2017 Inductees
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: 2017 Induction Class
Top (left to right): Terry Hill, Skip Slayton, Danny Saso, Vance Fisher, Stan Moe
Bottom (left to right): Darrell Rich, John Apperson, Jimmy Mitchell, Lori (Warkentin) Schoene, Lisa (Johns) Hewes, Linda (Ross) Van Solkema, Lori (Miller) Sundgren
Scroll down ⬇️ for Inductee Biographies
2017 Inductee Biographies
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Bio coming later
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A football and track and field star during his days at North High, Darrell Rich might be a remembered more for
what he accomplished later as a teacher/coach. Darrell was born in Bakersfield in 1943 and raised in Oildale, starting his athletic career at Standard junior high.As an 8th grader, participating in AAU Junior Olympics in 1956, he established a new national record for the softball throw with a mark of 267 feet. That year, he also was introduced to the shot put and in 1959 established a national record of 68’ 10” with the 8 lb. shot.
Darrell entered North High in 1957 where he played football, lettering 3 years and was the first 4-year letterman in track. He was the Valley runner up in the shot put as junior and won the Valley as a senior with a throw of 59’7” with the 12 lb. shot. Earlier in the year, in a meet against BHS at North, be became only the second high school competitor ever in the valley to reach 60’.
After graduating from North, Darrell attended the University of Idaho but returned home after his freshman year and enrolled at Bakersfield College.
At Bakersfield College, Darrell set a new school record with the 16 lb shot of 55’ 3 ¾” that stood for 27 years. He attended the University of New Mexico on a track and field scholarship and placed in the conference meet his junior and senior years and remains on the track and field honor roll. He graduated in 1967 with a degree in physical education.
Darrell started his coaching career at Shafter High in 1967, coaching B class football. He was also the varsity track and field head coach and his team won the league championship, producing two State qualifiers, Jan Stubbed (pole vault) and Laird Parker (mile).
He moved on to Paso Robles High the following year as head track and field coach and assistant football coach.
The following year he was promoted to head football coach and his teams won three straight league championships
and were CIF runners-up.In 1972 he was hired at Cuesta Community College as assistant football coach and head track and field coach. He coached track and field and cross country there for 30 years. During his time at Cuesta, he coached over 50 men and women state qualifiers and state champions.
At Cuesta, he was voted Coach of the Year by his colleagues nine times and was president of the California
Community College Track and Field Association. He was also on the board of directors for the USA Track and Field Association as the California Community College representative.He was inducted into the Bakersfield Track and Field Hall of Fame and also the State Community College
Coaches Track and Field Hall of Fame. Not to be outdone, his younger brother Randy was a standout football star at North High and later University of Mexico. He played defensive back in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.Darrell is married to Dr. Rita Rich and they have four children, Darren, Lori, Amber and Brandon. They also have eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren What a career and what a family. Welcome Darrell
Rich, one of North High’s greatest track and field athletes ever. -
Born in Oakland, California Richard (Dick) Brown moved to the San Joaquin Valley and a young age and attended Standard Jr. High and then later graduated at the age of 16 from Kern County High (now known as BHS) in 1945.
After attending Bakersfield College for two years he transferred to San Jose State where he earned a B.A. in the fall of 1950. He participated in both water polo and swimming while at San Jose State. He then spent two years in the US Army during the Korean conflict.
After military service, serving as an Education Specialist in the Army in Georgia and the United Kingdom, Dick began his education career at Beardsley School, teaching a self-contained 7th grade class. While teaching at Beardsley Elementary he met his wife Irene Helen Fox and they were married in 1955.
In 1958, Dick moved over to North High, teaching Social Studies and English, grades 9-12. At that time he also began his coaching career, coaching JV football and the head coach of North’s blossoming swim team. His teams twice won Valley Championships and he was highly respected throughout the valley. He coached many of the great North High swimmers including NH Hall of Famers Barry Townsend and his sister Jennifer.
A superb professional educator, Dick graduated from San Jose State, and then went on to get his Masters Degree in Education from Fresno State and his Doctorate Degree in Education from the University of Southern California in 1974.
Dick followed in the line of outstanding principals at North High and served in that capacity from 1973 to 1984 when he retired. He continued teaching as a guest lecturer in several college programs after his official retirement.
