached by a client who wanted a complete home 

remodel. That project took on a life of its own and after 

about three years of construction work we transformed 

the home into a masterpiece. That project demonstrated 

our capabilities to Bakersfield residents and propelled us to 

where we are today. It was truly a feather in our cap.” 

Chris Bertolucci Construction quickly became known as 

a firm that goes over-and-beyond the ordinary. Chris explains 

on one of the company’s first large projects, a client wanted 

some large sliding French doors that would pocket into the 

wall when opened. “These doors were on each end of an 

indoor BBQ/bar room, which would allow guests to go from 

the backyard to the side yard where the pool was located,” 

Chris explains. “We found a company in Los Angeles that 

made exactly what we needed and the client wanted to 

visit the factory in Los Angeles. Two days later, we were on 

a private jet heading to Los Angeles. Our client ended up 

purchasing two units from the manufacturer.” 

New construction or remodeling is a significant investment 

of time and money and needs to be done right the first 

÷ 

Above: Chris and Tonja Bertolucci, founders of the company. 

Right: Kitchen remodel. 

Construction has been a part of the Bertolucci family for 

more than sixty years. It all started with Andy Bertolucci, 

who taught the trade to his sons, Dan and Chris. 

Chris and Dan worked side-by-side in construction for 

twenty-three years before Dan moved to Oregon in 1993. 

Chris continued to operate the family business until 

deciding to open his own company in 2004, offering 

commercial and residential construction and remodeling, 

tenant improvements and design-build services. 

“In the early days, my wife, Tonja, and I put in countless 

hours of hard work and put off vacations to build the 

company”, Chris recalls. “We worked very hard to build a 

reputation for quality craftsmanship. 


262

time. After serving the greater Central Valley for more than 

thirty years, Chris Bertolucci Construction can handle 

everything from a simple shower replacement to a complete 

luxury renovation. The company provides all phases of 

new home and commercial building construction as well 

as interior construction, remodeling, kitchen, bath, flooring 

and HVAC, as well as exterior construction, remodeling, 

roofing, windows and siding. 

In-house labor allows Chris Bertolucci Construction to 

maintain strict quality control for all its work. The company 

utilizes a comprehensive design-build process where 

one entity performs both design and construction. In a 

‘traditional’ contracting approach, a client seeks out an 

architect or engineer to prepare drawings and specifications 

and then selects a contractor through negotiation or 

competitive bidding. Chris Bertolucci Construction’s design/ 

build team works closely with each client to establish 

construction goals, priorities and budget, and then develops 

the specifications and plans to meet the client’s needs. This 

approach provides a single point of accountability, which 

eliminates many of the common problems, frustrations and 

delays associated with the ‘traditional’ approach. 

In 2010 the company added solar power installation to 

the list of services it provides. Chris partnered with Kenny 

Salcido Electric, Inc., and started a fullservice 

solar company called All Seasons 

Solar, Inc. The solar company installs 

commercial, residential, industrial and 

agricultural projects of all sizes and complexities. 

All-Seasons Solar also provides 

installation of high efficiency lighting, 

energy efficient lighting, energy efficient 

windows, insulation, weather stripping 

and many other energy upgrades to 

lower power usage and reduce cost. 

Chris Bertolucci Construction is located at 9721 Rosedale 

Highway, which is the same location where Chris’ brother, 

Dan, operated until his move to Oregon. 

Continuing the family tradition, Chris’ son, Andrew, joined 

the company in 2013. “We are truly a family business,” 

says Chris. “We all were born and raised here and love 

the people.” 

The company employs ten people and its client base 

ranges from middle class to the very wealthy. Many clients 

are repeat customers and most new clients are referrals. 

The company and its employees are very involved in the 

community, sponsoring several Little League baseball and 

soccer teams. The Bertolucci family also support Four-H 

students, the Junior League of Bakersfield, and a number of 

outreach organizations through their church. 

“We are a small business and don’t want to grow beyond 

our ability to provide the workmanship our clients expect,” 

Chris says. “Our plan for the future is to continue the 

traditions of quality and craftsmanship our customers 

expect. We stay up with current trends and educate our 

employees so can always provide the very best products.” 

To visit Chris Bertolucci Construction’s showcase of finished 

projects or for more information about the company, 

check their website at www.bertolucci-construction.com. 

÷ 

Left: Outdoor kitchen and sitting area. 

Below: Family room ceiling and walls. 


263

THE TOWERY COMPANIES 

In 1981, Matt Towery began designing, estimating, and 

overseeing projects for Towery Air Conditioning with his 

father, Jerry Towery, who owned the company. Matt’s dad’s 

influence on his son’s approach to business is clearly evident 

today. According to Matt, “You would be hard-pressed to 

find anyone in town who didn’t like and respect my dad. 

He treated everyone fairly. He worked hard and felt if 

someone had entrusted him with their business, he owed 

it to them to do the best job he could for them. I’ve never 

forgotten what made my dad successful.” 

In 2007, when Matt’s father passed away, Matt purchased 

Towery Air Conditioning. Matt recounts, “My dad’s reputation 

in this community motivated me to carry on his legacy, 

and I bought his company. My son, Dan, later joined me 

and is now Towery Air Conditioning’s general manager.” 

Today, Towery Air Conditioning serves clients in Northern 

California and Arizona as well as in Bakersfield and 

the Central Valley. “I’m happy that Dan is here to help 

me carry on what my dad started,” says Matt. “I like that 

we’re three generations strong.” 

After several years working with his dad, Matt yearned 

to branch out, and focused on commercial construction as 

a project manager for Wallace and Smith Construction. In 

1994, he broadened his scope again and joined Kyle Carter 

Homes as vice president. During Matt’s tenure, Kyle Carter 

Homes became the largest homebuilder in Bakersfield. 

In 1998, Matt was presented with the opportunity to start 

up Castle and Cooke’s homebuilding division. Four years 

later, with the loving support and encouragement from his 

wife Kassy, Matt started his own residential construction 

business. Matt recalls, “Bruce Freeman, Castle and Cooke’s 

president, gave me the opportunity to build on sixty-one 

lots. I started Towery Homes by drawing up five house 

plans.” Most of the subcontractors knew Matt from working 

with him while he was with the other companies. “I had very 

little money, a few hand drawn plans and big hopes that 


264

I could make a go of my own company,” says Matt. “The 

subcontractors had a good laugh at my hand drawn plans, 

but knew me well enough to know that the plans would 

be accurate. A large part of my success has come because 

I’ve surrounded myself with many great people.” 

Mentors, colleagues—including architects, engineers, and 

subcontractors, friends and family—have all played vital 

roles in Matt’s success. “I was very fortunate to have key 

people in my life at the right time. Their support and help, 

along with my dad’s rule of life and way of doing business, 

have influenced my success, my work ethic, and my desire 

to contribute to the life of the city I love, in more ways 

than I could think of. I feel a gratitude that’s often hard to 

express,” says Matt. “Bart Wallace, Bud Wallace, Earl Smith, 

Kyle Carter, and Bruce Freeman—and so many more, taught 

me, mentored me, and befriended me. I’m a very lucky man.” 

Matt’s gratitude and commitment to offering something 

really valuable and beautiful to his customers is evident 

in the way he designs and builds homes. To Matt, a home 

is more than a house; it is where people raise their families. 

That is why he builds the kind of home for his customers 

the same way he would build for his own family. “A 

home is a place where people’s lives take shape,” says Matt. 

“I want to build them something beautiful and affordable 

and durable. I want them to live comfortably and safely. 

I think we all deserve that.” 

Towery Homes are affordably priced, and in premier 

locations. Impeccable construction, superior materials, fit 

and finish, and attention to every detail are the hallmark 

of Towery Homes. Matt’s agent, Lavaundia Clark, remarked 

that, “He will ask them over and over, ‘Is this right for 

you…do you need to change that…are you sure?’” It seems 

Matt is as particular as he is passionate. 

Several years ago—in the midst of the recession—a real 

estate broker shared an opportunity with Matt to purchase 

ninety-five finished lots at an 

incredibly low price. Matt saw a 

chance to build at the lowest prices 

possible, and to be in a position of 

growth when the economy finally 

turned around. 

Matt found an investor who was 

looking for a good opportunity 

in Tim Lewy, a local oil company 

owner. Tim was impressed with 

Matt’s vision and strategy and came 

in as the investor for the project. 

“Tim and I continued to find and 

build in other subdivisions,” says 

Matt. “Our partnership has been 

a profitable investment for him, and 

a great opportunity for Towery 

Homes to expand.” 

Recently, Tim acquired the 

commercial property on California 

Avenue and Easton Drive, formerly 

the Three Way Chevrolet site, and 

offered Matt the opportunity to 

develop and build on the site. 

Currently, Towery Commercial is 

completing phase one of the threephase 

California Pavilion project. 

“California Pavilion’s instant success 

has provided Towery Commercial 

the impetus it needed for expansion,” 

says Matt. 

No doubt, the future is bright 

for the Towery Companies. A legacy 

of opportunity, exceptional service, 

and innovation ensure its success. 


265

HALL LETTER SHOP, INC. 

÷ 

Above: Clockwise, starting from top left, Rita, Greg, Celine, Therese, 

Catherine and Don Dounies. 

Top right: Current location of Hall Letter Shop, Inc., 5200 Rosedale Highway, 

Bakersfield, California, 661-327-3228. 

For over fifty-three years, Hall Letter Shop has been 

serving businesses and organizations in Bakersfield and 

surrounding communities. What began as a small typing 

and mimeograph shop has grown to be one of the largest 

printing and mailing companies in Kern County. 

The owner of Hall Letter Shop, Catherine Dounies, began 

her long business career in 1940. Fresh out of Wasco High 

School, she landed a job as a bookkeeper at Hopper Machine 

Works, an oilfield hoist manufacturer. Hopper would soon 

become a defense contractor during World War II turning 

ship shafts for WWII troop transports. 

After the war, she went to work for KERO Radio in 

the Hotel El Tejon building as office manager for five years. 

For the next eight years, Catherine worked as an accountant 

for various CPA firms. These experiences gave her vital 

insights into the operation of large firms, the importance of 

advertising, accounting practices and public relations. 

In 1959, Catherine decided to strike out on her own 

in the business world. She bought some used typewriters 

and mimeograph equipment and started a small typing 

and printing service at home; serving grocery stores, 

local farmers, restaurants and anybody who needed quick 

inexpensive flyers and printing. She recalls that each flyer 

had to be hand-drawn or typed on a stencil then placed 

on the mimeograph machine for duplication. 

In 1963, Catherine purchased Hall Letter Shop, a small 

printing and mailing office on the second floor of the 

Haberfelde Building. She combined her mimeograph business 

with offset printing and added a part-time employee. 

She could now print a wider array of materials and with the 

addressograph machine, she could mail out flyers and 

newsletters for local organizations. 

The firm soon outgrew its 400 square foot location and 

moved to a 1,000 square foot office in the Hotel El Tejon 

(the current site of the Bank of America building) in 1965 

and added three employees. When the Hotel El Tejon was 

scheduled for demolition in 1969, the business moved to a 

larger facility at 1221 Eighteenth Street, doubling the working 

space. For the next twenty-four years, Hall Letter Shop 

kept growing and introducing new technology in the printing 

and mailing business, such as cold composition typesetting, 

direct to plate imaging, web offset printing, computerized 

mail list services, inserting and address labeling capabilities. 

Catherine’s husband, Don Dounies, was instrumental in 

helping the business succeed during its first thirty years. A 

cabinet maker by trade, Don built the counters and offices 

during those early years and later joined the company 

full time to manage the printing/mailing departments. Don 

passed away May 21, 1993. 

