Bill Kinnett was always proud to be a North High Star. His father, Bill Sr., was a Geography and U.S. History teacher at North High before his untimely death at just 50 years old. Later, Bill’s Mom, Irene became head of the Audio Visual Department at North. Many lifetime family friends were formed during those years at North High School.

One of those family friends was Coach Winfred Bootman. Bill received a lot of his desire to succeed in wrestling because of the encouragement from his Dad and Coach Bootman. In 1963, Bill’s senior year, he received Outstanding Wrestler honors and placed first in the S.Y.L. Tournament. Bill was also the very first NHS wrestler to win the Valley Wrestling Championships. After high school, Bill attended Bakersfield College and continued to be an outstanding wrestler under Coach Bruce Pfutzenreuter.

Bill was a top rated wrestling official for nearly 50 years and also became the Wrestling Instructor and Assignor for the Kern County Officials Association. He mentored new and seasoned officials. As a Wrestling State Tournament Volunteer, he took the lead in assigning table workers, coordinating groom check and weigh-ins, and, anything else that needed his leadership and expertise. In 2017, Bill was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame receiving the Lifetime Service Award.

Bill was proud to be a member of the United States Marine Corps. He served as a California Highway Patrolman for 34 years and retired as the Lieutenant Commander of the Grapevine Inspection Facility. He was atraffic school instructor for many years and became the Executive Director at STEPS after retiring from the CHP.

Bill married Ann (Yeager) Kinnett in 1968, and, they have two children, Billy and Kristina. Bill passed away in December of 2016. He would have been extremely proud to know that he was inducted into the North High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

One of the fastest athletes in the history of North High, Dale excelled in football and track. Born in New Mexico, his family was moving around in the oil business, and luckily for North High they found their way to Oildale in 1955. In football, Standifer was an All-SYL running back, averaging 7.5 yards a carry as a senior. In track he ran the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds which stood for many years until they changed to 100-meters. He also held the school record in the 220-yard dash (22.1). He attended BC and played on two Potato Bowl winning Renegade football teams and . He then played for two years at UC Santa Barbara alongside his brother Fred. Dale served 2 years in the US Army in Germany before returning home and embarking on a teaching career. He spent 30 years teaching and coaching in Delano and retired in 1996. He’s an uncle to North’s legendary girls’ basketball coach and now fellow Hall of Famer Curt DeRossett.

David was born and raised in Kern County. He attended Standard and Highland Elementary, Standard Junior High and North High School. His parents’ families moved from Texas to Oakland during WWII to work in the Bay Area industrial war complex. After the war they moved to Oildale in 1945.

The influence of sports was in David’s life from an early age. David’s older brother Terry (NHS class of 1968) was involved in multiple sports at NHS, played football at Bakersfield College and Portland State University. David started lifting weights at age 14 and playing football because his brother did.

David’s first tackle football experience was on the undefeated Oildale Jack Frost football team the “Highlanders” with NHS HOF coach Bill Williamson. We played Saturday mornings at BHS Griffith field. David was a big kid at 5’6” and 145lbs. He thought this football game was pretty easy stuff as an 8th grader. He wanted to be a running back but was told he didn’t lift his knees high enough when he ran. He was assigned to the line. He made “Lineman of the Week” in October 1967 for tackling a runner in the end zone for a safety.

David entered NHS and played junior varsity football under HOF coach Terry Hill during his freshman and sophomore years. He recalls his freshman year wondering if maybe he should have played on the Comet B team SYL Champs instead of playing with bigger more experienced sophomores and juniors. During the off season he would lift weights. He started at the YMCA then later on in his home garage when his dad made it into a weight room. Finally at NHS in their first weight room which was a small portable classroom with a Universal gym set.

David’s junior year was the fall of 1970. He played football under HOF coaches Turk Eliades and Jack Obrien (his first year at NHS). He was assigned left guard. Many years later when David went to visit Turk he would call David “The Guard”. When David saw Coach Obrien at the first HOF induction ceremony he said, “Now there is one heck of a guard”. David played on this team with four other HOF members. Mark Drennan, Randy Rich, Skip Slayton, and Duane Williams. This team went undefeated 9-0, SYL champs. David made “Honorable Mention” on the All City Team. David is now the 5th member from the 1970 team to be inducted into the NHS HOF.