After retiring in 1986, he and Irene moved to Sequoia Crest, Ca. where they spent many years enjoying mountain life. They returned to Bakersfield in June of 2004.
Dick was a teacher’s principal. Always a huge supporter of the athletic programs at North, he was respected by the entire faculty and treasured as a person you could go to with a problem and get very sound advice. He truly loved North High and all it encompassed. One of our most beloved principals ever. Dick Brown was a true professional as a coach, a teacher and principal.
Dick passed away on April 24, 2007. He and Irene had three boys, Eric, Paul and Glen. North High was truly blessed to have had Dick Brown as a huge part of the school’s history.
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Someone once said it’s the not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Truer words could never have been spoken about Jimmy Mitchell.
Raised in Oildale, he attended Standard Jr. High and entered North High in 1980, standing 5’3” and weighing 140 pounds. He left North stretched out at 5’8” tall and weighing all of 160 pounds Starring in football and baseball and was fortunate to play for three North High Hall of Famers, Turk Eliades, Tony Silver and Rick Harvick.
Jimmy did not go out for football as a freshman, instead electing to play basketball. But he played JV baseball that year under coach Harvick who talked him into playing football the next year. That turned out to be a good
decision. He played JV football as a sophomore and then made his mark on the varsity the next two years.He played running back and defensive back under coach Eliades. He was named all-City defensive back as a junior in 1982. Then as a senior he was named the Stars’ co-MVP and all-Area Player of the Year. He received scholarship offers from several prominent D-I schools including Baylor, Oregon and Oregon State to name a few.
But baseball was his game. He started on the varsity in the middle infield for Coach Silver for three years. In 1982, the Stars won the SYL Championship and Mitchell was named “Rookie of the Year.” Then in both his junior and senior seasons he was an all-Area first team selection. In addition he was named to the All-California State team as a senior, the only one from Kern County to be selected.
After graduation from North he accepted a baseball scholarship from Cal State Northridge and played for local Arvin legend Terry Craven. As a freshman, CSUN was the only D-II team to win 40 games that year.
After leaving Northridge, Mitchell came home and enrolled at Cal State Bakersfield where he graduated with a degree in finance in 1990. After graduation he married Gina Jones, a South High grad, and took a job with GTE in Indiana. While in Indiana, Jimmy earned his MBA from Butler University.
Jimmy and Gina lived in Indiana for three years then were transferred to Highland Village, Texas (just outside Dallas) to take a job with Verizon in the finance department. He’s currently employed by the Toyota Motor Corporation.
The Mitchells have three children. Daughter Taylor (23) graduated from Lamar University where she earned a soccer scholarship and graduated with a degree in finance. She now works for Atmos Energy. Daughter Baylee (20) is a junior at Texas Tech where she is working towards her management degree. She also went to college (Abilene Christian) on a soccer scholarship but a knee injury ended her career. Son Parker (19) turned down baseball scholarships but instead decided to attend UCLA where he is majoring in biochemistry with plans to continue on to Medical School.
He credits his family and his North High mentors, Silver, Eliades, Harvick, Curt DeRossett and Jack O’Brien plus Coach Craven at CSUN and many others for his success. They could all tell you that big things do come in small packages.
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Born and raised in Oildale, John was an 08er from the crib. He attended Highland Elementary then Standard Junior High and participated in anything sports, excelling in several.
Entering high school in 1963 John played football and baseball. Was a member of the Class B football team and then as a sophomore was part of the JV team that won the SYL Championship. Moved up to varsity for his junior and senior years, playing under the legendary coach Turk Eliades. John was co-Captain of the 1966 team that won the SYL Championship and he earned several honors in the process. He was the first running back from North High to win the city “Back of the Year” award, gaining over 600 yards on the ground and many more through the passing game. He had the top single game rushing effort in the city as a senior when he gained nearly 200 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in a game against East High. He was also named All-City.
In baseball he played on the freshman team, moved up to JV as a sophomore and then excelled for two years on the varsity. Playing for another North High coaching legend Sam Barton, John was more valuable than a Swiss knife, playing every position on the field except pitcher and catcher. Amazingly as a senior he struck out only 3 times all year including twice in his final game. He was named 2nd team all-City as a senior.
