Bruce Burnett was a two-time South Yosemite League Champion and placed first, second, and third in the Central Section Championships while at North High. After graduating, he went on to Bakersfield College and was a two-time JC State Champion with a 55-3 record.  Bruce was named the state’s outstanding wrestler in 1970.

While at Idaho State University in 1971 and 1972, Bruce went undefeated in dual meets and was the Big Sky Conference Champion and the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Champion.  He finished his collegiate career with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education.

Bruce coached at Meridian High School in Meridian, Idaho, from 1974-87 where his teams compiled a record of 154-13-2 and won nine conference, six district and four state championships. Under his direction, the wrestling program grew from just 23 wrestlers his first year to 119 his last season.  The Idaho Coaches Association voted him Coach of the Year six times, and in 1987, he was inducted into the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Between 1987 and 1990, Bruce was an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University where he helped guide the Cowboys to two NCAA team titles, three Big Eight Conference titles and two National Dual Meet team titles.

Bruce has served as the national freestyle coach for world and Olympic competition since 1992 with his 1996 team capturing five medals (three gold, one silver and one bronze).  In 2000, his Olympic freestyle team won one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.  He was named the Freestyle Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1995 and 96, and, was named the United States Olympic Committee Elite Coach of the Year in 1996.

Bruce is in his 13^th season as the head coach of the US Naval Academy’s wrestling program.  He has led the Midshipmen to a 107-56 record producing nine Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Champions, with ten wrestlers earning All –American status. Over the last six seasons, Navy has won seven EIWA individual crowns, while garnering All-America honors seven times.

According to Navysports.com,” Bruce Burnett is a winner.  At every level of the sport, Burnett has seen success and it is without a doubt that he will continue the winning tradition that has made Navy a household name in the sport of wrestling”.

Graduated from North High in 1961. Played baseball, football, basketball and ran track and cross country. Helped Stars win their 1^st  South Yosemite League baseball championship in 1961. Pitched and lost in the Valley semi-finals to Roosevelt High of Fresno, 4-2, in 14 memorable innings at Sam Lynn Ball Park. Pitched all 14 innings, as did opposing pitcher Wade Blasingame of Roosevelt. Ironically they later played together on the Houston Astros. Finished high school with a 26-4 career record. Played parts of two seasons for the legendary Sam Barton at the JV level.

Names Barton as one of the most influential people in his life. Two year varsity starter in basketball, selected 2^nd team all-SYL and honorable mention all-Valley as a senior. Finished in top 5 in scoring in SYL.

Attended Bakersfield College for 2 years after leaving North High and played for another legend, Gerry Collis, whom he considers the most influential person in his career. Helped BC win its first ever Metropolitan Conference baseball championship in 1962, earning 1^st team all-Conference honors.

Signed with the New York Yankees out of BC in 1963, making it to the major leagues in 1966 with the Cleveland Indians. Played 9 years in the major leagues with the Indians, Reds, Cardinals, Astros, Dodgers and Phillies. Finished his career playing in Japan’s major leagues in 1975 then retired. Finished with a career record of 48-49, 23 saves and an ERA of 3.63. Highlight of career came on July 29, 1968 while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. Pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, winning 6-1. Playing for the Phillies in that game was East Bakersfield High legend Johnny Callison.

Started coaching in the minor leagues for the Phillies in 1981 until 1998. Went to work for the Dodgers in the minor leagues in 2001 to 2005 and again from 2008 to 2010 before retiring from professional baseball. Hosted 12 celebrity golf tournaments from 1970-1981, raising money for BC baseball. In 1989 started the Light Brigade, a non-profit organization dedicated to the benefit of youth baseball in this area. The main project for the Light Brigade was the BC Baseball Hot Stove Dinner which ran for 22 years, raising over $1,000,000  for the BC baseball program in the process. The funds were used to erect lights, scoreboards, dugouts and  storage facilities, purchase various field maintenance equipment and build a clubhouse for the BC players. Gerry Collis Field is now considered one of the top JC facilities in the nation. In 2006 raised over $1,000,000 to help Cal State Bakersfield start up its first ever baseball program as the school initiated a move to become a D-1 program.

In 2012 was elected to the California Community College Hall of Fame. Also a member of the Reading (Pa.) Phillies Baseball Hall of Fame, The Bakersfield College Alumni Hall of Fame and the Bob Elias Kern County Hall of Fame. A baseball and picture from the no-hitter are on display in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Now retired and enjoying life with his wife Rosie. They will be celebrating their 36^th anniversary next week. He’s back home now in what he considers the greatest town in America, Bakersfield, California.