David’s senior year was 1971. He was now a Co-Captain. He played offensive guard, defensive left tackle, and was the punter. The team went 7-2 and shared the SYL Championship with two other teams that we had previously beaten. There was a no repeat rule for the playoffs so our season was over. The 1970 and 1971 NHS football teams are the only back-to-back championship football teams in school history. David was awarded to the “Bakersfield All City Football Team”. At that ceremony UCLA Coach Pepper Rogers gave David his “Lineman of the Year 1971” trophy. David and fellow teammate Ron Pritchard (1970) are the only two lineman from NHS to ever receive this award.

As previously mentioned David was a weight lifter. As a senior he could bench press, squat, and deadlift over 300 lbs. each. He continues to go to the gym on a regular basis.

David is also an accomplished musician. He started playing tuba (because they gave tubas to big boys) in the fifth grade under Standard School Band Director Dick Grubbs. He played in multiple Kern County Honor Bands, the 1972 California State Symphonic Band, the 1971, 72 McDonald’s All American Band and the Bakersfield Community Band for three seasons. David received the “John Phillip Sousa Award” at Standard in 1968and at NHS in1972. He currently plays in four bands in northern California.

David has lived in Sacramento for 45 years. He retired as a Captain at Sacramento Metro Fire Dept. He has been married to his wife Janice for forty years. They have two children Brian and Kristen, son-in-law Joel, and grandson Lewis.

A four-year varsity performer in basketball under North’s legendary coach Curt DeRossett, Lorraine was more than just an athlete. During her varsity career, the Lady Stars won 3 consecutive SYL Championships, 2 Valley titles, and a final 8 appearance in the State Championships. She was all-SYL for three years and named All-Area “Player of the Year” in both her junior and senior seasons. Graduating co-Valedictorian of her senior class, she was heavily recruited to play basketball and chose West Point with the goal of becoming a physician and playing basketball. Lorraine returned home after one year to play for BC and continue studying for a medical career. After stops at UCLA, Missouri and Cleveland, she is finally home and is currently practicing at Quest Imaging Medical Associates.

SPORTS/YEARS
Connersville High School (Ind.) 1958 – 62
1 Yr. Golf: (I was lousy)
1 Yr Cross Country (Team 7th at state meet = Sedam individually 103rd)
Baseball 3 Yrs.(Pitched every i1ming my senior year – 1 game a week and I game was snowed out – 6-3 record)
Basketball: 3Yrs- Team made Semifinals of Indiana State Tourney my senior year – Named to the Hoosier 100 (Top 100 players in the State ) Set school and gym scoring record that year with a 41 point game (Never shot unless I had the ball.)
Miami University 1962 (In program 2 years – honestly most of it on the pine)

INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Taught 37 years at Muncie, Indiana and North and Arvin High in Math and PE.
Coached basketball for 30 years, golf for 20+ years, and baseball and football for 4 years. I probably coached in over 1000 games during my career. My players won a few more contests than I lost! My C Class team won 25 games in a row in my younger days and I had good enough players to win 6 league championships in basketball.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1986 North High Teacher of the Year Award
Member Arvin High Athletic Hall of Fame
Member North High Athletic Hall of Fame
Was smart and lucky enough to many my bride of 50 years, Jaclyn Joy, and father the apples of their dad’s eye, Russell and Jennifer.

GREATEST MEMORIES OF NORTH HIGH
For me it’s a composite of the relationships I shared with students, athletes, fellow coaches and teachers , and administrators during my 17 years at North High. An especially joyful experience was attending the dedication of that great new gym to my longtime friend, boundless philosopher, and endless fountain of sage advice, Lloyd Williams. That, along with the chance to visit with many who positively affected my days at North made for a very memorable evening.

I am sure anyone who read the newspaper or followed sports in Bakersfield during 1986-1989, girls’ sports would be highlighted and North High would be one of the prominent high schools in California producing female athletes for college. One ofthose who blazed a huge trail was our own, JoEllen Jeffrey. I wanted to wait for a little bit after learning of the 2018 Hall of Fame induction to compose some thoughts and reflections regarding JoEllen and the incredible impact she has had for thousands in one sport in particular – Volleyball. I feel the need to do this because the majority of these reflections differ from what the public will remember. When the public thinks of JoEllen, they think of an unheralded recruit who came from North High as an unknown quantity. Very shortly in college, inflicted with a knee injury and despite the tragedy, made her way into playing Div I Volleyball at the University of Houston. The public would also be quick to point out that JoEllen had many honors in high school, such as MVP for volleyball and basketball her junior and senior years- noting the District MVP for girls’ basketball her senior year. She was also honored with first team all-district honors her junior and senior seasons, Here the public is remembering JoEllen, the athlete. What I wanted to reflect on was JoEllen, the person. For anyone who was associated with her during high school would be greatly dwarfed compared to now. The memories and impacts she has had on a national scale with volleyball seem to always have more to do with JoEllen, the person. JoEllen, the athlete, was incredible. JoEllen, the person, however, is special…really special.