He was awarded the Sam Lynn Award as the top senior athlete in the school. An excellent student as well, John was President of the “Big N” club and made the honor roll.
After graduation, John attended Bakersfield College and played football for yet another legend, Gerry Collis. As a freshman played mostly on the special teams and then as a sophomore contracted Valley fever and was limited to playing time. But he still received a football scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Nevada. He along with 14 other BC players headed to UNLV. After completing his education, he remained in Las Vegas and began teaching at Clark High coaching football, baseball and gymnastics until his retirement in 2001.
His best friend was football teammate Bill Jasper who introduced him to his younger sister Carolyn. John and her began dating throughout high school and have now been married 46 years. They have no children and now live in Bend, Oregon where John spends a lot of time fishing.
Congratulations John, a born and bred 08er.
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Hard to believe this young lady found time to eat with all of her activities, not only in sports but in school as well. She surely needs a huge trophy case to house all of her hardware.
She’s another of the outstanding group of Lady Stars when Title IX first opened the doors for female athletes. Excelling in volleyball, basketball and track and field and in the classroom as well, she will go down as one of the top female student/athletes in the school’s history.
She played volleyball all four years including three on the varsity. She was all-SYL and all-Area in both her junior and senior years and was named team MVP as a senior. In basketball, she was a point guard, again playing all four years, the last three on the varsity. For her efforts she was named all-Area again as a senior. In track and field she was a four-year varsity standout, running the 800 meters, the 1,600 meters plus the mile relay while also competing in the triple-jump. At one time she held the school’s triple jump record. She placed 2nd in the 1600 meter race in the County meet . Linda won a medal in the SYL meet all four years and as a senior again named team MVP.
In 1984 she was the North girl’s State Rep in Sacramento. In 1985 she was awarded the Mayor’s Trophy, symbolic of athletic, academic, leadership and community service. Also in 1985 was given the Sam Lynn Award for the outstanding female athlete at North High. That was the same award her NH Hall of Fame father Dick Ross had won a few years before. They may be one of the few father-daughter combos to ever do that. That’s not all. She was also named winner of the Tyack Award given annually to the outstanding senior female scholar-athletes in all of Kern County.
She didn’t stop there. On to Bakersfield College where she again competed in volleyball and basketball for two years and track and field only as a freshman. In volleyball she was all-Metropolitan Conference both years and team MVP as a soph. In basketball she was a 2-year starter. In track and field she ran the 800 meters, the 1,600 meters and threw the javelin as well. She was honored with the Bob Hallum Award as the top freshman athlete and then earned the title of top sophomore Athlete of the Year in 1987.
From BC she transferred to the University of California at San Diego. Competing just in volleyball as a junior, she was part of the UCSD team that won their 3rd straight D-III National Title in 1988. She was on the court for games 3, 4 and 5 in the come from behind victory. Unfortunately they failed to make it to the National Tournament during her senior year.
So in 1988 and 1989 and finding too much time on her hands, she was the top girl intramural athlete based on highest point total in 10 events. There was softball hitting, field goal kicking, basketball shooting, mile run, 100 meter sprint, shot put, high jump, weight lifting, 100 meter freestyle swim and bowling. It seems there was nothing Linda couldn’t do.
She credits the great North High coaches Penny Roberts, Tom McQuin and Gary Kuster; administrators Bill Bimat and Warren Brooks who served as mentors; and being surrounded by incredibly athletic teammates including Wendy Martell, Karen Langston, Melinda Harrison, Pam Ash Boyles and many others.
But most of all she credits her father who inspired her to become a high school math teacher. She now lives in the San Diego area and teaches at Rancho Buena Vista High. She’s been married to Doug Van Solkema for 27 years and they have three daughters, Jodi, Megan and Anna. Ironically Megan’s College team won the D-III National Title this year, 28 years after Mom had won one.
What a resume, what a career. Congrats Linda, the fans owe you another big cheer.
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Gifted athletes will always amaze and inspire sports fans. However special they are, there are always a few that shine brighter than all the rest. The story of Lisa Johns (now Lisa Hewes) as an athlete was summed up well during her high school years by a local prep sports beat writer who said, “She is neither flamboyant, nor flashy… she quietly, consistently, effectively, and modestly gets the job done.”