Her son, Greg, and daughters, Celine, Rita and Therese 

worked part-time throughout their educational years at 

Garces Memorial High School. Greg went on to earn a 

Graphic Arts degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and after 

graduation returned to Hall Letter Shop full time in 1976. 

“Being a family business is what made this endeavor 

possible,” Catherine explains. “No person is an island. 

In whatever you do, you need help and my family brought 

that help to me when the business needed it.” 

By 1980 the business had grown to occupy the entire 

8,250 square foot building on Eighteenth Street and employed 

twelve people. By 1990, more space was needed for the 

printing department and another building was leased at 

1300 South Street to accommodate the expansion. 


266

The final move came in 1994 when Hall Letter Shop 

constructed its own 18,000 square foot building on a 

1.75-acre lot at the corner of Rosedale Highway and 

Landco Drive. 

The new building would now accommodate the entire 

design, print and mailing operations of the company in one 

location. In the course of one week, nearly 100 tons of 

machinery, office furniture, files and paper were moved and 

production was resumed. 

Hall Letter Shop’s capabilities have changed dramatically 

since the days of a stencil and mimeograph machines. Using 

advanced software, high-tech equipment and dedicated, 

highly trained employees, the company has continually 

met the needs of local business with specialized services 

such as variable data printing, direct mail marketing and 

a constantly evolving mix of printed products. Hall Letter 

Shop, Inc., now employs sixteen people. 

In 2008, HallPrintMail.com was launched and is primarily 

used for transacting commercial printing business and 

receiving customer files and artwork for printing and mailing. 

In January 2016, a brand new site, BestTicketPrinting.com, 

was launched after three years of design. It offers complete 

online design and purchase of event related printing such as 

tickets, posters, banners and flyers. Utilizing hundreds of 

professionally designed templates, customers may select a 

design, customize it to their needs or simply upload their 

completed art and place the order online without leaving 

their home or office. 

Through six decades of faith, determination and hard 

work, Catherine, together with her son, Greg have grown 

the business from a one-woman typing and mimeograph 

shop into a large successful full-color printing business. 

Catherine holds the honor of being the only woman on 

the west coast to own and operate a printing and mailing 

business continuously for more than fifty-three years. 

Over the years, she was active in or contributed her time 

to many business organizations including the Greater 

Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, the North of the River 

Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Business 

Association. In 2004, Catherine received the Governor’s 

Older Worker and Exemplary Employer Awards from 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Catherine was married to Don for forty-eight years and 

raised a family of four children while running a business. 

She has been a devout member of St. Francis Catholic 

Church for seventy-six years and has been part of many 

church and charitable organizations. Her commitment 

and service to the Catholic church was recognized with 

“The Benemerenti Medal” bestowed on her by Pope Saint 

John Paul II in 2002. 

At ninety-five years of age, Catherine continues to watch 

over the business. 

To learn more about Hall Letter Shop, visit their websites 

at www.hallprintmail.com and www.bestticketprinting.com. 

÷ 

Above: Catherine and Greg Dounies. 

Below: Aerial view of Hall Letter Shop, Inc. 


267

GRIFFITH COMPANY 

÷ 

Right: Highway 166, near Interstate 5. 

Below: Road construction in Bakersfield, 1939. 

For more than a hundred years, the Griffith Company 

has developed a solid reputation for delivering challenging 

projects on time and on budget. From the Central Valley 

to the Los Angeles Basin to Orange County and San Diego, 

Griffith Company has left a lasting mark on Southern 

California. The firm’s work includes highways and bridges, 

airports, drainage structures, parks, ports, street rehabilitations 

and major dams. When the first city streets were 

graded, when the mighty Colorado River was tapped, 

when the first paved runways beckoned commercial jets— 

Griffith Company was there. 

The company began in 1902 when J. A. Fairfield, E. W. 

Gilmore and George Wilton incorporated as Fairchild- 

Gilmore-Wilton Company, a general contracting firm. 

Fairchild was president, Wilton was vice president. 

George P. Griffith joined the firm in 1906, followed 

quickly by his cousin, Stephen, in 1908. When Fairchild 

retired in 1911, Wilton became the president 

and George Griffith was named vice president. By 1920 

the Griffith family had purchased all the company stock 

and, in 1920, George was elected president. In December 

1922 the company was reorganized and renamed 

Griffith Company. 

The automobile was beginning to transform the nation 

during that era, and the company’s early years were spent 

converting gravel roads to all-season paved roads in and 

around Los Angeles County. The job of widening, grading 

and paving roads was extremely strenuous, labor-intensive 

work, using not much more than shovels, wheelbarrows 

and a team of mules. At one time, the company had more 

than 200 mules working on various projects. 

Stephen served as company president from 1928 to 

1956, a period that saw amazing growth in revenues as well 

as capabilities. Under his leadership, the company was 

involved in a diverse list of large projects such as Shasta and 

Friant Dams, the Santa Ana Freeway, Hollywood Freeway, 

Highway 99 through the Central Valley and over the 

Grapevine to the Colorado River Aqueduct, Lemoore Naval 

Air Base and Point Mugu Naval Air Base. 

In 1929, Griffith Company built Lido Isle Improvements, 

a project that included sea walls, the bridge from the 

peninsula, underground utilities and the road around the 

island. When the economy collapsed at the beginning of 

the Great Depression, the city could not pay back the bond, 

so ownership of the land reverted to Griffith Company. It took 

more than thirty years to develop and sell all the properties. 


268

Griffith has been in Bakersfield since the early 1930s 

and company crews have helped improve streets and 

highways for the City, Kern County and the State of 

California. Every major thoroughfare, SR-99, SR-58, SR-166, 

SR-46 and I-5, to name but a few, have the Griffith stamp 

on them. In addition, Griffith has graded, paved or 

resurfaced airfields across the San Joaquin Valley. The long 

list includes Wasco Airport, Meadows Field, Minter Field, 

Techachapi Airport, Delano Airport, Bakersfield Municipal 

Airport, California City Airport, Edwards Air Force Base, 

Mojave Airport, Inyokern Airport and China Lake Naval 

Weapons Center. 

For many decades, Griffith Company was one of the 

largest contractors in the west, but in the 1970s the family 

began to sell off assets and shrink the company. In 1983, 

George Griffith, grandson of the founder, began the 

process of turning the company into an ESOP—Employee 

Stock Ownership Plan. During the company’s centennial 

celebration in 2002, Griffith employees purchased the last 

family stock. Since then, stock value and annual revenues 

have more than tripled. 

Griffith Company currently has 125 management 

employees and more than 500 trade workers who generate 

around $300 million in revenue annually. In Bakersfield, 

fifteen management employees and over eighty trade 

workers put an average of $55 million of infrastructure 

improvements into service each year. While Griffith Company 

completes a staggering list of capital improvement projects 

annually—one of the very best things you can build at 

Griffith Company is an amazingly rewarding career. A 

remarkable number of Griffith employees join the team as 

young interns or apprentices and choose to remain engaged 

in the industry and with the company for their entire career. 

Griffith Company is actively engaged in supporting 

the local community. From sponsoring local youth sports 

teams, to adopting families needing assistance during the 

holidays to supporting and participating in events such as 

the Volkslaugh, Griffith employees enjoy taking an active 

role in serving their local community. At Griffith Company, 

we take pride in working hard, playing hard, honoring our 

fellow employees and respecting our families. 

Griffith Company plans to continue operations throughout 

California, building our infrastructure and bettering 

local communities by improving trade efficiencies, shortening 

commutes, and providing recreational opportunities for 

millions of people for many centuries to come. 

÷ 

Above: Two views of grading and paving on Mohawk Street, a City of 

Bakersfield Project. 

Below: The future generation of Griffith Company, Zachary Weishaar at six 

days old, beginning his training and orientation. 


269

KERN ASPHALT PAVING & SEALING CO., INC. 

÷ 

Top, left: Left to right, Deedra, Tatum, Bryan, Wendy, Blake, Breana and 

C. Jay Watson. 

Top, right: Established in 1985. 

C. Jay Watson, president and founder of Kern Asphalt 

Paving & Sealing Co., Inc., was born and raised in Oildale, 

California; he grew up on Willow Drive, next to the Kern 

River. When C. Jay was ten years old, his father passed away, 

leaving his mother to work two jobs to support their family. 

Living a very poor life with his two sisters and brother, 

C. Jay learned a great work ethic and a love for animals from 

his grandparents. They had a small farm with plenty of 

animals: horses, cows, and chickens. 

As a teen, C. Jay attended North High School. He married 

at young age and had a son, Jayson. In order to provide for 

his family and ensure they were never without, he always 

worked two jobs. First, he worked in the oilfields until 

the boom ceased. C. Jay soon was employed at an asphalt 

company, which he later purchased with a partner. In 1984, 

C. Jay began his life as an independent entrepreneur, starting 

his own company, Kern Asphalt Paving & Sealing Co., Inc. 

Kern Asphalt Paving began with a crew of four: C. Jay, 

his brother, Jimmy Tatman, and best friends, Larry Stevens 

and Dale Huddleston. For years, the four of them worked 

side-by-side, twelve to fifteen-hour work days to ensure 

quality work and happy customers. Not having the modern 

and convenient tools of today, they worked long, arduous 

days but never complained, just kept on working to complete 

their jobs. 

In the early nineties, Kern Asphalt continued to grow and 

service Kern County. During this time, C. Jay met Wendy and 

her young son, Bryan. Wendy and C. Jay were married in 

1994. In 1997, they welcomed their daughter Breana. As their 

family continued to grow, so did their company. 


270

Venturing into other aspects of the industry, C. Jay and 

Wendy purchased a new Recycling/Crushing Plant in 1999. 

This was the first plant of its kind to enter Kern County. 

Currently, the company runs three portable plants in and 

around the county. 

In 2003, Kern Asphalt purchased their permanent yard 

located at 2000 Norris Road in Bakersfield. 

Over the years, Bryan worked, watched and learned 

alongside his parents and gained years of first-hand 

experience. He continued his education from a different 

perspective, graduating from the University of California, 

Santa Barbara, with a master’s degree in economics. He 

joined the company permanently in 2008 as the vice 

president. Kern Asphalt has continued to expand and 

grow under Bryan’s leadership. 

Although Bryan is now running Kern Asphalt, C. Jay and 

Wendy are still involved in the company’s daily operations. 

They attribute the success of the company to hard work, 

determination, employee dedication, and customer loyalty. 

Kern Asphalt has become the ‘one call solution’ for all 

asphalt and concrete projects. Their fleet includes three 

portable crushing plants, multiple paving machines, oil 

distributing trucks, semi-trucks, belly dumps, and low beds 

to haul all equipment. The company has a variety of faithful 

customers up and down the San Joaquin Valley, Palm 

Springs, Santa Clarita and the Central Coast. From potholes 

and crack filling, to complete parking lot construction, Kern 

Asphalt provides new construction, restoration, paving, 

patching, seal coating, slurry seal surfacing and striping. The 

company’s goal is to deliver quality workmanship—on 

schedule—with fair and competitive pricing. 

Kern Asphalt is very involved in the community and 

contributes to a number of programs, especially those 

that benefit children and agriculture scholarships. These 

include: Small Miracles Foundation, a Children’s medical 

research, Kern County Fair, 4-H and FFA Agriculture 

projects, Thomas Midnight Ranch Rodeo and the Kern 

County Cattlewomen. 

Kern Asphalt doesn’t necessarily strive to be the biggest, 

just the best! 

÷ 

Above: Parking lot restoration to include patching, sealing and striping. 

Below: Kern Asphalt’s mobile concrete and asphalt recycling/ 

crushing plant. 