Another in the long line of outstanding volleyball and basketball players that made North High a powerhouse during the 1980’s.

Kelly’s athletic career began in 1983, playing JV volleyball and frosh-soph basketball. Kelly was a varsity starter in volleyball in her soph, Jr. and Sr. years, winning many awards, including: scholar-athlete (Big N Award – 3 times), most inspirational player, Star Awards and All SYL and All Area honors. During her Sr. year she was also named one of Kern County’s top 10 scholar-athletes for the fall sports season. Her teams twice went to the valley playoffs.

In basketball, Kelly had 3 solid varsity years – two as a starter. Her basketball awards included: Big N Award in all three seasons, All Area honorable mention as a soph. and Prep of the Week as a Junior. In her Junior year, Kelly was tabbed by the Bakersfield Californian as one of 6 players to watch in the upcoming season, where she averaged 17.3 ppg and 12.7 rpg while earning All SYL and All Area honors.

As a Senior, Kelly was MVP of the Foothill Christmas Tournament and won Prep of the Week as well as Jockey Club Athlete of the Month honors. She was named team MVP and earned all area honors while averaging 18.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg. Kelly was named one of Kern County’s top 10 scholar athletes for the winter sports season and was the only female basketball player in Kern County selected to the all NorCal Team. As a Senior, Kelly was also awarded the prestigious James Tyack Award as the best female athlete in Kern County. During her time at North, Kelly was part of 3 SYL Championship teams and twice played in the Valley Championship. Kelly had the pleasure of playing with and learning from prior HOF inductees including Wendy Martel, Karen Langston, Linda Ross and Melinda Harrison.

Kelly was offered scholarships in volleyball and basketball. With basketball being her first love, she chose Div. II powerhouse Cal Poly Pomona where she was a 4 year starter and an All Conference performer as a senior. Her teams at Cal Poly never finished lower than 5th in the nation, winning the CCAA title and regional championships all 4 years. Her teams gained the final 4 twice, once playing in the National Championship game and once finishing 3rd. Kelly graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in finance, real estate and Law.

Some of Kelly’s best memories at North: Playing on the 1984/85 varsity basketball team that went 24-0, prior to losing in the valley championship game; being presented the James Tyack Award by her coach, Curt DeRossett; twice playing in the Valley Championship basketball game; the never ending support and encouragement of teachers, administrators and mentors like Warner Brooks, Richard Ross, Lloyd Williams and of course coaches Penny Roberts, Curt DeRossett, Jay Eliades and Kirk Ansolabehere as they were a huge part of her life and success in school and athletics.

Kelly has been working for CIBA Insurance Services for the past 20 years. She’s been married to Ed Lemoine, a Law Enforcement Officer, for 17 years and they reside in Norco in Southern California. They have two sons, one who played hockey and is now studying to become a firefighter, and one who currently plays both baseball and football.

Congratulations Kelly, you are joining a long list of distinguished Lady Stars.

Sports/Years
83/84
JV Volleyball
F/S Basketball

84/85, 85/86, 86/87
Varsity Volleyball and Basketball

Volleyball

Started on Varsity Volleyball Soph., Jr. and Senior Seasons.

Soph year received scholar athlete award (Big N).
Year received most inspirational player along with Star Award and Scholar Athlete ( Big N award). All SYL and honorable mention all area honors.
Year earned Star and Big N. Awards in addition to All SYL and All Area honors. Also named one of Kern County’s top 10 Scholar Athletes for the fall sports season.

