Bakersfield High School Explained

Bakersfield High School
Gender:	Coed
Streetaddress:	1241 G Street
City:	Bakersfield
Zipcode:	93301
Country:	United States
Coordinates:	35.3692°N -119.0228°W
Established:	1893
District:	Kern High School District
Principal:	Ben Sherley
Grades:	9–12
Enrollment:	3,004 (2022-23)^[1]
Colors:	Blue White
Conference:	South Yosemite Valley League CIF Central Section
Nickname:	Drillers
Rivals:	Garces Memorial High School, Liberty High School, Centennial High School
Newspaper:	Blue and White
Yearbook:	Oracle

Bakersfield High School (BHS) is a public four-year high school located in Bakersfield, California, United States. Opened in 1893, Bakersfield High School serves grades ninth through twelfth within the Kern High School District.

Notable alumni

• Larry Barnes – former MLB player (Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers).^[2]
• Theo Bell – former NFL football player^[3]
• Jeff Buckey – former NFL football player^[4]
• Pete Cross – former NBA player.
• Marion Osborn Cunningham – artist.
• Ric Drasin – actor, author, designer of the Gold's Gym and World Gym logos, and retired professional wrestler^[5]
• Robert Duncan – poet, was a key figure in the San Francisco Renaissance^[6]
• Frank Gifford – Pro Football Hall of Fame and Monday Night Football commentator^[7]
• Merle Haggard – singer-songwriter.
• Jerry Marion – former NFL player^[8]
• Kevin McCarthy – Congressman, 55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives^[9]
• Matthew Todd Miller, American citizen held by North Korea^[10]
• Spain Musgrove – former NFL defensive lineman^[11]
• Doug Loman – former MLB player (Milwaukee Brewers)^[12]
• Ruth B. Love (Class of 1950) – Educator, former education administrator, school superintendent and author. Love is noted as the first African–American and woman to serve as superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, the nation's third largest school district.^[13]
• Steve Ontiveros – former MLB player (San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs)^[14]
• Dennis Ralston – Davis Cup winner^[15]
• Don Robesky – former Stanford football player^[16]
• Rick Sawyer – former MLB player (New York Yankees, San Diego Padres)^[17]
• Jeff Siemon – former NFL football player^[18]
• Jeremy Staat – former NFL player^[19]
• Michael Stewart – former NFL football player^[20]
• Robert Swift – former NBA player
• Jerry Tarr – former professional football player^[21]
• Phillip Thomas – former NFL football player
• Jake Varner – four time All-American and two time national champion wrestler at Iowa State University and winner of a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London at 26^[22]
• Tyrone Wallace (Class of 2012) – Paris basketball player, NBA player, former California Golden Bears basketball player
• Earl Warren – California Attorney General, three-term Governor of California, Chief Justice of the United States, and chairman of the Warren Commission
• Larry Welz – noteworthy early contributor to underground comics movement

Further reading

• Book: Van Horne, Rick . Friday Night Heroes: 100 Years of Driller Football . Bumerts, John. Frank, Gary . 2006 . Rick Van Horne . Bakersfield, CA . 0-9786071-0-4 .

External links

• Wallace, J. S. Recollections of a high school district, 1893–1968 : an informal history of the Kern County Union High School and junior college district. Published circa 1980.
• Bakersfield High School
• Driller Marching Band
• Bakersfield Haunted History

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bakersfield High. National Center for Education Statistics. July 21, 2024.
2. News: Larry Barnes Statistics and History. September 20, 2014. Baseball Reference.
3. News: Theo Bell, ex-Driller and NFL player, dead at 52. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. June 22, 2006. dead. https://archive.today/20140920191312/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/latest/x894775060/Theo-Bell-ex-Driller-and-NFL-player-dead-at-52. September 20, 2014.
4. News: Gustkey. Earl. Buckey Is Doing the Impressing Now. September 20, 2014. Los Angeles Times. October 14, 1994.
5. News: Stevens. Tyler. Finding Fame: Ric Drasin. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Life. December 28, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130401134902/http://www.bakersfieldlife.com/people-community/x2088954455/Finding-Fame-Ric-Drasin. April 1, 2013.
6. Book: Duncan. Robert. Robert Duncan: The Collected Early Poems and Plays. 2012. University of California Press. 9780520953628. xxii.
7. News: Ewing. Zach. Gifford celebrated with hall of Fame ceremony at BHS. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. November 10, 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20140920191334/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/bvarsity/x161560261/Gifford-celebrated-at-BHS-ceremony. September 20, 2014.
8. Web site: JERRY MARION . profootballarchives.com . November 19, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035628/http://www.profootballarchives.com/mari01800.html . November 29, 2014 .
9. News: Garofoli. Joe. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield is 3rd in House GOP. September 20, 2014. San Francisco Chronicle. January 1, 2011.
10. News: Karimi. Faith. North Korea: Imprisoned American wanted to become 'second Snowden'. September 20, 2014. CNN.com. September 20, 2014.
11. News: Evans. Jeff. Four to be inducted to Elias Hall of Fame. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. December 13, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130403065238/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/college/x76662958/Four-to-be-inducted-to-Elias-Hall-of-Fame. April 3, 2013.
12. News: Cave. Leanne. Former Renegade athletes will be honored at BHS hall of fame dinner. September 20, 2014. The Renegade Rip. Bakersfield College. May 1, 2013.
13. https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/68923?page=51 1950 Bakersfield High School Yearbook (Bakersfield, California), Classmates.com
14. News: Press. Larry. Dealt with Murcer for Cubs' Madlock Steve Ontiveros happy with trade. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. Newspapers.com. February 12, 1977.
15. News: Ferguson. George. Osuna-Ralston friendship. September 20, 2014. The Deseret News. June 15, 1970.
16. News: Cave. Leanne Brock. Driller Football Hall of Fame to honor 7 more greats. September 20, 2014. Bakersfield Californian. May 10, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133546/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/bvarsity/x173373719/BHS-Hall-of-Fame-Banquet-and-Induction-Ceremony. March 4, 2016.
17. Web site: Rick Sawyer Stats. The Baseball Cube.
18. News: Evans . Jeff . Siemon reached top at every level . https://archive.today/20140920191305/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/sports/bvarsity/x1986111759/Siemon-reached-top-at-every-level . dead . September 20, 2014 . September 20, 2014 . Bakersfield Californian . May 11, 2007 .
19. News: Cousineau. Ann. View the Valley Snapshots page Valley Snapshots Retired NFL player, Iraq veteran to speak at parade. September 20, 2014. The News Review. August 29, 2012.
20. News: Cave. Leanne. BC football alumnus gives back to community. September 20, 2014. The Renegade Rip. Bakersfield College. December 7, 2001.
21. Web site: Jerry Tarr . GoDucks.com . 2007-10-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090206051303/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=249073 . 2009-02-06 .
22. News: Pucin. Diane. U.S. wrestler Jake Varner earns gold medal at London Olympics. September 20, 2014. Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2012.