When Turk Eliades took over the North High football program at the newly opened school in 1953, he was handed a brand new team made up of “slow white guys”. One year later the Stars-with no seniors–won the Valley Sierra Division Championship, and Coach Eliades continued coaching and teaching at North for over 30 years. During those years, his teams won eight league championships outright and shared two more all with the help of such players like Dale Standifer, Jimmy Doss, and Vernon Burke. The ex World-War II fighter pilot held his own against some of the most memorable Kern County coaches like Paul Briggs, Migs Apsit, Ray Frederick, Marv Mosconi just to name a few.

Turk came to North High by way of Shafter High School, winning 24 games in just three years as the Generals’ head coach. He grew up in McGill, Nevada and starred at Nevada-Reno as a blocking back for Marion Mortlet. As a fighter pilot, he shot down four enemy planes before his own plan was shot down spending more than a year in a German prisoner of war camp. After the war, he returned home and married his life partner, Frances “Cookie” Cook, completed his education at the University of Nevada and the University of Southern California, and, became a teacher in and out of the classroom.

Turk had dual interests in his 32 years at North High-his football team and his mathematics classes. He felt like he had the best of both worlds as a high school teacher, bringing math’s accuracy to the football field, and, football’s passion to the classroom. His ex-football players and students remember him as both emotional and inspirational. He taught them about football and math, but even more about life. He taught them to believe in themselves and the value family and friends most of all.

Vernon Burke, an All-American at Oregon State before a pro football career, was arguably Eliades’ most accomplished athlete, and, he recalls that the coach “taught me to be mentally tough and never, never give up. He coached all his players with equality and fairness, looking inside them to see strengths they never knew they had. He drew out those strengths leading his players to levels way above their abilities and skills”.

Eliades also encouraged his players to have larger perspectives, recognizing that football was only part of his own life-along with family, friendships, teaching and other factors equally or more important. Clete Harper remembers Turk telling his players, “As important as this game is tonight, football is only a temporary part of our lives, but, what we gain from it will be with us for the rest of our lives.” Turk also made sure his players knew that replays are rare in life. “You can never play this game again”, he would tell his teams. “Live your life to be the best that you can be”.

Ninety-year old Jordan “Turk” Eliades looks forward every year to his annual fishing trip to June Lake with a group of ex-players now in their 50’s and 60’s who consider it an honor to be one of “Turk’s boys”. He also tutors algebra students and continues to “employ football and math to prepare generations of students for lives that may at times be beyond their control, but in which integrity can always be theirs”.

“Amazing Linda does it again!” That was a headline in a 1977 Bakersfield Californian article after Linda Goen captured the National AAU Women’s Junior 800 meter title in a meet record of 2:05.43. Just 15 years old at the time, she beat the old meet record set by Olympian Jan Merrill and earned a spot on the USA team that was to face the Russians later that summer in Richmond, Virginia. Standing 5’2” and 87 pounds, Linda was able to “zip right through an opening” after being boxed inside a four-woman pack going into the last lap. As her cross country coach, Stan Ingram said at the time, “If she had been bigger, I don’t think the opening would have been big enough. She didn’t even touch the other girl as she went by. I think she still could have won by going outside. She had a lot of strength left.”

“What makes Linda run?” was another headline in the Californian when Linda was a senior at North. Then Sports Editor, Larry Press called Linda the most prominent and talented high school athlete in town, and, who might also be the toughest competitively. The fact is that, Linda is still considered the finest women’s distance runner to ever come out of Kern County. But, running wasn’t her first choice of sports. Originally a gymnast, Linda turned to running after a swimming pool mishap hurt her back so much that she couldn’t arch it anymore. Two months after back surgery, she was running, and, running so much that she rarely took any time off from workouts. “I have to put a damper on her as far as training is concerned,” Ingram has said. “I don’t have any quite as dedicated as she is.”

Linda’s dedication to her sport paid off in school records in the 880, the mile, the two mile, the mile and two mile relay, along with the 880 medley relay and the distance medley relay. She is a 15 time SYL champion , a 14 time Area champion , and, a 12 time Central Section champion in cross country and track . She also captured four individual Kern County cross country Invitational Championships and is a four time champion at the Arcadia Invitational in the 880 and mile putting her in the Arcadia Invitational Hall of Fame. Her 1977 time in the 880 of 2:10.4 was a national record. But her ultimate track accomplishment in high school came her sophomore year when she won the California State Track Meet in the mile setting a meet record in 4:47.8. She became a state champion again as a senior when the state meet was held at UCLA , the same arena where she won as a sophomore, and, where she would later run as a collegiate athlete.