271

CASTLE & COOKE 

CALIFORNIA, INC. 

For more than 165 years, Castle & Cooke California, Inc., 

has been deeply involved in the development and growth 

of Bakersfield and Kern County. The company’s singular 

goal has been to make Bakersfield one of the states’ most 

desirable places to live. 

Castle & Cooke was founded in 1851 through a business 

relationship between Samuel Northrup Castle and Amos 

Starr Cooke, who first met as missionaries on the island 

of Oahu. A partnership between the two men grew from a 

general store and expanded to include sugar, pineapples, 

and shipping, making the firm a worldwide leader in the 

food industry. 

The roots of Castle & Cooke in Kern County began 

with the gold fever of the late 1800s that lured Kentucky 

attorneys James Haggin and Lloyd Tevis out west. Their 

partnership yielded enormous wealth, which they converted 

in vast land holdings of nearly half-a-million acres north 

of the Kern River. Seeing the potential in providing homes 

for the area’s growing population, the enterprising duo 

incorporated their land holdings into the Kern County 

Land Company and shifted their focus from agriculture to 

real estate. 

The partnership prospered as Bakersfield and Kern 

County grew in population and influence. The company 

was acquired by Tenneco West in 1968 and the emphasis 

turned to residential development. Communities such as 

Stockdale Estates, Amberton, Haggin Oaks, The Oaks, 

Campus Park and the commercial buildings north of 

Stockdale Highway were all developed by Tenneco West. 

Two decades later, Tenneco West was acquired by 

Castle & Cooke, an entrepreneurial company headed by 

David Murdock. Castle & Cooke brought a passion for 

keeping alive the dream of Haggin and Tevis to create 

something special in California’s Great Valley. 

Bakersfield has been home for Castle & Cooke for nearly 

thirty years and during that time the company has sold 

approximately 11,000 lots and homes in Southwest 

Bakersfield. Add that to the thousands of lots and homes 

sold over two decades by Tenneco and it is easy to see how 

much the landscape of Southwest Bakersfield has been 

changed by Tenneco and Castle & Cooke. 

Today, Castle & Cooke is well known for its masterplanned 

residential empire known as Seven Oaks, a 

collection of residential communities that includes Seven 

Oaks, Grand Island at Seven Oaks, and the Villas at Seven 

Oaks. Castle & Cooke is also responsible for some of the 

most prestigious private gated communities in Westside, 

including the Brighton master-planned community, along 

with Village Green and University Park. 

Not surprisingly, Westside’s most popular retail destinations 

also bear the Castle & Cooke touch. The developer 

is the visionary behind The Shops at River Walk, The 


272

Marketplace Shopping Center and Gosford Village. 

Each is a beautifully designed mixed-use venue 

offering shopping, dining and an engaging dayto-night 

atmosphere. Castle & Cooke also developed 

many office complexes including the River 

Walk area. 

Castle & Cooke is the only master-plan developer 

with a portfolio that includes developing the prestigious 

Seven Oaks Country Club, office complexes 

and commercial retail centers, along with residential 

development with an active homebuilding 

department that includes some of Bakersfield’s most 

acclaimed custom builders as premiere partners. 

With an eye to the future, Tenneco West donated 

370 acres for construction of California State 

University, Bakersfield. This marked the start of 

what is now commonly known as the new Westside 

of Bakersfield. Castle & Cooke has focused its 

efforts on elevating the image of Bakersfield by 

building neighborhoods with the guiding principles of 

friendly neighborhood design, such as narrower streets to 

calm traffic, privacy gates, tree-line streets and gathering 

places such as community parks, greenbelts, and resort 

amenities, which include pools, spas, and children’s water 

spray parks. While developing shopping centers in the 

neighborhood, Castle & Cooke has focused on attracting 

new name-brand retailers who understand the community. 

These new centers include the first Edward’s Theater, 

Nordstrom Rack, national chain restaurants and many 

unique homegrown establishments. 

Castle & Cooke has partnered with hundreds of 

charitable organizations, with a focus on health and human 

services, arts and culture, and youth and education. The 

firm partners with its employees to ensure contributions 

are going to organizations that are near and dear to their 

hearts. Over the past several years, Castle & Cooke has 

been active with the Bakersfield Homeless Center, Honor 

Flight Kern County, Links for Life, the Alliance Against 

Family Violence, and the Greater Bakersfield Chamber 

of Commerce. 

Over the next decade, Castle & Cooke will focus its 

efforts on finishing Shops at River Walk and Gosford 

Village Shopping Centers. The firm will also focus on the 

Seven Oaks empire with a new edition of Highgate at 

Seven Oaks. This 443-acre community will be a West 

Bakersfield original—an inviting new home community 

that presents a welcome and private gated community 

built upon the concept of Friendly Neighborhood Design ® . 

All homes will be built with Castle & Cooke’s focus on 

sustainability, diverse architecture, and a deep reverence for 

the natural environment. 


273

KS INDUSTRIES, LP 

KS Industries, LP of Bakersfield is a leading integrated 

service company, providing engineering, fabrication, construction, 

maintenance, and electrical services to many 

industries, ranging from oil and gas providers to heavy 

industrial and civil projects. 

The company was founded in 1981 by Ken Small and his 

wife, Susie. Ken had started his career at the age of nineteen, 

welding for a large industrial fabrication company. Within 

seven years, Ken had enough experience to venture off 

on his own. He purchased a welding truck and became a 

subcontracted rig welder in Getty Oil’s Kern River Field. It 

was not long before customers noticed Ken’s attention to 

detail and the quality of his work and he began fabricating 

pipe spools in his garage after work. The pipe spools were 

later installed by oil company construction crews. 

Ken’s production soon outpaced the resources of the 

construction crews and he was asked to hire a couple of 

employees to assist in installation of the prefabricated 

spools. This request moved Ken from a self-employed 

contractor to an employer and led to formation of Ken Small 

Construction, Inc. 

Ken Small Construction, Inc., provided maintenance 

and construction services to the upstream oil and gas 

industry throughout the 1980s. As the oil companies 

moved away from company-provided construction and 

maintenance crews to subcontracted crews, Ken was well 

positioned to fill this need. The company had earned a 

reputation for providing safe, quality services for a fair price, 

and as the oilfields moved towards creating a safer working 

environment, Ken Small Construction embraced the change. 

Having all employees return home safely each day is the 

company’s expectation and working safe is a condition for 

employment at the company. While many other service 

providers’ considered safety an added cost, Ken saw it as an 

added advantage. 

In 1995 the company acquired a local machine company 

adding custom machining and repair of wellhead 

components to the company’s portfolio. As demand for these 

services grew, the need for a larger facility became obvious. 

The company purchased a large fabrication facility at its current 

location on District Boulevard in 1996. All fabrication 

and machining processes were moved to the new facility 

and KS Fabrication and Machine (KSFM) was formed and 

incorporated in 1999. 

After several other expansions, KSFM has grown to 

become one of the largest fabrication and machine facilities 

on the West Coast. Services include structural steel fabrication, 

pipe spooling, process equipment fabrication, pressure 

vessel fabrication and repair, sand blasting and industrial 

coating, UL approved panel fabrication and a machine shop. 

The expansion of Ken Small Construction led to the need 

for more leadership support and Ken’s son, Kevin, was 

the most logical choice to fill the need. Kevin grew up in the 

company and followed closely in Ken’s footsteps as a 

rig welder, learning the trade was the catalyst for the 

formation of the company. Kevin quickly progressed from 

welder to project manager and his tenure in the field proved 


274

invaluable to his overall leadership development. He truly 

has ‘been there, done that’ just like his father. 

In 2001, under Kevin’s leadership, Ken Small 

Construction, Inc., acquired a local engineering firm that 

specialized in upstream oil and gas engineering and design. 

The acquisition provided the services needed to be a 

‘One-Stop Shop’ for the upstream oil and gas industry. 

Ken Small Construction was developing into an industry 

leading service provider, growing from a single welding 

truck to the large, multifaceted corporation it is today. 

Ken Small Construction, Inc., rebranded itself as KS 

Industries, LP (KSI) in 2002. The company is now much 

more than a construction company. With offices in 

California, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 

KS Industries is a fully integrated company that can 

engineer, procure, fabricate, construct, maintain, and 

reclaim projects throughout the United States. 

KSI is one of the largest private employers in Kern 

County, with more than 2,400 employees locally and a total 

of 3,000 employees across the nation at peak. 

KSI embraces its responsibility to achieve ‘World Class 

Operations Excellence’ and delivers only the highest value, 

quality services to its customers, and to reach out to 

its vision to be the best relationship-based, single-source 

service provider in the energy sector. From the owners to 

each employee, KSI is responsible and accountable for each 

other’s safety as productivity, quality, efficiency, reliability 

and delivery. 

Company owners and employees believe that creating 

an atmosphere—or way of working—within the company 

is what influences safe behavior. KSI’s corporate culture 

consists of shared beliefs, practices, and attitudes. This 

culture is a powerful invisible force that shapes the 

employees’ behavior and shared sense of responsibility. 

The culture of KSI starts with a belief by owners, leaders 

and managers that employees well-being and safety is 

the ultimate achievement. Leading by example is the 

only acceptable behavior for its leaders. KSI considers it a 

corporate responsibility to make a positive impact in the 

community and this involvement keeps the company 

connected with its employees, customers, and the needs 

of the communities it serves. 

Ken, Susie, Kevin, and Tuesdy Small continually invest in 

the Bakersfield community. Susie serves on the Memorial 

Hospital Board of Directors and Kevin and Tuesdy founded 

the Lauren Small Children’s Hospital, built in 2012 to serve 

the needs of local children suffering from illness. 


275

BOWMAN ASPHALT, INC. 

Gary Bowman was working for Toste 

Paving in the late 1980s when his employer 

encouraged him to branch out and start 

his own company. Gary founded Bowman 

Asphalt, Inc., in 1990 with little more than 

a pickup truck and a taste for hard work. 

His early jobs involved stripping and 

filling potholes, but he soon branched out 

to paving parking lots, city streets, and 

federal highways. 

Meeting the customer’s expectations 

allowed Bowman Asphalt to construct its 

first large private development and its first public works 

project. As the company grew, it added its own asphalt 

plant, then a second. 

Gary’s visions of where he wanted to take Bowman 

Asphalt and the hard work to reach his goals have been the 

framework for the company’s success. Providing quality 

products and service that consistently meets the customer’s 

expectations and being a responsible steward with respect 

to safety and the environmental 

impact of its operations have 

always guided the company. 

Bowman’s commitment to deliver 

on its promises is what drives 

the company today. 

A major breakthrough for 

the company came in 2004 

when Gary attended Con Expo 

and met with representatives 

from A1Mix. This led to the 

company purchasing its first 

asphalt plant, which allowed 

Bowman to expand its core business. 

Bowman now produces 

anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 tons of asphalt annually 

both for its internal business and for retail customers. 

Today, Bowman Asphalt is involved in construction, 

asphalt and material sales and concrete recycling. 

As a full service construction company and materials 

producer, Bowman services include site development, private 

and commercial developments, public works projects, 

concrete, paving, grading, seal coating, oil spreader truck, 

production of asphalt and aggregates, and portable crushing 

and recycling. 

Bowman is a full service construction company and materials 

producer. The company produces asphalt material for its 

own paving operations, as well as for other contractors who 

build state, county, and city public works projects. Gary points 

out that finding a dependable contractor to take care of your 

project needs these days can be difficult. Many fly-by-night 

contractors prove to be downright unreliable. Meanwhile, 

Bowman Asphalt has proven its integrity and leadership in 

the paving industry for more than a quarter century. 