Sports – and lots of them – were a way of life starting in her earliest childhood years. From AYSO soccer to NOR softball, ballet, swimming and diving, Norris School basketball, and volleyball, Lisa just played and demonstrated a special athletic talent from the beginning.
Entering North High as a freshman in 1988, Johns lettered in three varsity sports — volleyball, basketball, and softball. In subsequent years at North High, Johns collected a myriad of titles and accolades.
As a freshman, she was picked as an All-Area athlete in volleyball, the first of four such selections. Her teams would go on to win multiple SYL league titles and two CIF Central Section titles with bids in the state playoffs. As a senior team captain, Johns led the Lady Stars volleyball to a perfect SYL 12-0 league record and then to the section title. She was Area Player-of-the-year that year, was named to Volleyball Magazine’s “Fab 50” list, and USA Today picked Johns as one of the top two high school setters in the nation.
In basketball, she helped North High teams win back-to-back section titles her sophomore and junior seasons. Johns collected 12 varsity letters during her North High tenure and held a starting position on 10 out of 12 of those teams. She never missed a single game due to injury or illness in her entire high school athletic career.
She also excelled in academics and was selected to numerous scholar-athlete teams, won the Mayor’s Award, and was selected as girl scholar-athlete of the year for the CIF Central Section her senior season.
Finally, Johns garnered national recognition for both her athletic prowess and hard work in the classroom and was one of eight high school scholar-athletes selected as AAU/Mars MILKY WAY High School All-American. Johns completed her academic studies at North High with a 4.1 GPA her senior year.
Johns signed with national volleyball powerhouse University of the Pacific in 1990 and played four years for the Lady Tigers. She graduated from UOP in four years and moved to Tucson, where she coached high school club volleyball and assisted the University of Arizona women’s volleyball team. She earned an MBA from Arizona before to the Bay Area to work as a business consultant.
Johns currently resides in Arizona with her husband Josh (also NHS alum, ’91) and son Luke. She works as a professor of accounting in the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University.
Congratulations Lisa, just another amazing female student/athlete that helped make North High the great school that it is.
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Lori Miller Sundgren grew up off of Olive Drive and spent her childhood running around the neighborhood with her sister, Erin, and the Bimat, Silver kids. She started running at a young age, when her Aunt Tresa (Bumgarner) Rosenow and Uncle Brian Bumgarner would drop her off at their friend Howard’s house and she would chase their car all the way up dusty, unpaved Ethyl Street to their home on Shell Street.
Lori attended the Norris School Jr. High and in both seventh and eighth grade, Lori was second in the nation in the 1500 meters. She also set a county record of 4:44 in the 1500, which held for over 25 years.
At North, Lori was coached by the always patient Gary Kuster. During her freshman cross country season, she received a baptism by fire from Foothill athlete and true class act Mary Ann Martinez. Their matches pushed Lori to work hard and strive to be better. During the next four years, Lori went unbeaten in individual league track competition, won four SYL 800 meter titles, four SYL 1600 meter titles, a valley championship in both the 800 and 1600, qualified for the state meet all four years in both the 800 and 1600, and medaled at the state meet in both cross country (10th) and track (6th) her senior year. Lori was a four time MVP in both track and cross country while at North. She was All-Area Athlete of the Year and was the Bakersfield Californian Prep of the Week. Lori also attend the Olympic Training Center track and field camp in Colorado Springs. She received letters from 50 different colleges and eventually chose Cal State Northridge.
At CSUN, Lori set the school’s freshman record in the indoor mile. At the inaugural Cal-Nevada Championships at UCLA, she placed third in the 1500. Lori graduated from CSUN in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies. She cherishes the lifelong friends she made during her five years there. Lori earned her teaching credential and taught in the Bakersfield City School District for three years. She was also hired by Dale Tedrow to be an assistant track and cross coach at North. This is where she met her husband, longtime North High track and cross country coach, Darin Sundgren.
In 2003, they had Devon, their only child, who is a football player like his grandpa and North High Hall of Famer John Miller. Lori was a teacher and counselor in the Norris School District for 15 years. To this day, the highlight of her career was being on the team that opened William Bimat Elementary, alongside fellow North High grads Tonya Moore Sandoval, Sarah Bootman Barker, and Pam Roth Teagarden. These days Lori is a faculty member at Taft College, where she runs the Learning Center.