While at UCLA, Linda’s accomplishments in track and cross country were just as impressive as her high school career. She was voted Outstanding UCLA Track and Field and Cross Country Athlete in 1979 and 1980, was a member of the 2-time NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field National Championship Team in 1982 and 1983, 5th place NCAA Division 1 Nationals in the 1500, All American in Track and Cross Country, 2nd place TAC/AAU Nationals in the 1500 in 1980 and 4th place AIAW in the 1500 in 1981. Linda went to the Olympic Trials in 1980 and 1984 placing 4th in 1980 in the 1500 in a time of 4:11 to become an alternate member of the US Olympic Team. In 1981, while on the USA Track Team, she placed fourth in a dual meet against the Russians.

Gary Kuster, Linda’s track coach while at North High, remembers her as being a fun loving teenager, a dedicated, goal oriented athlete, and extremely serious when it came to her training and competing. He said recently, “I would have to smile every time I saw her in an attempt to get her to do the same.” Kuster went on to say that he feels the high point of her high school career was during her sophomore year when she fan faster than the existing national records in the 880, the mile and the two mile. That was also the year that his North High track team missed winning the state title by one point!!

Both Gary Kuster and Stan Ingram remember the “friendly, courteous and delightful athlete, a coach’s dream”. But they also remember “little Linda as being a hard-nosed battler of the old school who competes as long as she can stagger out onto the track”. A question that had been asked of the family so often is “what makes Linda such a powerful running machine?” The answer: “She has her dad’s circulatory system and her great-grandfather’s heart”. It definitely takes both to have accomplished what she did while a STAR at North High.

Dick “Hubba” Heber, a social studies teacher of history, geography and government and major contributor and supporter of athletics at North High for 34 years (1953-1987) as well as a dedicated volunteer in the field of history and sports in the community, is honored to become a member of the North High Athletics Hall of Fame 2013.

Heber’s parents, Roy Lafayette Heber and Edna Everingham Heber, came to Maricopa from the midwest as homesteaders with the oil boom in Kern County in the early 1900s.  Two children were born during that time, George in 1909, and Alice in 1911.  The family moved back to Hutsonville, IL, after a few years and two more sons joined the family. Miles was born in 1916 and Richard (Dick) in 1919.  The family eventually moved back to California settling in Bakersfield on Sunset Avenue near KCUHS in 1923.

Dick went to William Penn, Emerson, and Kern County Union High School.  At “KC” as it was called then, he was a student leader and athlete.  During high school he was on the freshman class council, President of the Junior Class, and Vice President of the Senior Class. He was a pitcher and first baseman on the baseball team and he followed in his older brothers’ footsteps as a center on the KC basketball team. He graduated from KCUHS in 1937.

Heber attended Bakersfield College from 1937 to 1938 and played both baseball and basketball. Then he transferred to the University of California at Berkeley graduating from CAL in 1941.  At CAL he was a member of the traveling baseball team that took one especially memorable road trip by train that included 18 stops to play baseball teams at Michigan State, Ohio State, University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Carleton College, Notre Dame and other colleges and universities.

While at CAL Heber belonged to Psi Upsilon fraternity and  held jobs in college that included waiting tables at the fraternity, parking cars at the famous Claremont Hotel, and “guarding” the secret football practices.

Following graduation from CAL he joined the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer and remained in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. Stationed in New York State for much of the time, he had the opportunity to visit his father’s relatives in the Pittsburg area.

He then returned to California  earning his teaching credential at the University of California Santa Barbara. He began his career with a practice teaching assignment in the P.E. department at East High where he worked with Gil Bishop, Les Carpenter, and Bob Jellison.  He then accepted a teaching position at Shafter High School where he taught world geography and coached baseball. The Shafter High athletic director, Lowell Todd, introduced Heber to golf and that led to a lifetime golf hobby (including two- hole- in- ones).

He taught at Shafter High for six years from 1948 through 1953. The principal  of Shafter High was Jack Hill.  When Hill was hired to become the first principal of North High in 1953, he brought four Shafter High teachers with him.  The four teachers/coaches were: Dick Heber (history and baseball), Turk Eliades (math and football), Ernie Graf (music/band), and Dusty Rhodes (industrial arts and track).

During Heber’s first years at North he also had a summer job working as a lifeguard and swimming and diving instructor at Bakersfield Country Club.

Although he was the first varsity baseball coach at North, he recognized that his calling and passion was in classroom teaching. He taught social studies (world history, world geography, U.S. History, and government) for 34 years at North from 1953-1987.

In 1958 Mr. Heber’s second period world affairs class placed second in a national contest sponsored by the editors of Every Week, a news magazine.  The contest invited social studies classes in high schools to submit lists of the 10 top news stories of 1958 which had international significance.   The commendation from Every Week read:  “Since hundreds of students from every state in the union entered the contest, you have just cause for pride in your victory.” The seniors in Heber’s class were all seniors who were preparing to major in social science.