When Bowman takes on a project, the customer’s satisfaction 

becomes the absolute priority. No matter the size of the 

endeavor, Bowman will handle it with professionalism, 

accountability and a commitment to excellence. The company 


276

is committed to providing its customers with quality products 

and services that consistently meet the customer’s needs. 

Bowman is also involved in concrete demolition and 

recycling. The company accepts clean concrete and clean 

asphalt and 100 percent of the concrete and asphalt is 

recycled into aggregates. The recycling of concrete has 

grown dramatically throughout the country because it 

protects natural resources and eliminates the unnecessary 

depletion of important landfill space. 

Bowman employs 100 craft/salary employees and takes 

pride in taking care of its employees. Several of the original 

employees who started with the firm in the early 1990s 

are still with the company. The experience of its employees 

is what distinguishes Bowman and allows it to fulfill its 

customer’s needs. 

Bowman Asphalt is an active member 

of the community and participates in 

various charitable activities throughout 

the year. The company is also active in the 

California Asphalt Pavement Association. 

Bowman Asphalt’s plans for the future 

include the expansion of its core business 

in the San Joaquin Valley, retaining 

and attracting quality employees to the 

company, and continuing to bring value 

to all its customers. Quality sustainable 

growth is the company’s goal. 

For more information about Bowman 

Asphalt, please check the website at 

www.bowmanasphalt.com. 


277

÷ 

MAZZEI INJECTOR 

COMPANY, LLC 

Above: Mazzei Injector Company, LLC Board of Directors: Mary Mazzei, 

Celia Mazzei Cobar and Angelo Mazzei. 

Right: Mazzei produces high-efficiency Venturi Injectors in various sizes and 

materials of construction to meet the needs for each customer’s specific project. 

When you really believe in something, you go for it! In 

1978, Angelo Mazzei and his wife, Mary, put their life savings 

into Angelo’s ingenious invention to help farmers add liquid 

fertilizer to their irrigation water. Angelo saw the need after 

moving to Arvin to manage the equipment on his uncle’s 

10,000-acre farm (Mazzie Farms). Working out of his garage, 

Angelo developed his first prototype of a Mazzei ® Injector. 

His inspiration came from a class he had taken while getting 

his BS Degree in Industrial Technology at Fresno State 

College. There he learned about the Venturi effect—a 200- 

year-old principle, which utilizes the increase in velocity of 

a fluid through a constricted section of pipe to lower the 

pressure to a vacuum. By changing the internal configuration 

of the Venturi, Angelo made a highly efficient Venturi and 

thus the first Mazzei Injector was born. 

After his Uncle Bill Mazzie’s death in 1972, Angelo had a 

short stint at Tejon Ag Partners and then moved to selling 

John Deere tractors for South Kern Machinery. “I met 

many farmers which had the same need: a better way to add 

liquid fertilizer during irrigation,” Angelo says. “Back then, 

they were using the suction side of a booster pump or 

pressurized pumps, both of which were dangerous as well 

as unreliable. The problem became more acute when the 

California Aqueduct was built because the water was now 

being delivered with pressure. The old system of getting 

water and fertilizer to the crops simply wouldn’t work 

anymore. They needed a solution.” 

Going back to his garage, Angelo started perfecting his 

injector to solve the farmers’ problem. Angelo experimented 

with a number of versions, turning them on his own garage 

lathe, and in 1978 the now famous Mazzei Injector was 

patented. Because of both Angelo and Mary’s passion and 

belief in this product, when the patent came through they 

formed their own company to make and sell the injector 

instead of selling the patent to another business. “We went for 

broke with a passion and a belief,” Angelo says. “Once the 

farmers accepted this technology—the business took off.” 

Although the business continued to grow as farmers learned 

of the injector, Angelo realized he needed to appeal to a wider 

market. “Our customers were 100 percent agricultural, and 

that market was cyclical. We needed to find new markets for 

our technology.” The Mazzei Injector was modified and new 

models were introduced in 1983 for injecting ozone into spas 

just at the time ozone was being introduced for disinfection. 


278

“We literally took over this market, and it helped level out 

the ups-and-downs of the agriculture market.” 

By 1994, Mazzei Injector outgrew the family office/ 

warehouse at the twenty-acre family homestead, and the 

operation was moved to its current location, an industrial 

park off of Highway 58 in Bakersfield. Mazzei then branched 

out to water and wastewater treatment. Today Mazzei offers 

a broad line of high-efficiency injectors, specialized nozzles, 

degassing separators, flash mixers and water and wastewater 

systems for industrial and municipal customers. Angelo holds 

seventeen U.S. patents and numerous international patents. 

The company continues to focus on innovation and research 

and development to solve the needs of customers around 

the world. Today about twenty-five percent of Mazzei’s 

business is in the agricultural market, including the wine 

industry and food processing—the bulk of the business 

is in the municipal and industrial water and wastewater 

markets. Mazzei Injectors can handle a lot of downstream 

pressure, and by putting gas under pressure, it makes it more 

soluble. The core of the business relies on the knowledge 

of math, chemistry and physics. Mazzei works closely 

with Fresno State and their International Center for Water 

Technology, in addition to the University of Alberta, 

Edmonton, Canada, on Mazzei research. Mazzei also uses 

multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to help 

design and optimize their systems and products. 

Mazzei’s quest is to preserve our precious resources— 

water, energy and soil. Once again new injectors have 

been developed—this time to inject air into the root zones 

of crops to increase yield and improve soil health all while 

conserving water—AirJection ® . Tru-Blend , a proportional 

fertigation system, is currently patent pending and being 

field tested. Tru-Blend allows an irrigation system to 

incorporate the precise balance of nutrients during all stages 

of the plant growth cycle accurately, reliably and simply. 

Over-fertilization will be reduced, preventing chemicals 

from seeping into tomorrow’s water supply. 

“It’s the people who make our business, that’s really the 

key,” Angelo believes. Today many of the employees at 

Mazzei have been with the company for an extended period 

of time—one for over 30 years. “In addition, we are constantly 

improving our products and systems and providing 

customers with excellent service and advice. The vendors 

that we use have to meet the same high standards that 

people have come to expect from Mazzei.” 

Angelo and Mary’s daughter, Celia (Cece) Mazzei Cobar, 

joined the company in 2005, making Mazzei a second-generation 

family company. Cece received a degree in mathematics 

from Pepperdine University and taught high school math 

before joining the family business. “She has been instrumental 

in steering the business into using new technologies, including 

CFD,” Angelo notes. In 2013, Cece’s husband, Ken Cobar, 

a mechanical engineer, also joined the business. 

“Our Mission Statement and Core Values exemplify who 

we are—they are not just words,” says Angelo. “The Mazzei 

family name is on our products, and customers can count 

on our honesty, integrity, dependability, and responsiveness.” 

÷ 

Angelo Mazzei in front of a large Mazzei Pipeline Flash Reactor (PFR) 

installed as part of an expansion project at Castaic Lake (California) 

Water Agency. The PFR uses high-velocity nozzles that ensure optimum gas 

mixing under all plant flow conditions. PFRs can be sized down for more 

modest projects. 


279

TOWNSEND DESIGN 

Since 1984, the employees of Townsend Design have 

helped optimize quality of life for hundreds of thousands of 

people who experience mobility and functional challenges. 

One of Bakersfield’s hidden gems, Townsend manufactures 

orthopedic braces for injured athletes, older adults 

who have muscle and joint degeneration, and patients who 

have congenital defects or anatomical 

abnormalities. Townsend’s innovative 

technology is respected by medical professionals 

around the world—yet the 

company is not as widely recognized 

by local residents as other iconic 

Bakersfield brands. The elaborate fabrication 

processes are a blend of art and 

science, producing handcrafted custom 

and standard size braces for patients of 

all ages and sizes. 

Townsend operates nearly twenty-four 

hours a day, employing engineers, 

machinists, fabrication technicians, customer 

service representatives, logistics 

experts and business professionals. 

Among the 150 local employees, nearly 

fifty percent have worked at the company 

for over a decade. The longevity and 

legacy knowledge of its workforce is a 

significant advantage for Townsend in 

terms of the consistency and quality of its 

braces and mobility-enhancing devices. 

While virtually all of Townsend’s primary 

competitors have relocated their manufacturing 

to Mexico, the company’s management 

team is committed to making 

Townsend’s signature products in the 

USA. Right here in Bakersfield. 

Townsend was owned by a local family until 2011, 

when one of Europe’s oldest and most respected medical 

textile companies acquired the company to establish a 

base of operations in the United States. Townsend’s parent 

company, Thuasne (pronounced Two Ann), was founded 

in 1847 and has been continuously owned and operated 


280

y the same family for six generations. Thuasne has 

made substantial investments in Townsend’s operations, 

product development and sales organization. The company 

doubled the size of its manufacturing and warehousing 

facilities in 2015, and now occupies two large facilities 

in Southwest Bakersfield encompassing nearly 90,000 

square feet. 

Townsend has a national salesforce that promotes 

the company’s products to orthopedic surgeons, pain 

management specialists, podiatrists, certified orthotists, 

physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other medical 

professionals. Townsend products are also sold by 

Thuasne’s subsidiary companies throughout Europe, 

and by medical distribution companies in other international 

countries. 

Many famous United States athletes have worn a 

Townsend knee brace, including NFL, NHL and NBA 

professionals, as well as Olympians and collegiate players. 

As a result, employees at Townsend have contributed to 

the success of Super Bowl champions, Stanley Cup winners, 

and Olympic medalists. 

But it is the satisfaction that comes from helping 

people be able to work, enjoy their family, participate 

in recreational activities and live a normal or nearnormal 

life that motivates Townsend’s employees. While 

Townsend does not treat patients or sell directly to 

consumers, the medical professionals who purchase 

braces often share success stories about how a Townsend 

product positively impacted a patient’s health and lifestyle. 

Helping people around the United States, or around 

the world, is a great feeling. It is equally rewarding 

when employees encounter someone at the store, park or 

restaurant who is wearing a product they helped to make. 

For more information about Townsend, please visit 

www.townsenddesign.com. 


281

÷ 

Right: President and CEO Melvin D. Atkinson. 

M.D. ATKINSON 

COMPANY, INC. 

Below: Corporate office located at 1401 19th Street in the 

historical Kress Building. 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc., provides professional 

property and asset management, strategic planning, and 

financial services for commercial real estate ventures 

throughout California. 

Headquartered in Bakersfield, the firm was established in 

1982, by Melvin D. Atkinson. As commercial real estate 

began to develop in Bakersfield, Mel realized there was 

a need for a commercial property management company 

to work on behalf of developers and investors to manage 

their holdings in Kern County. As a result of Mel’s vision, 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc., opened for business on 

September 1, 1982, managing 2 office 

buildings, an apartment community, 

and an shopping center. M.D. Atkinson 

Company, Inc., continues to manage all 

classes of commercial and residential 

properties. The growth of the company is 

the result of excellent client and customer 

service and the core belief that our client’s 

success is our success. M.D. Atkinson 

Company, Inc., is today, the largest commercial 

property management company 

in Bakersfield/Kern County. 

Mel, who serves as president and chief 

executive officer, began his career in 

property management in 1977. Mel has 

years of extensive experience in property 

management and understands the needs 

of both private and institutional 

investors. John Shaw joined the company 

in 1983, as vice president with Greg 

Butler joining in 1985, as chief financial 

officer. Mel, John, and Greg’s successful 

collaboration was integral in the development 

and growth of the company. 

After years of dedicated 

service to the company, 

John retired in 2015. 

In 1991, M.D. Atkinson 

Company, Inc., earned the 

Accredited Management 

Organization (AMO ® ) designation, 

which is a mark 

of distinction among real 

estate management firms. 