Lori credits her parents, John and Debbie Miller, with every success she has had in her life, from getting her college degrees and credentials, to her athletic success, to being a parent. Of her eleven years of cross country and track meets across the United States, she can only remember them missing one race. They were up and awake for her pre-dawn workouts with a stopwatch and cold water in hand. They have provided the unconditional love and support that every kid should be so lucky to have.
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When you are 5’11” and a female athlete you get a lot of funny nicknames thrown your way and some of them stick. Such was the case for Lori Warkentin-Schoene when one of her classmates dubbed her “Amazon Woman.”
Lori will probably go down as one of the greatest softball pitchers in North High’s history but she was also an outstanding volleyball and basketball player. Playing varsity in all sports throughout her high school career, her size played a big part of that.
Not one to brag about her accomplishments, she was first team all-SYL in softball in both her junior and senior seasons. She gives a lot of credit to her coach, Karen Wass. In volleyball, playing for Coach Judy McDole, she was voted “Most Inspirational.” She missed her entire junior year in volleyball and suffering a severely sprained ankle when she landed on the foot of teammate Jill Turner in practice.
Lori gives a lot of credit to all the great people at North High, particularly teachers Bill Bimat, Dick Heber, Mrs. Turney and Turk Eliades. And her coaches as well, Karen Wass and Judy McDole. She remembers Heber, himself a baseball player at Cal, offering to catch her practicing pitching and being shocked at how well he handled her.
After high school she accepted a full ride scholarship to play softball at UCLA. It must have been the right decision since she was able to be a part of the 1982 Lady Bruins team that won the National Championship.
One of her greatest individual memories from UCLA was pitching an entire 21-inning game against the University of Arizona and losing 1-0 on an error. She outlasted three U of A pitchers but suffered a heart breaking loss.
She said she had trouble moving the next day. You think?She was named MVP of other tournaments but claimed her greatest accomplishment was marrying Craig Schoene who was himself a heavyweight wrestling medalist at the Pan Am Games. Craig also coached wrestling at North High in 1983.
They proudly have three children, Brian, Amanda and Daniel. All turned out to be terrific athletes. Brian wrestled at BHS at 215#, earning 3rd in the State meet. A back injury ended his career after offers from Stanford and CSUB. Amanda was a standout volleyball player at BHS, and then attended a JC in Nebraska for two years before returning home to CSUB. She also played both volleyball and sand/beach volleyball for the Lady Roadrunners. Daniel, the baby (?) of the family stands 6’6” and 310 lbs and was an outstanding tackle for the Drillers the past three seasons.
Also a wrestler and track and field athlete, he’s headed to UNLV next year on a scholarship.
She has dedicated her life to God and her family. Lori currently works as a Labor and Delivery RN at Mercy SW Hospital. I think the babies are in good hands with “Amazon Woman.”
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Skip Slayton is a true “08er”. Born at Cottage Hospital, now known as Mish Funeral home, he would grow
up in Oildale his entire childhood. His brother Rick was a North High football standout in 1964 and 1965 until knee surgery ended his football career.As a kid going up thru that era, Skip, along with all the kids in his neighborhood that Rick terrorized, was inspired to play high school football for the North High Stars and to be like his older brother. Those days came to fruition in 1968 when he became proficient at holding bags for the varsity squad. In 1969, Skip played on varsity squad and became proficient at learning what it was like to lose as a team. However, the 1970 Team was taking shape even in that losing season. Skip was recognized on the 1969 team as a Second Team All-League Offensive Guard.
What a turn around for the 1970 team! Skip became part of the only undefeated NHS varsity football team and league champions. He made All-City and All-League Offensive Guard that season. Unfortunately, the dream season ended losing to Bullard in a rain soaked Bakersfield College football field in the first round of playoffs.
Skip wants to make sure his teammates on the 1970 team eventually get recognized in the NHS Hall of Fame. Mark Drennan, Duane Williams and Randy Rich are already members, Slayton moved to Ventura after senior year of high school and received his AA at Ventura Junior College before going onto Cal State Northridge as a Radio, Television and Film Major.