Team:

Soph year went to the Valley Playoffs
Senior year 2nd in SYL and went to Valley Playoffs

Basketball

6th man Soph year and starter Jr. and Sr. years

Soph year received scholar athlete award (Big N) and was named all area honorable mention
year chosen as one of 6 players to watch in Kern County by the Bakersfield Californian. Averaged 17.3 ppg and 12.7 Reb per game in the SYL. Earned All SYL and All area honors. Received the Big N scholar athlete award and the Star Award. Was named prep of the week.
year was named MVP of the Foothill Xmas Tournament. Earned Prep of the week and Jockey Club Athlete of the Month Honors. Earned all area Honors. Was the only Kern County female basketball player selected to the all Norcal team. Won Star and Big N awards and was named team MVP. Averaged 18.3 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game in the regular season. Named one of Kern County’s top 10 Scholar Athletes for the winter sports season. Won the James Tyack award for best female athlete in Kern County. Was named one of the nation’s top 100 recruits.

Team:

Soph year the team went 24-0 until losing in the valley Championship to Delano.
year the team repeated as SYL Champs and Valley Championship finalists
Senior Year the team was Co-SYL champs and made it to the valley playoffs.

Had the pleasure of playing with and learning from prior HOF inductees Wendy Martell, Karen Langston, Linda Ross, Melinda Harrison.

Was offered scholarships in both volleyball and basketball. With basketball as first love, ultimately chose to attend Division II basketball powerhouse Cal Poly Pomona. While at Pomona, was a 4 year starter. Was named conference player of the week and made the all conference team in my senior season.

As a team Cal Poly Pomona never finished lower than 5th in the nation. We won the CCAA title and regional championship all four years. We went to the final four twice, once playing in the national championship and once finishing third. Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Finance, Real Estate and Law. Work as a risk manager and contract analyst.

Some of the best memories

Being presented the James Tyack Award by Curt DeRossett.
Twice playing in the Valley Championship for basketball
The never ending support and encouragement of teachers, administrators and mentors like Warner Brooks, Richard Ross, Lloyd Williams and of course coaches Penny Roberts, Curt DeRossett, Jay Eliades and Kirk Ansolabehere were a huge part of my success on and off the court. I am so thankful for their presence and guidance.

Pam Ash-Boyles not only had such a great career at North, but since she was the editor of the school’s newspaper, she could have written some flattering things about herself. But she would have needed more than one page and a heck of a lot of ink to tell her story.

Born and raised in Oildale, she attended Beardsley grammar school and entered North High not sure what was her sport. But thanks to a suggestion from track coach Gary Kuster, she embarked on a running career that has taken her to the NH Athletics Hall of Fame.

She tried out for volleyball as a freshman but got cut. Tried tennis but running was her ticket. Starring in track and cross country each for 3 years at North and she also played basketball for 2 years. Her cross-country team lost only one meet and finished with a 6-1 record. She won the SYL meet and was named team MVP. As a sophomore at North she qualified for the State meet in the 2-mile run. She won the Star award and was named Best Scholar. Also voted Outstanding Girl Athlete by the Interact Club. Under the tutelage of coach Kuster, she was just getting started as her career would later blossom at Bakersfield College and Cal State University Bakersfield.
Not only was she talented on the athletic fields, she stood out in the classroom as well, graduating 3rd in her class at North. As a senior she was named the winner of the Mayor’s Award as top scholar/athlete in Kern County. She was also ASB Commissioner of Athletics at North, member of the National Honor Society, a member of the German Club and a member of FCA.

On to Bakersfield College where she was voted the Outstanding Freshman Athlete in 1989 and Outstanding Sophomore Athlete in 1990. While at BC she set school records in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000. As a sophomore she was named Community College “Athlete of the Meet” at the State track and field finals. She also won the Wilson Scholar Award for Most Outstanding Female Student/Athlete for the entire California Community College Association.

You can imagine Cal State Bakersfield was happy to have her in their program. While at CSUB in 1991 and 1992 she was a D-II All-American in track as well as an Academic All-American both years. She was also named All-American in Cross-Country as senior. As a result, she won an NCAA Post Graduate Scholar Award. To top it off, she was named Most Outstanding Graduate in the Humanities for CSUB.

After graduating with a Master’s Degree from CSUB, she started teaching English at BC and has been doing so for the past 25 years. She has been married to Robert Boyles for 35 years. He has also been a teacher at BC for the past 6 years. Prior to that, he coached runners at CSUB for 10 years and prior to that was an Electrician for 18 years. They have two children, daughter Sharon and son Eric. They attended East High and were both involved in athletics and like their Mom, were runners. They also have two grandchildren, Emily (8) and Marcus (3). Pam says they keep her in shape running.