The AMO ® designation 

is bestowed only on property 

management firms 

that have demonstrated 

the highest standards in management expertise, professional 

competence, financial responsibility, integrity, and ethics 

through compliance with the strict standards of the Institute 

of Real Estate Management ® . 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc., encourages the professional 

development of our team members. As a result many Property 

Managers hold designations including Certified Property 

Manager, Certified Community Association Manager, and 

Accredited Residential Manager. The company maintains a 

General Contractors License in the State of California. 

It is the company’s culture to promote independent 

thinking within a team environment. Our success is 

driven by the talent and dedication of our employees. 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc., maintains involvement 

within the community by supporting charitable causes 

that are important to its clients and team members. 

The M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc., corporate office is 

located in the Historic Kress Building at 1401 19th Street 

in downtown Bakersfield. 

For more information about M.D. Atkinson Company 

Inc., visit their website at www.mdatkinson.com. 


282

DB & COMPANY 

The goal of DB & Company is to be the premier 

provider of the finest printing in Bakersfield, while 

maintaining the uncompromising principles of good service 

and community development. 

David Bass established DB & Company in 1981 after 

working for a large international business forms manufacturer 

for several years. Bass actually started the business 

in his home before moving to a downtown location. 

The company is now located at 2001 G Street, one block 

west of the historic Fox Theater. 

DB & Company prides itself on providing excellent customer 

service and the highest quality commercial printing. 

As a full service commercial printer, DB & Company 

offers handcrafted offset and digital printing, specialty 

advertising products, and Internet services such as web 

design and search engine optimization to help customers 

grow their businesses and reach more potential clients. 

The staff at DB & Company understands the importance 

of meeting deadlines and works to meet its customer’s 

needs on time. The production schedule is flexible so if 

customers have an emergency, DB & Company is able to 

help meet their deadline. 

DB & Company uses the latest professional design 

software from Adobe, so customers are assured that files 

will print correctly. When DB & Company designs a 

product, it has the professional look customers want so 

it will appeal to their target audience. 

The last thing a customer needs to worry about is its 

printing needs. By depending on DB & Company, customers 

may rest assured that they will get the biggest ‘bang for the 

buck’ when it comes to their printed marketing materials. 

DB & Company makes sure its customers get the professional 

look they desire. They take imaging seriously and make sure 

photos and colors look exactly as they should. 

“DB & Company is a unique and 

special place and I feel privileged to be 

the owner of this company,” says Dave. 

“We are 100 percent locally owned 

and operated and are proud of the fact 

that over 85 percent of all the labor, 

supplies, raw materials and resources 

we use to create and manufacture 

printing are purchased from other 

locally owned companies that support 

our local economy. DB & Company 

has been in business for thirty-five 

years and during that time we have 

printed business forms and sales and 

marketing materials for hundreds of 

businesses in the Bakersfield area.” 

DB & Company and its employees are involved in a number 

of community activities including Bakersfield East Rotary 

Club, Executives’ Association of Kern County, Fellowship of 

Christian Athletes and Make-a-Wish Foundation. 


283

MALOUF FAMILY 

÷ 

Right: Gail Malouf, Bakersfield native. 

Below: Richard Harger and Gail Malouf in a Model A touring the blossoms 

of Bakersfield. 

Gail Malouf, a prominent Realtor ® in Bakersfield for nearly 

forty years, is carrying on a family tradition of business 

and professional success and community involvement that 

began with her ancestors a century ago. 

“Our families, the Maloufs’ and Spalingers’ have been 

in this area for 100 years and have always given back to 

the community we all love,” Gail says. “All had businesses 

or important jobs in Bakersfield and contributed to the 

development of the community.” 

Gail’s grandparents, Arthur and Clara Spalinger, came 

to Bakersfield from Kansas in the 1920s. Arthur worked as 

a guard for Southern Pacific Railroad and the family lived 

on a five-acre parcel of land where he raised turkeys and 

chickens. “Our grandfather built a baseball field on his land 

where we spent many happy hours with the neighborhood 

kids,” Gail recalls. 

Another grandmother, Labiba Malouf Littlefield, came to 

the U.S. from Lebanon as a young married mother. She and 

Gail’s grandfather, George Malouf, lived in Utah, where her 

father was born. Labiba moved to Bakersfield in 1920 where 

she raised five children on her own, working in retail sales. 

She was a member of the Order of the Amaranth 

and Eastern Star. 

Gail’s father, Albert Malouf, was the owner 

of Edison Sand Company and her mother, 

Lenore Malouf, was a homemaker. Her father 

was very involved in DeMolays, Shriners, 

and Masonic Temple, Justice of the Peace in 

McKittrick, as well as a charter member of the 

Bakersfield East Rotary Club. Her mother was a 

den mother for her sons in Cub Scouts and Boy 

Scouts and a leader in her daughter’s Blue Bird 

and Campfire Girls group. Her parents hosted 

many lively school parties in their backyards. 

One of Gail’s brothers, Gerald Malouf, 

operated Edison Sand after the death of his parents. 

Another brother, James Malouf, was a highway patrolman 

and served as the chief deputy coroner under Sheriff Sparks. 

Jim was well known and respected throughout California 

for his wealth of knowledge in that field. 

Gail graduated from Foothill High School and the 

Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI). She is both a Certified 

Residential Specialist (CRS) and Certified Relocation 

Professional (CRP). Gail has been a Realtor since 1977 

and served as president of the Bakersfield Association of 

Realtors in 2010. She was named Salesperson of the Year 

by the association in 2002. 

Gail’s husband, Richard Harger, is retired from the 

Bakersfield City Fire Department where he served as captain 

and was the arson investigator for several years. 

“Bakersfield is a great place to live and raise a family,” 

Gail believes. “Being a Realtor has given me an opportunity 

to show off Bakersfield. I have so many wonderful memories 

from growing up in this community. It is my job to sell 

newcomers on all the opportunities available here. Once 

they get here, most don’t want to leave.” 


284

Loyd’s Aviation is dedicated to maintaining the highest 

level of safety and customer service in the aviation industry. 

The company offers an array of aircraft services, including 

fueling, charter, sales, aircraft management, maintenance, 

storage, and parts sales. Loyd’s Aviation also operates a 

recreational vehicle storage facility. 

Loyd’s Aviation was founded in 1958 when Byron Loyd’s 

carwash business was taken out by a new freeway. Byron had 

always loved flying and decided to turn his hobby into a 

business. In the early days, he rented a small office at the 

Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport, sold aircraft parts and 

taught new pilots how to fly. In 1970, Byron decided to invest 

in the airport by renting land and building twenty hangers. 

Loyd’s Flying Service was a one-man operation until 

1973 when Byron’s son, Steven, who also caught the aviation 

bug, joined the family business after completing college at 

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The business has enjoyed steady 

growth over the years and now employs forty people. 

Loyd’s Aviation is the only full-service fixed base 

operation (FBO) at Meadows Field in Bakersfield. In 2009, 

Loyd’s opened a new front-line facility, Bakersfield Jet 

Center, which includes a 3.5 acres’ aircraft parking ramp as 

well as state-of-the-art customer facilities. 

Backed by its outstanding reputation Bakersfield Jet 

Center offers the best customer service experience at 

Meadows Field. The operation is known for old-fashioned 

customer service and believes in providing the same level of 

service whether a customer arrives in a light-sport aircraft 

or a Gulfstream jet. The facility provides the finest amenities 

for both passengers and pilots and the 3.5 acres’ aircraft 

ramp can accommodate aircraft as large as a Boeing 737. 

Loyd’s Aviation provides on-demand aircraft charter service 

utilizing a variety of aircraft, from single-engine piston 

planes to business jets. Access to a large aircraft network 

allows Loyd’s to determine the aircraft best fitted for each 

customer’s travel needs and desires. Loyd’s serves any national 

or international destination. 

Aircraft owners from 

throughout the west fly to 

Loyd’s Aircraft Maintenance 

because of its reputation for 

quality work and service. 

Services provided include 

inspections, piston and turbine 

airframe and engine maintenance, 

pre-purchase evaluations, 

routine maintenance, 

structural repairs, and aircraft 

modifications. Each technician 

is factory trained and FAA 

certified, and the team of technicians 

boasts more than 200 

years of combined experience. 

The Loyd’s companies are 

deeply involved in community affairs. Steve Loyd is a 

member of Bakersfield Rotary and the Memorial Hospital 

Foundation. Continued contributions to the community are 

important to the Loyd’s companies and its employees. 

LOYD’S AVIATION 

DBA BAKERSFIELD 

JET CENTER & LOYD’S 

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE 


285

÷ 

Buddy and Greta Pretzer. 

ALL AMERICAN GLASS 

Buddy Pretzer came to Bakersfield, California in 1986 

with the prospect of getting a job in the construction 

industry. He had worked in construction in North Dakota, 

his home state, but found himself unemployed most of the 

year due to weather conditions. His brother, David, lived in 

Bakersfield, so Buddy followed his urging to try a new life 

in California. He worked in construction for one-and-a-half 

years until finding himself unemployed again. 

In 1986, Buddy met a girl, 

Greta Perttula, who later became 

his wife. Her father, Rueben 

Perttula, owned and operated 

American Glass Company. Greta 

talked to her dad and Buddy 

went to work for him in 1987. 

He had no experience as a 

glazier working with glass. Over 

the sixteen years of working for 

American Glass, Buddy was able 

to learn the ins-and-outs of the 

glazing trade. Rueben retired; the 

company was sold and eventually 

closed its doors. Buddy found 

himself unemployed again. He 

started a ‘Board-Em-Up’ business, 

boarding up emergency glass 

breakages to keep himself busy 

and making money. 

In 2004, Buddy and Greta 

found a building for rent on 

East Nineteenth Street and started 

All American Glass Company. 

Buddy worked under Rueben’s 

glazier license until obtaining his own license in 2006. 

The business was built on Buddy’s knowledge of the glass 

industry, recognition by the community because of his 

work at American Glass, honesty and integrity. Greta 

managed the office work at home while raising their son, 

Adam, and teaching Special Education. Buddy did all the 

work at All American Glass himself—taking calls, installing 

the glass by himself until he hired his first employee 

in 2005. The business continued to grow and eventually 

another glazier was hired. 

All American Glass Company now employs three 

secretaries and five glaziers. It has a fleet of six trucks 

that service the Kern County area for all commercial and 

residential glass needs during the day and still has the 

board-up service for any after hour emergencies. 

Buddy has been married to Greta for twenty-nine years. 

They have one son, Adam, twenty-six. Greta has been 

a Special Education teacher with the Kern County 

Superintendent of Schools for twenty years. Adam works 

for the Kern County Fire Department. Both Greta and 

Buddy are involved as volunteers with various organizations, 

mainly the Bakersfield College Drum Line and 

Golden Empire Drum Corps. They helped to form both 

these organizations and are passionate to see them grow. 

They enjoy travelling around the United States with family 

and friends. Cruises has become one of their favorite ways 

to travel; they have been to Alaska, Mexico, and the Virgin 

Islands on cruises. 

Buddy and Greta continue to manage and operate 

All American Glass Company. They see this business as a 

life adventure, challenge and essential resource for this 

community. They are proud of the business they have built, 

the support given to them by the community and the family 

atmosphere that exists at All American Glass. 

Today, All American Glass is located at 527 East 

Nineteenth Street in Bakersfield and on the Internet at 

www.all-americanglassco.com. 


286

MARTHA JOHNSON TEAM 

Martha, Kelli and Sarah of the Martha Johnson Team of 

Keller Williams Realty have a vision. They want to create a 

lasting smile on their client’s faces when they think of their 

house and how they were treated, and want others to have 

the same experience. 