His career path however, ended him upon the restaurant business. As a local business owner for the past 37 years, Skip has been a big supporter of most NHS programs. He was heavily involved in Bill Bimah’s Project North as well as many various athletic projects . An organizer of the NHS 50 year anniversary with Jimmy Tyack, he contributed greatly to cleaning up the “B” Hall dirt oasis and transformed it into a gorgeous sitting area with trees and donated bricks for future students to enjoy. Skip is owner of Jakes Original Tex-Mex Café with his daughter, Sarah Slayton-Price, who followed in her father’s athletic footsteps as an All-Area setter for the two-time State Champion Centennial High School volleyball team. They continue their support of North High School in whatever way possible including fundraisers as well as hiring numerous North High School students for the past 30 years. Jake’s currently employs 3 current North High students and 5 alumni, including the restaurant’s General Manager.
Skip says his success today comes from the work ethic instilled in him by his parents and of course, being married to a gorgeous Shafter girl, Betsy Witcher, for the last 39 years. Skip says he and his kids wouldn’t be who they are today without his wife. His four children currently reside and work in Bakersfield. Sarah, runs the family business, Jake, the COO of Goodwill Industries, Joshua, Project Manager for Wallace and Smith and Victoria Thompson, Principal of Frontier High School.
Skip is extremely shocked and appreciative for this induction and hopes the entire 1970 team will be inducted soon.
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Since its inception in 1953 North high has been blessed with many outstanding individuals who were Hall of Famers on the field, but many others who were Hall of Famers off the field. Such is the man Stan Moe. His nickname should have been “involved.”
Born in 1946, his family moved from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to the Bakersfield area in 1947. He attended
grammar school at St. Francis and then graduated from South High in 1964 where he was a member of the school’s first ever SYL Championship football team (Class C) in 1961.After high school, Stan served three years in the US Army before returning home to serve in the Kern County
Sheriff’s Office for 32 years. After retiring in 2002 he began a 10-year teaching career at Porterville JC, teaching Criminal Justice.After moving into the Olive Drive area in 1971 he became actively involved in organizations in the North of
the River community. He served 14 years as a Trustee with the Beardsley School District and started coaching youth baseball at NOR.He developed his love and commitment for North High when his kids began attending school in 1984. He was a tireless volunteer for the North high Athletic Boosters Club for 8 years, serving as the President for 3 years.
He took on the job of reorganizing the Booster Club Bingo fundraising and along with the help of North High “Hall of Famer” Greg Fowler remodeled the Bingo Hall on Knudsen Drive. In addition, Stan spent many hours helping on the North High baseball fields while his sons were part of the program.After his boys graduated from North , he began a 17-year baseball coaching career working for Tony Silver. He was the Freshmen coach for 8 years then served under Silver on the Varsity for 9 more years. But maybe his biggest contribution not only to North High but Kern County baseball as well might be his devotion to the annual Terrio Therapy Spring Classic Baseball Tournament. Tony Silver started the tournament and then turned it over to Stan who has run it for the past 29 years. It has raised over $260,000 for the North High baseball program during that time! It continues to be the biggest high school baseball tournament in the area.
Stan has been married to his wife Pat for 51 years and has three children. Kevin (Class of ’88), Randy (Class
of ’91) and Carrie (Class of 94) all graduated from North and were all athletes.Congratulations Stan and thanks so much for all your wonderful contributions to North High.
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Terry Hill was raised with North High in his blood. He was the oldest son of the school’s very first Principal, Jack Hill. A member of the 1958 graduating class, he was an outstanding three-sport athlete. His father had hired several outstanding individuals as coaches. So, along with the coaches, Terry was part of a group of several top athletes who had a real impact on establishing North High’s athletic tradition.
In football, he played Class “B” as a freshman and sophomore, but a broken wrist kept him out of the season as a junior. Then as a senior and playing for coach Turk Eliades, was the starting fullback for a team that went 9-1 on the season, losing only to BHS. Terry played basketball his first three years, including varsity as a junior but did not go out as a senior so as to dedicate himself to baseball.