Write your own story Pam, but the headline would tell the story: “Hall of Famer, On and Off the Field.”

Patrick Mellon arrived on the campus in September of 1964 as a young balding English teacher. He retired in June of 2000 after 36 years of involvement with mostly treasured experiences.

Some of these experiences are:

English Teacher
Counselor
Activities Director-18 years
Testing Director
Director of Counselors
Assistant Dean
Scholarship Chairman
Cheerleader Advisor-18 years
Softball Coach-4 years-1 year as Frosh -Soph and 3 years as Varsity
Powderpuff Coach-19 years
Clock Operator for football, basketball, and wrestling games
Swimming starter

In all of these experiences, what Mellon enjoyed most were the relationships he had with the kids. He enjoyed knowing them more than just as students as so many touched his life as he hoped he touched theirs.

There was nothing record setting in his career as far as to athletics except to say he attended so many sporting events and rooted for the coaches and the kids in those 36 years.

Mr. Mellon as the kids would address him loved his career and always thought that North High School was the best kept secret in the Kern High School District.

Randy was a star distance runner at North High. He was the SYL and Area champion in the 880-yard run in both his junior and senior seasons. He still holds the school record in the event (1:52.6) and it’s the 10th fastest time in CIF history. As a senior he finished 4th in the State meet, one of the few North High athletes to ever make to the state meet. Randy went to Bakersfield College and had a very successful two years there, finishing 3rd in the State JC meet as a freshman and setting a school record in the process. An injury kept him from continuing after BC, but Randy became a very successful coach at Centennial High, winning 10 League championships in girl’s cross country and 5 CIF titles to boot. His Centennial boy’s cross country team won 6 league championships and one CIF title. Randy also coached cross country and track in the Norris School District for many years.

Robbie was a talented four-year track and cross-country star at North High. Born and raised in Oildale, he set school records in the mile, the mile relay, the two-mile relay and a cross-country home course record. He was a two-time League champion in cross-country, and SYL and Area champion in the 2-mile run in both his junior and senior seasons. He qualified for the State meet both years. Robbie attended BC and set the school record in the 10,000 meter run in 1977. It still stands today. Robbie attended Cal Poly SLO after BC and was part of a D-II National Championship Cross-Country team and named All-American in the process. He has been an elementary school principal for the past 30 years.

Born and raised in Oildale after his family moved from Oklahoma in 1957, Steve was a three sport standout in football, basketball and baseball. As a junior, and playing under North High coaching legend Sam Barton, the Stars won the school’s first ever Valley Championship in 1976. They also won the league championship in his senior year. After high school, Steve attended BC and as a sophomore had a 17-game hitting streak and was named team MVP. In 1982 took a chance and walked on at D-I power San Diego State. Soon he was the starting catcher and the 1983 team reeled off 24 straight wins and were ranked #1 in the nation at one point with a 53-8 record. Steve finished his career with another 17-game hitting streak, hit .425 in WAC play and .555 in the regionals. He was named 1st team All-WAC (South), the All-Regional Team and named the Aztecs’ Most Inspirational Player. After college returned home to work in his dad’s business, Surface Pumps, which he now runs. The competitive juices still flowing, he’s been involved in coaching at Garces and Liberty.

Some people are born to play any sports. Vern Crissman was one of those. His family moved from Pennsylvania to Oildale in 1945 . Vern started out at BHS in 1952 as a freshman because North High didn’t open their doors until 1953. He was especially talented in basketball but excelled in football and baseball as well. Vern even tried his hand in track briefly. He entered North at 5’3” and 135 pounds and left at 6’4” and 215 pounds. A 3-year starter in basketball, Vern was All-SSL as a junior and senior. He played two years at BC and led the team in scoring both years. Vern went to Fresno State and was part of a conference championship team twice. After Fresno State entered the Army and spent 16 months in Korea. After returning home, Vern opened a very successful insurance business in Delano.

2018 Inductees

2018 Inductee Biographies

2018 Inductees

2018 Inductee Biographies

Bill Kinnett

Dale Standifer

David Smith

Lorraine Ash

Gary Sedam

Joellen Jeffrey-Thibodeaux

Kelly Connelly-Lemoine

Pam Ash-Boyles

Pat Mellon

Randy Jones

Rob Bray

Steve Durrett

Vern Crissman

2019 Inductees

2017 Inductees