Martha Johnson, who leads the team, has more than 

twelve years of experience in the real estate industry, guiding 

both buyers and sellers through the process of purchasing or 

selling their home. She takes her job seriously, understanding 

that many aspects of the home buying/selling process can 

be mind boggling. She regards the process of building a team 

in much the same way as helping her clients, and quality 

associates were brought on board to help smooth the real 

estate transactions. 

Kelli Schoell, the team’s lead buyer’s specialist, has served 

the needs of buyers for more than five years and takes the 

process very seriously. From start to finish, her clients always 

feel as if they have been her only priority. Kelli’s care and 

concern for her clients does not stop with the closing, she 

continues to answer questions and is available for help long 

after the sale is completed. 

Sarah Hogue, the team’s administrative/transaction coordinator, 

handles all the real estate transaction paperwork 

from beginning to end. Organizing inspections and paperwork 

and keeping the rest of the team on track can seem 

impossible at times, but Sarah handles it all with ease. Her 

title hardly defines all the little details she handles and if 

clients have any questions she is only a phone call away. 

“Bakersfield has been my home for over thirteen years 

and in that time I have seen some tremendous changes, but 

one thing remains constant, the neighborly feel you get from 

people who live here,” Martha says. “Living in Bakersfield has 

so much to offer. We have a helping and 

caring community. Real estate has proved to 

be an extraordinarily crazy, yet satisfying 

direction for me, providing opportunities to 

not only help people find a home, but to 

help them feel comfortable in their new city.” 

The Martha Johnson Team takes its values 

of honesty, integrity and character seriously. 

They feel that honesty means taking the 

blame if need be; integrity means being 

honorable in all things; and character 

means, ‘Who I am is all I have’. The team 

puts God first, family second, and business 

third...but not least. 

To learn more about the Martha Johnson 

Team and to see a collection of homes 

they have available, check their website at 

www.marthajohnsonteam.com. 

÷ 

Above: left to right, Kelli Schoell, Martha Johnson and Sarah Hogue. 

Below: Kelli, Sarah and Martha out for a bike ride on a beautiful sunny day. 


287

BAKERSFIELD ASSOCIATION 

OF REALTORS ® / 

GOLDEN EMPIRE MULTIPLE 

LISTING SERVICE, INC./ 

BAKERSFIELD ASSOCIATION 

OF REALTORS ® 

÷ 

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION 

Above: H. G. Parsons, Founding President of the Bakersfield Realty 

Board, 1905. 

Below: Bakersfield Association of REALTORS ® , father son group, 1955. 

Bakersfield was a 

booming town of 12,000 

residents in 1905, as the 

rich oil fields attracted 

fortune seekers from 

throughout the nation. 

In many ways, however, 

Bakersfield was a wideopen, 

old west town filled 

with saloons, casinos and 

houses of ill repute. 

Despite the town’s 

raw reputation, a group 

of local businessmen 

envisioned Bakersfield as a family community, built on the 

agricultural opportunities provided by the valley’s fertile soil. 

These families, of course, would require housing and this 

anticipation led to the formation of what is now the 

Bakersfield Association of REALTORS ® . 

On November 28, 1905, a group of leading businessmen 

held a meeting to discuss the establishment of a realty board. 

In the following weeks, fifteen men would join together 

to form the Bakersfield Realty Board, now known as Kern 

County’s largest trade association. 

The association was organized during a period when 

consumer protection laws and licensing were nonexistent, 

and the organization became a means of self-regulation, as 

well as an engine for increasing business and development. 

A number of prominent builders and developers 

have been involved with the association during its 111-year 

history, and their energy and vision shaped the Bakersfield 

of today. 

Throughout its history, the association’s goals have 

included the education of its members, encouragement 

of high ethical standards, community service and the 

promotion of business success. The association takes an active 

role in lobbying against local, state or federal legislation that 

might adversely affect property owners. 

The Multiple Listing Service, which began in 1947, 

started with the sharing of property data sheets printed 

on a mimeograph machine. The computer-based multiple 

listing service of today instantly connects buyers and sellers 

from throughout the nation and around the world. 

“Technology has changed our industry dramatically over 

the past decade,” says CEO Linda Jay. “While our business 

continues to grow more and more complex, our mission 

and commitment to our members and community remain 

steadfast: To improve the real estate industry through 

professionalism and service and grow a stronger community 

by consistently striving to retain the same dynamic relevant 

presence we have exemplified for more than a century.” 

Association members are often the first to serve community 

causes and numerous Bakersfield charities have benefitted 

from these efforts. Among the activities supported by the 

association are fundraisers for Relay for Life and Campout 

Against Cancer, an annual golf tournament and black tie 

event in support of the Ronald McDonald House, Real 

Estate Professionals Family Relief Fund, and the Bakersfield 

Association of REALTORS ® Charitable Foundation, Golden 

Empire Gleaners, and community partnerships with Boys 

and Girls Club. The association has also formed the Real 

Estate Anti-Fraud Advisory Coalition (REAAC) to prevent, 

detect and report real estate fraud. 

Today, the Bakersfield Association of REALTORS ® is an 

1,800-member organization under the leadership of current 

President Bill Redmond and CEO Jay. The association 

continues to further educate and keep members abreast 

of legislation, lobby on issues concerning the real estate 

industry and private property rights, and promote professional 

standards within the industry. 


288

B&B SURPLUS, INC. 

For more than fifty-three years, B&B Surplus has embodied 

the principles and vision of its founders, Ronald and 

Donice Boylan, who started the business from their home 

on Rosedale Highway. 

Ronald and Donice established the firm in June 1963 

and business was first conducted off the back of a bobtail 

truck that Ron drove up and down the valley each day. 

Over time, B&B Surplus has expanded to more than 

thirty-eight acres between Fruitville and Coffee, and is still 

headquartered at the original location. 

The business was founded on family values and management 

still believes that each employee is an intricate asset to 

the business and part of the family. 

Business grew gradually over the years. In addition to 

the headquarters in Bakersfield, the company expanded to 

Santa Maria in 1992 and established B&B Steel and Supply 

of Santa Maria. B&B Metals of Santa Ana was opened in 

1998. The firm moved into the nonferrous market in 1994 

with B&B Specialties Metals in Bakersfield, and opened 

Ventura Steel in Ventura in 2007. 

The company’s employees have grown from the original two 

in 1963 to the current count of 150. B&B Surplus is proud of 

the fact that even during the most recent economic recession, 

the company was able to withstand the challenges without 

laying off a single employee or cutting back on overtime. 

Ron died in 2004 and Terry Boylan retired in 2009 

but the company remains very much a family enterprise. 

Today, Donice serves as president, Michael Georgino as vice 

president, and Michelle Boylan-Pisano as secretary-treasurer. 

With great leadership and a strong group of people 

who have been meticulously put into place over the 

decades, the business has continued to carry out Ron’s 

vision. B&B Surplus was founded on Ron’s strong belief in 

the basic concepts of diversification of sales territories, 

strong control over spending, and the highest of work 

ethics. Although the business has changed and adapted 

to the changing needs of the marketplace, it still operates 

with the same business principles on which the business 

was founded fifty-three years ago. 

B&B surplus believes strongly in supporting local 

charities, schools, and community projects. The company 

makes every effort to do business with local vendors and 

professional services. 

B&B Surplus always strives to become more efficient, 

with a goal of being the best steel distributor possible. The 

company management feels its reward is greater customer 

satisfaction. The company believes in the old saying, 

“Shoemaker—stay with your stitch,” and plans to continue 

doing business the same way that has made it successful for 

more than half-a-century. 

÷ 

Above: B&B Surplus, Inc., headquarters located at 7020 Rosedale Highway 

in Bakersfield. 

Below: One of the 18-wheeler freight trucks used for delivery of materials. 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAPHNE FLETCHER. 


289


290

Family Portraits 

Families and individuals whose legacies continue to shape the future of Bakersfield 

Tejon Ranch.......................................................................................................292 

Nickel Family, LLC .............................................................................................294 

Rankin Ranch ....................................................................................................296 

Bolthouse Properties, LLC ....................................................................................298 

Watson & Watson Cattle, LLC ..............................................................................299 

FAMILY PORTRAITS 

291

TEJON RANCH 

Tejon Ranch is classic California, a land of legacy—bigger 

than life, rich in history, blessed by nature. Established 

in 1843 as a Mexican land grant, this grand sweep of 

land has been home to some of the Old West’s most 

illustrious exploits. 

In the 1860s, General Edward Fitzgerald Beale, hero of 

the Mexican/American War, consolidated four Mexican 

land grants into what is now the modern-day Tejon 

Ranch. Following Beale’s death in 1892, his son, Truxtun, 

maintained the ranch until selling it in 1912 to a group 

of Southern California businessmen led by the Chandler 

family, the publishers of the Los Angeles Times, and a 

number of other prominent businessmen who were 

instrumental in the development of Southern California. 

Those owners incorporated the ranch in 1936, and in 

1973 the company’s stock began trading on the American 

Stock Exchange. In 1999, it moved to the New York Stock 

Exchange, where its stock trades under the symbol TRC. 

Now a fully diversified real estate development and 

agribusiness company, Tejon Ranch Co. is the only public 

company headquartered in Kern County. 

With 270,000 acres, Tejon Ranch remains the largest 

contiguous expanse of private property in California. 

Comprised of 422 square miles of rugged mountains, steep 

canyons, oak-covered rolling hills, and broad valleys, Tejon 

Ranch is almost as large as the City of Los Angeles and 

about forty percent the size of Rhode Island. 

Tejon Ranch’s commitment to conservation is unsurpassed. 

Through its 2008 Conservation and Land Use 

Agreement, which was hailed by then-Governor Arnold 

Schwarzenneger as an “historic agreement to protect a 

California treasure,” the ranch agreed to never develop 

some 240,000 acres of its landholdings, representing ninety 

percent of the ranch. The land will continue to be used as 

it has historically, as farming and ranching land. 

The agreement also created the nonprofit Tejon Ranch 

Conservancy to oversee stewardship of the conserved land. 

What Tejon Ranch established is nothing less than a new 

model for land management and planned developments, 

one that balances human needs with that of the natural 

environment. In 2009 the agreement was recognized 

with California’s most prestigious honor, the Governor’s 

Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. 

As California continues to grow, Tejon Ranch recognizes 

the necessity to wisely and responsibly plan for that growth. 

Current and future generations of Californians need homes 

and jobs and opportunities to build a future. Tejon Ranch 

is leading the way by creating high-quality, sustainably 

planned real estate developments and employment centers. 

Tejon Ranch Co.’s developments include the world-class 

Tejon Ranch Commerce Center (TRCC), a 1,450 acre commercial/industrial 

center located at the junction of I-5 and 

Highway 99. In addition to major distribution centers for 


292

IKEA, Caterpillar, Famous Footwear and Dollar General, 

you will find the award-winning Outlets at Tejon, an upscale 

outlet center, as well a great collection of some of the most 

popular travel-oriented retail establishments in the country. 

Several thousand jobs have already been created at TRCC. 

Tejon Ranch is also developing several master planned 

residential communities. With an entrance just off of 

Interstate 5, near the summit of the grade over the mountains, 

Mountain Village at Tejon Ranch will be a conservationminded 

enclave that will serve as a retreat from the city. 

Mountain Village will feature a mix of housing and hospitality 

options, with world class resort hotels and restaurants, 

spas, outdoor experiences, and hiking and equestrian trails. 