In baseball, he played on the freshman team, moved up to JV as a sophomore and played varsity as a junior and senior. Terry was one of the most feared hitters in the area and an outstanding catcher as well. Known as a tough competitor, he was team captain and an all-SYL selection as a senior. After graduation, Terry played football and baseball at Bakersfield College. He started in baseball both years at BC, playing for another legend, Gerry Collis. He was a 2nd team all-Metropolitan pick in 1960, and again the leading hitter on the team. Because of knee issues, he was moved from behind the plate to left field for the ‘Gades.
As a freshman he played fullback behind one of the all-time BC greats Ray Jackson, an all-American. As a sophomore he again played backup to another JC All-American, Don Hampton. He was part of the great BC team that won the 1959 Jr. Rose Bowl in Pasadena, defeating Del Mar, Texas 36-14. He also scored a touchdown in that game on an 11-yard run. On that team were former North High teammates Vern Burke and Bobby Ezell, Lloyd Mosley and Jim Rice, all members of the North High Athletics Hall of Fame.
Terry went on to Fresno state on a football scholarship, but a knee injury ended his career in 1961. He finished school there and graduated in 1963. He came back to North High to coach and teach physical education from 1966 to1980. For several years, he worked alongside, not only Eliades, but another North High legend, Sam Barton, and coached with Tony Silver and Jack O’Brien.
Since 1984, Terry has worked as a Life Insurance agent and is now semi-retired. His younger brother Steve was an outstanding football and baseball player at North High, graduating in 1963. Terry has two daughters, Tracy and Darcy, both of whom were graduates of North High and both of whom were athletes.
Like many of the early North High student athletes, Terry Hill had an intense love and passion for advancing the school’s “brand and tradition.” He was also an original member of the North High Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Congratulations Terry, one of the early table-setters for the future of North High athletics.
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Vance Fisher’s family moved to Oildale in 1947 from his birthplace in McKeesport, PA (a suburb of Pittsburg). His father migrated west to take a job with a Title Search company here, then later started working with Union Oil Co. Vance attended Standard Jr. High and then entered North High in 1954, exactly one year after the school had opened.
Playing for legendary coach Turk Eliades, he started out as a tackle as a sophomore but later became an outstanding end. As a junior, Vance was named first team all-South Yosemite League. Then as a senior, the Stars won their first ever SYL Championship and Fisher was again named 1st team all-SYL. In addition, he was chosen on the 6th team of the National High School All-American team. This was the 2nd highest honor ever given to a Kern County football player. He also was chosen for the annual Kern County North-South game.
After high school, colleges came calling includingCal, Washington State and USC to play football. Instead he chose to attend Bakersfield College. Playing for another local legend, Homer Beatty, he was starting and playing both ways (offense and defense). But, as fate would have it, in his very first JC game, while attempting to block a punt, he severely injured a knee. He sat out tmost of the season, returning to play in the last two games and the Potato Bowl but had lost his starting position.
After the disappointment of that season, he decided to join the Air Force, where he played football for two years. His teams made the Air Force Championship in Alabama both years but came up on the short end of the
score each time.In February of 1961, he received an honorable discharge and returned home to again play football for the Renegades and continue his education. BC went 10-0 during the regular season that year and allowed just 36 points. Playing against Cameron, Oklahoma for the National Championship in the Jr. Rose Bowl in Pasadena, BC was defeated 28-20, spoiling their perfect season. But Fisher caught a tying touchdown pass just before the end of the half.
Football scholarship offers came from Idaho State, Sacramento State and University of Reno, Nevada. Coach Eliades was a graduate of Reno and advised Vance to pursue his career there. Playing alongside of former North High teammate Bobby Ezell, he again was a two-way starter for two years. In all there were 13 players from Bakersfield and Kern County.
After graduation from Reno, he went to work in the Bay Area for Firestone then moved to the Los Angeles area to work for his good buddy and former high teammate Jim Anderson in the construction business. He retired in 2001 and moved to Bonita Springs, Florida where he had other relatives living. He’s now a golf nut like most Floridians.
He and his second wife, Linda, have been married 30 years with no children. He had two sons by a previous marriage, Scott and Chris. Scott attended UC San Barbara and was a standout basketball player, gaining MVP honors his last three seasons there. He had offers from the 76ers and a couple of other NBA teams but nothing developed. He now lives in Pebble Beach and is married to Clint Eastwood’s ex-wife.
Congrats Vance on an outstanding career and a very deserving welcome to the North High Athletics Hall of Fame.