During his 34 years at North, Mr. Heber he was also a supporter of the sports programs at North attending  as many athletic contests as he could (rarely missing a football or basketball game). He was given a “game ball” by the football team for his support.   In addition he assisted as a track official at meets held at North and around the county. He encouraged students to participate in athletics and to learn new sports—especially golf. Each day he would give students a “tip from the top” about how to improve their golf game.

The 1966 yearbook, The Galaxy, was dedicated to him. The dedication read:

“Since North High was founded in 1953, this well-liked and much appreciated man has been faithfully serving the students in the capacities of classroom teacher and class advisor, athletic coach and department chairman. In the classroom, he gives each student a guiding hand in the field of social studies based on his extensive travels, continuous education, and social maturity that have produced a vast experience of both personal and professional knowledge. Outside the classroom he has generously contributed his glowing personality and valuable time to the successful undertakings of the social studies department, athletic program, and class activities.  This year the 1966 Galaxy Staff proudly dedicates the yearbook to Mr. Richard Heber, a hard-working, professional educator.”

Mr. Heber was also President of the North High Faculty Club, Coach of the Mock Trial Team and founder of the Red and Gray Golf Tournament. The Red and Gray tournament raised money for scholarships and was given to a student who made the greatest contribution to the athletic program (whether as an athlete or other supporter) at North High during the year.  In the community he was a member of the Kern County Coaches and Officials Organization and President one year. He officiated at many high school and junior college track meets throughout the years.

Heber was part of a group that founded the Kern County Junior Golf Association.  He helped every summer for many years with the Junior Golf Program that was designed as an age group program. The program gave young golfers the opportunity to play a different county or private golf course each week throughout the summer.

Following his retirement in 1987 he became a docent at the Kern County Museum and Pioneer Village.  He was the instructor at the Yokuts Indian exhibit. Third graders from all over the county always enjoyed his explanation of the Indian artifacts at the Museum.  At Pioneer Village he led a tour of the old Norris Schoolhouse telling students what it was like in the early days of a rural Kern County school.

During his teaching at Shafter High, Dick was introduced to Evelyn Westlund by tennis friends, John and Jean Eckhardt, who became lifelong friends. Evie was the first secretary of the newly founded Bakersfield Racquet Club and at the time was employed as the chief payroll clerk at the Kern High District Office.  Dick and Evelyn were married June 5, 1949.

Dick and Evelyn had one son, Steven, born in August 1950.   Dick and Evie were devoted to their son and were involved in all Steve’s activities. Steve married the former Lisa Lehman, in October 1979 and they have three children, Kyle, Molly, and Emily.

Evie and Dick often played tennis at Beale Park or Jastro Park and they always enjoyed going to the “Big Game” between Cal and Stanford. (Yes, they saw the game where the CAL player ran over the Stanford trombone player to score the winning touchdown.) They also enjoyed attending the golf tournament at Pebble Beach for many years. They belonged to the World Affairs Council that met monthly in Los Angeles.  The World Affairs Council brought noted speakers (Ronald Reagan, Gore Vidal, Shimon Peres, etc.) to its audience.  Mr. Heber also belonged to the Kern County Historical Society.

Evelyn became a founding member of the parent cooperative preschool, Bakersfield Play Center, on Kentucky. She was employed at Bakersfield College in the business office,  and following her retirement, Evie volunteered at Guild House as a baker for many years.

Because of Heber’s interest in social studies, he and Evie enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and abroad. He wanted to see the places he taught.

Because his mother’s family lived in Illinois, his dad’s in the Pittsburgh area and Evie’s  in Atlanta, GA,  those were places they visited frequently. Among other U.S. destinations were Boston, Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City,  World’s Fair in Seattle, National Parks, historical sites, etc.  Their first European trip was to Evie’s family’s homeland, Finland. They made several trips abroad visiting Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, England, Scotland, and other countries in Europe.

As the Heber’s grandchildren, Kyle, Molly, and Emily, grew, Dick and Evie enjoyed attending activities at their schools and participating in their family activities. Today the grandchildren are all grown.  Kyle graduated from UC San Diego and married Shellena  Davis and now is in medical school in New York City.  Molly is a senior at UC Davis and Emily is a freshman at her father, Steve’s alma mater, UC Santa Barbara. Sadly, Evelyn Heber passed away in 2006.

The “Hubba” Scholarship:

To honor Mr. Heber’s birthday several years ago, two of his nieces established an annual “Hubba” Scholarship at North High.  It is given each year to the member of any athletic team, (but not necessarily an athlete,) who has good grades and honorable character and has made a significant contribution to athletics at North High School.  The scholarship is administered by the scholarship committee at North in cooperation with the coaches and athletic director and is awarded to a graduating senior each spring to encourage the student to continue his/her higher education.