Grapevine at Tejon Ranch, located at the base of the 

foothills in the San Joaquin Valley portion of the ranch, 

adjacent to the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center, will be 

a community of close-knit neighborhoods, uniquely 

positioned as a magnet for those who want to live with 

unbridled access to Tejon Ranch, as well as a complete, 

connected community whose lifestyle is aligned to the 

interests and values of the region’s rich agricultural heritage. 

The company’s third large-scale mixed-use residential 

community is Centennial at Tejon Ranch. Located in the 

Los Angeles County portion of the ranch, Centennial will be 

a landmark new community designed to serve as a model of 

sustainable development for twenty-first century California. 

In addition to its real estate, Tejon Ranch has extensive 

agriculture and ranching operations. The property also 

includes significant oil, gas and other mineral resources. 

Tejon also offers a full outdoors program, with exclusive 

hunting clubs, membership opportunities, and multiple 

equestrian operations. The ranch is also a favorite 

location for the filming of movies, television programs 

and commercials. 

Nearly 175 years after the dream of Tejon Ranch took 

root; its promise is as grand and inspiring as the Western 

horizon. Guided by its core values of Legacy, Stewardship, 

Quality and Vision, Tejon’s tradition of ranching and 

farming will continue to flourish on the open ranges. 

Thousands of acres of wild, natural splendor will be forever 

protected and cared for. A new generation of families will 

have the opportunity to live in this remarkable place and 

call Tejon Ranch ‘home’. 

Tejon Ranch invites you to join us as a shareholder, 

partner, visitor, business or homeowner, as we partner 

together in “Building the Legacy” of this California landmark. 

For more information about Tejon Ranch, please visit 

www.TejonRanch.com. 


293

NICKEL FAMILY, LLC 

In the mid-1700s, explorer Francisco Garces, led by 

Indian guides, discovered a shorter route between 

Sonora, Mexico and Monterey, California. Part of the trail 

followed Cottonwood Creek Canyon down to an Indian 

Rancheria near the crossing of the Kern River. The route 

was already well traveled when Solomon Jewett and his 

two sons—Solomon, Jr., and Phillip—built a home near 

the river crossing, raising sheep in the valley. 

The old trail passed through the Jewett’s sheep ranch, 

where many travelers stopped to visit and rest. The Mexican 

settler’s called the Kern River ‘Rio Bravo’ so the Jewett 

property became known as Rio Bravo Ranch. Settling on 

this land in 1861, the Jewett family was among the earliest 

settlers of Bakersfield, making the ranch one of the oldest 

in the region. 

Other families began settling in the adjacent areas within 

the area downstream from the Kern River Canyon, and the 

land was consolidated as separate ranches were bought and 

sold. Eventually, a 32,000 acre ranch was put together by 

Louis Olcese and that property was acquired from his estate 

by George W. Nickel, Jr., who was a descendant of Henry 

Miller, of the famed Miller & Lux, Inc. His descendants still 

own the Rio Bravo Ranch today. 

Miller made his way to California in a round-about way. 

Born Heinrich Alfred Kreiser, the young butcher, who had 

emigrated from Germany in 1847 was living in New York 

when a friend, Henry Miller, had to cancel a journey west 

and offered Kreiser the use of his ticket. Kreiser accepted the 

offer, but when he realized that the ticket was in the name of 

Henry Miller and was non-transferable, he ‘borrowed’ his 

friend’s name and became ‘Henry Miller’ throughout the 

journey to California. 

Once he arrived in California in 1850, Heinrich Kreiser 

was already so well known as ‘Henry Miller’ that he had his 

name changed legally. 

Miller acquired his first property in 1857 in Merced 

County. Miller joined with Charles Lux, another German 

immigrant and fellow butcher in 1858 and they formed 

Miller & Lux, Inc. In Kern County, Miller acquired land 

through the use of an ingenious process provided by the 

Swamp Act. In an effort to increase the population of 

the west during this period, the federal government was 

encouraging people to claim property and homestead it. 

After working the land for a specified period, the early 

settlers were awarded title to the land they had homesteaded. 

California rivers were not damned in those days, 

resulting in vast acres of swamp land. To encourage settlers 

to drain and develop the wet lands, the government agreed 

to award homesteads to all the property a person could 

row around in one day. This provision was known as the 

“Swamp Act and Overflow Lands Act of 1850.” 

According to family lore, Miller placed a boat on a 

buckboard and rowed while a man drove a horse and the 

buckboard around the large tract of land. At the end of 

the day, Miller had rowed around a huge tract of land 

estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 acres. Lux died in 1887 

and Miller died in 1916. Miller & Lux, Inc. continued in 

business until 1965, when the firm was dissolved. 

Miller’s daughter, Nellie Miller married James Leroy 

Nickel, Sr. They had three children who produced seven 

children (the third generation) and when Miller died his 

vast estate passed to the third generation, one of whom 

was George W. Nickel, Jr. 

In 1965, George acquired an option to purchase the 

Rio Bravo Ranch with the intent to gift a portion for 

California State Bakersfield. Even though that did not 

occur, he decided to purchase the property anyway. George 

developed a golf and tennis resort on the property that 

he had annexed into the City of Bakersfield for residential 

development. Today, the Nickel family, under the leadership 


294

of James Leroy Nickel, III, operates over 16,000 acres 

in Kern, Merced and Fresno Counties and raise citrus, 

almonds, tomatoes, melons, olives, cotton and corn. The 

land’s pastures are leased for cattle grazing. 

Water has always played a huge role in the lives of 

Henry Miller, George W. Nickel, Jr., and James L. Nickel. 

The Miller-Haggin agreement of 1888, which was a 

legal battle between appropriative water rights and riparian 

water rights, established the principal of riparian water 

rights in California. In 1962, George was able to have 

the Kern River Water Rights and Storage agreed to. This 

recognized the Downstream Group’s water rights, known 

as the Hacienda Water rights, which accrued on a property 

he owned in Kings County. This gave George high flow 

rights on the Kern River together with the right to rent 

twenty percent of the storage in Lake Isabella. Subsequently, 

George transferred those rights to the Rio Bravo Ranch, 

and retained the right to utilize any water excess to the 

ranch’s needs for his own use. Since the high flow rights 

came infrequently and in very large quantities, James Nickel 

negotiated in 2001 the Contract to Transfer the Kern River 

Lower River Water Rights with the Kern County Water 

Agency in which Nickel transferred to Kern the Lower River 

Rights, together with the Isabella storage rights, in exchange 

for 10,000 acre feet per year delivered on the California 

Aqueduct and $10,000,000. Most of the 10,000 acre feet 

has been leased to Tejon Ranch Company for its industrial 

and residential developments in Kern County. 

Environmental stewardship is evident by the pristine 

state in which the Rio Bravo Ranch is maintained. The 

Nickels strive to use environmentally sensitive agricultural 

practices, such as no-till farming and drip irrigation. The 

family’s commitment to sustaining harmony with nature is 

its legacy. 


295

RANKIN RANCH 

The Rankin Ranch was founded by Walker Rankin, Sr., 

in 1863, three years before Kern County was organized. 

Today, fourth, fifth, and sixth generation family members 

still raise White Face Hereford cattle on 31,000 acres just as 

their ancestors did in the early 1860s. Work at the ranch is 

much the same today where the cowboys gather cattle by 

horseback and the family continues to raise hay, oats, barley, 

rye and alfalfa for their cattle and horses. Over the past few 

years, the Rankins have also grown commercial vegetables 

for the Kern Ridge and Grimmway brands. 

÷ 

ABOVE: PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GREG IGER. 

Below: Rankin Ranch stage stop, c. 1870. 

For more than 150 years, dating back to our nation’s 

Civil War, the Rankins have ranched in California’s 

Tehachapi Mountains. Ranch headquarters are located at 

the eastern border of the ranch, about an hour drive from 

Bakersfield in the little mountain valley of Walker Basin, 

earlier known as ‘The Park’. Rankin Ranch spans an area of 

forty-eight square miles and ranges in elevation from 1,200 

feet in the rolling hills outside Bakersfield to 6,800 feet 

on Breckenridge Mountain. The basin experiences mild 

summers with light snows during the winter months. 

The original Rankin home was built from a plan in 

Godey’s Lady Book in the mid 1870s, and it still houses 

Rankins today. In the early years, Rankin Ranch was a 

‘stage stop’ for folks heading from Los Angeles to Havilah 

and Kernville by wagon and horseback over dirt roads, 

some still in search of gold in the Kern River Valley. Walker 

tended to their horses while his wife, Lavinia, cooked for 

the travelers. The old stage barn still stands. 

Today, the Rankin family welcomes guests from around 

the world to experience ranch life on a real working cattle 

ranch. Many families from Bakersfield find it the perfect 

retreat from the valley’s summertime heat. It is a great 


296

mountain getaway for adults and children, with lots of fun 

activities—horseback riding, fishing, hiking, swimming, 

hay wagon rides with barbeques, and much more. 

Everybody loves Rudy’s home-cooked meals, and ‘Rankin 

Beef’ is always a favorite. Cozy mountain cabins surrounded 

by majestic oaks and pines provide comfortable evenings 

after fun-filled days in the fresh mountain air. 

It was 1965 when third generation, Helen Rankin, 

opened her doors to guests, and now her son, Bill, and 

his wife, Glenda, with their children and grandchildren 

continue to operate the family cattle and guest ranch. Each 

year many second and third generation guests enjoy 

their ‘Rankin Ranch Tradition’ while creating another page 

of memories. 

÷ 

The Rankin Ranch family, 2013. 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GREG IGER. 


297

÷ 

BOLTHOUSE 

PROPERTIES, LLC 

Top: Members of the Bolthouse family tour the completed Houchin 

Community Blood Bank at Seven Oaks Business Park. 

Above: Seven Oaks Business Park continues the tradition of Seven Oaks. 

The tradition of excellence that began with Wm. Bolthouse 

Farms in 1915 continues in Kern County today. Once one 

of the Valley’s largest agricultural producers, in 2005 the 

family sold its carrot and juice processing operations while 

retaining more than 20,000 acres of farmland. Bolthouse 

Properties, LLC was formed to carry out the family’s mission 

of being good stewards of the land. 

The transformation of Wm. Bolthouse Farms to Bolthouse 

Properties, LLC really began when Bolthouse Farms purchased 

land in southwest Bakersfield from Castle & Cooke 

for expansion of the company’s farming operation. This land 

included what is now the remainder of the master planned 

Seven Oaks community. 

Bolthouse then worked with Castle & Cooke to implement 

the master plan insuring the same Seven Oaks quality 

would continue for the future phases. The master plan 

includes a unique multi-use zoning plan, which includes 

residential, office and commercial uses. 

Today, Bolthouse Properties is a diversified real estate 

company with a portfolio of agricultural and commercial 

real estate, along with entitled residential master planned 

community properties such as Seven Oaks and Stockdale 

River Ranch. In addition, Bolthouse owns retail centers in 

Bakersfield, such as Grand Island Village in Seven 

Oaks, Mustang Square, Bolthouse Commerce Center 

and the commercial/office property in Seven Oaks 

Business Park, offering land for sale and office 

space for lease. 

Two other Bolthouse entities formed after 2005 

are Bolthouse Investments, LLC, an investment 

management subsidiary serving the investment and 

philanthropic needs of its clients and Bolthouse 

Development Company, LLC, whose primary 

operation is a real estate development company. All 

the Bolthouse entities strive to carry on the superb 

reputation that has been a legacy of the Bolthouse family. 

The organization which began with four employees and 

20,000 acres of farmland has grown over the last ten years. 

The company now has eighteen employees and continues to 

add additional acres of farmland, prime entitled property for 

residential and commercial development as well as retail 

investment properties in Bakersfield. 

The company’s desire to better their community has been 

demonstrated throughout its existence. In 2007, Bolthouse 

Properties donated land in southern Kern County to the Kern 

Community College District to aid in the development of 

another campus. Then in 2009, the company donated land 

to Houchin Community Blood Bank for a new facility in 

southwest Bakersfield, becoming the first occupant of Seven 

Oaks Business Park. The Bolthouse family also donated to 

Dignity Health, Memorial Hospital for the Lauren Small 

Children’s Medical Center pediatric department. 

The foundation of Bolthouse Properties, LLC will remain 

rooted in farmland, but the company looks forward to 

enhancing the Bakersfield community by executing the 

Seven Oaks Master Plan and by developing Stockdale River 

Ranch with similar standards, assuring that the ‘live, work, 

play’ lifestyle will continue to flourish. 


298

What started as a weekend hobby has grown into a 

full-time cow/calf operation for C. Jay and Wendy Watson. 

C. Jay has always enjoyed working with animals. At ten 

years old, he purchased orphan calves and fed them with 

powdered milk from his family’s government assistance 

program. He quickly learned he could make a decent 

wage doing something he loved. Continuing his passion for 

livestock as an adult, he leased a little grazing land at 

Jack Ranch just above Glennville, California. 

Throughout his twenties, C. Jay ran cattle throughout 

Kern County. He ran a small herd of cows. Keeping it 

small, he enjoyed spending hours on the weekends out with 

the cattle. 

In 1984, C. Jay founded Kern Asphalt Paving & Sealing, 

Co., Inc. Building his new business consumed a majority of 

his time, but he maintained a passion for ranching. In 1987, 

he purchased a ranch in the heart of Woody, California. 

The ranch, originally named Nash Ranch, had a quaint 

ranch house and large barn. Adding his own touch—fixing 

fences, updating the house, and repairing water troughs— 

Watson’s cows had a new place to call home. 

A few years later, C. Jay met Wendy and they married in 

1994. They, along with Wendy’s son Bryan, worked and 

played on the Woody Ranch most weekends. Sharing his 

passion for horses, C. Jay taught them both to ride. Together 

they spent endless days gathering, branding, weaning calves, 

or repairing fences. 

“Every spring we would gather the ‘girls’, brand the calves 

and haul all of them to the Jack Ranch lease. We would then 

bring them back down to Woody in late fall. We’re both 

workaholics, so we continued to lease more land and buy 

more cows. Pretty soon we had cattle all over Kern County,” 

says Wendy. 

C. Jay and Wendy welcomed a daughter, Breana, in 

1997. As their family grew, so did their cattle company. 

Later that year, the Watson’s purchased property 

between Breckenridge Road and Highway 178, on 

Cottonwood Creek. After laborious days of fencing, 

digging water lines, building corrals and installing 

troughs, hay barns, a 

hydraulic shoot and an 

animal scale, Breckenridge 

Ranch was established. Due 

to its size and proximity to 

town, Breckenridge became 

the cattle headquarters for 

Watson & Watson Cattle, LLC. 

The Watsons currently raise 

a herd of Black Angus cattle 

and the weekend hobby has 

become a business known as 

Watson & Watson Cattle, LLC. 

A boy’s passion for animals 

has turned into a fruitful 

business endeavor. 

WATSON & WATSON CATTLE, LLC 

÷ 

Above: Lush meadow at Jack Ranch, California. 

Below: Left to right, Deedra, Tatum, Bryan, Breana, Wendy, Blake and C. Jay. 


299

÷ 

The painted hills leading to the Kern River Canyon demonstrate the dramatic change in landscape as the seasons change from Spring to Summer. 

Sponsors 

Advanced Center for Eyecare (ACE)........................................179 

All American Glass ..............................................................286 

Alpha J. Anders, MD, FCCP ..................................................203 

B&B Surplus, Inc.................................................................289 

Bakersfield Adult School .......................................................186 

Bakersfield Association of Realtors ® / 

Golden Empire Multiple Listing Service, Inc./ 

Bakersfield Association of Realtors ® / 

Charitable Foundation ......................................................288 

Bakersfield Christian High School ..........................................168 

Bakersfield College ..............................................................180 

Bakersfield Condors .............................................................240 

Bakersfield Downtown Business Association..............................234 

Bakersfield Family Medical Center/ 

Heritage Physician Network/ Heritage Provider Network..........174 

Bakersfield Fire Department..................................................196 

Bakersfield Heart Hospital ....................................................199 

Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame .............................................204 

Bakersfield Pathology Medical Group ......................................170 

Bakersfield Professional Firefighters Local 246.........................198 

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra ............................................207 

Bolthouse Properties, LLC .....................................................298 

Bowman Asphalt, Inc............................................................276 

Boys & Girls Club of Kern County..........................................213 

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace ..................................................235 

California State University, Bakersfield ..................................152 

California Water Service ......................................................258 

Canteen of Coastal California, Inc. ........................................224 

Carney’s Business Technology Center ......................................236 

Castle & Cooke California, Inc. .............................................272 


300

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired..............................178 

Centre for Neuro Skills.........................................................194 

Chris Bertolucci Construction ................................................262 

Clinica Sierra Vista .............................................................188 

DB & Company ...................................................................283 

Dewar’s Soda Fountain and Fine Candies.................................242 

Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals..........................146 

Emporium Western Store.......................................................243 

Fox Theater Foundation........................................................206 

Galbraith Van & Storage ......................................................226 

Garces Memorial High School ................................................208 

GEMCare ...........................................................................200 

Golden Empire Transit District ..............................................166 

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce ..............................230 

Greenlawn Funeral Homes-Cremations-Cemeteries ....................201 

Gregory Iger’s Photographic Art, Inc., dba Iger Studio ...............247 

Griffith Company ................................................................268 

Guitar Masters....................................................................238 

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc..................................................211 

Hall Letter Shop, Inc. ..........................................................266 

Historic Union Cemetery ......................................................190 

Hodel’s Country Dining ........................................................239 

Hoffmann Hospice................................................................172 

Houchin Community Blood Bank.............................................202 

Howard’s Garbage Service, Inc...............................................255 

Kaiser Permanente...............................................................164 

Kern Community College District ...........................................176 

Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce ...............................231 

Kern County Fair ................................................................182 

Kern County Superintendent of Schools ...................................184 

Kern County Veterans Service Department ...............................209 

Kern Federal Credit Union....................................................216 

Kern Schools Federal Credit Union .........................................237 

Kern Patriot Partnership ......................................................205 

Kern Asphalt Paving & Sealing Co., Inc. .................................270 

KGET, Telemundo and the CW Bakersfield ...............................245 

KS Industries, LP ................................................................274 

Links for Life......................................................................212 

Loyd’s Aviation dba Bakersfield Jet Center & 

Loyd’s Aircraft Maintenance...............................................285 

Luigi’s Restaurant & Old World Delicatessen ...........................222 

M.D. Atkinson Company, Inc. ................................................282 

Malouf Family ....................................................................284 

Martha Johnson Team...........................................................287 

Mazzei Injector Company, LLC ..............................................278 

Metropolitan Recycling, LLC .................................................252 

Nickel Family, LLC ..............................................................294 

North of the River Chamber of Commerce ................................232 

Omni Family Health ............................................................156 

Petroleum Club of Bakersfield................................................210 

Price Disposal.....................................................................254 

Rankin Ranch .....................................................................296 

Ray Scott ...........................................................................256 

San Joaquin Community Hospital ...........................................160 

San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital ............................................192 

Smith’s Bakeries ..................................................................246 

Superior Sanitation..............................................................253 

Tel-Tec Security Systems, Inc. ...............................................220 

Tejon Ranch........................................................................292 

The Towery Companies .........................................................264 

Townsend Design .................................................................280 

Valley Gun, Inc. ..................................................................241 

Valley Republic Bank............................................................244 

Varner Brothers, Inc. ...........................................................250 

Varner & Son......................................................................251 

Visit Bakersfield..................................................................233 

Watson & Watson Cattle, LLC ...............................................299 

Young Wooldridge, LLP .........................................................228 

SPONSORS 

301

About the Photographer 

G REG 

I GER 

In 1971, Greg Iger returned to Bakersfield from service in the U.S. Army, and 

a stint in Los Angeles as a news photographer for United Press International. 

Hollywood was home and his career took him to shooting movie set publicity, 

“red carpet” openings and models’ portfolios. 

His training was at Brooks Institute of 

Photography in Santa Barbara. He started 

“Photographic Art” on a shirt-tail budget, but 

soon became one of the best-known photographers 

in the area. He specialized in commercial 

photography and created a new look for 

portraiture in his outdoor studio. Some of his 

clients were large oil companies like Shell, 

Aera, Occidental, Chevron, and Tenneco. Other 

large farming, land and produce corporations 

like Grimmway and Bolthouse Carrots, Tenneco 

West, Dole and Castle & Cooke were staples for 

the business, as well as many local entities. 

During his many years in Kern County, 

Iger spent a lot of time honing his landscape photography skills which spawned 

two books on Kern County, Buena Vista—a pictorial view of Kern County and 

Buena Vista II—Landscapes of Kern County. Iger Studio is now located at 

211 H Street near downtown Bakersfield. Large photographic images for wall 

décor are now the mainstay of the studio, with clients at offices, hospitals and 

doctors’ lobbies, as well as peoples homes and art galleries. 

Iger Studio continues to be a popular favorite for business, personal and family 

portraits, as well as product, aerial, architectural, construction, oilfield and 

agricultural photography. 

Come in for a visit or call 661-327-2768. Iger Studio is also located on the 

Internet at www.igerstudio.com. 


302

About the Author 

M ARK 

C ORUM 

A dedicated family man, those who know Mark Corum appreciate how his 

life revolves around the family that he and the love of his life, Trisha, have created. 

The two met in 1988 when she came to watch a friend play drums in a band that 

Corum played guitar. 

Twenty-seven years later, they have built a remarkable family, consisting of their 

oldest son, Brandon, who is currently serving as a Cavalry Scout in the U.S. Army. 

He recently married his high-school sweetheart, Alyssa, who is a mental health 

technician in the U.S. Air Force. The two met as recruits in the Bakersfield Police 

Department’s Explorer Program. 

Their daughter Baylee, has a tremendous talent for writing and illustration. 

She is currently working towards auditioning to be a face character at Disneyland. 

Their youngest child Spencer is gifted with a scientific mind that is well beyond 

his years. He is as comfortable in the kitchen preparing a culinary delight as he is 

studying the periodic table for fun. 

In 2014, they made the decision to join Trisha’s father, Terry Persinger, on the 

family’s ranch in Twin Oaks, at the southern end of the Sequoia National Forest. 

The ranch was established in 1943, by Trisha’s grandparents on her mother 

Linda’s side, Frank and Evelyn Bauer. Frank, or “Poppy” as he was known, built 

the homestead himself, making his own adobe bricks. 

This California ranch lifestyle has suited the Corum family well. Perhaps the 

greatest benefit is the special bond between Terry “Papa”, a retired captain from 

the Kern County Fire Department, and his grandkids. 

Weekends are reserved for projects, but there is always time to barbecue and 

play guitars. 

Mark would like to extend his appreciation to Mayor Hall for allowing him to 

be a part of this legacy project celebrating the people of Bakersfield. 

The Corum family at home on T&L Ranch in Twin Oaks. Pictured from left: Mark, Trisha, Alyssa, Brandon, Baylee, Spencer, and Terry Persinger. 

COURTESY OF SHAWNA LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

303

KERN COUNTY SIERRAS, PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MICHAEL CUFFE. 


304

ISBN: 978-1-944891-19-0 

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