The East Bakersfield High School Hall of Fame is proud to announce its inductees into the 14th annual Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, East High, which will celebrate its 85th anniversary next year, will induct nine new honorees in an induction ceremony.

These individuals will join the 146 past inductees, which include the likes of Freddie Boyd, Johnny Callison, Don Rodewald, Ann Gutcher, Mary K. Shell and Steve Gradowitz.

The longest continuous Hall of Fame in the Kern High School District will hold its induction dinner on Saturday at Luigi’s Warehouse, 725 E. 19th St. Doors open at 5?p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30?p.m.

Tickets are available in the Finance Office at East High, 2200 Quincy St. For more information, contact Rick Van Horne at 661-871-7221.

2024 Hall of Fame inductees

Ann Gordon Bigler

Alumna of the Class of 1957, being named outstanding senior and outstanding foreign language student of that class, Bigler spent most of her career in education, being selected teacher of the year twice in the Rosedale School District.

Out of the classroom, she spent her time serving on the boards of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Kern County Museum. In 1997, she and fellow classmates established the 1957 scholarship fund, which has given close to $100,000 to East High students.

Trey Carlson

A 1990 graduate and former U.S. Navy submariner, Carlson has spent the last 21 years of his career at NASA. As the Kennedy Space Center chief of staff, he is responsible for assisting the center director in the center’s day-to-day management and operations, overseeing approximately 12,000 civil servants, contractors and commercial partners on the property.

Prior to being named chief, he was the Kennedy Center master planner for seven years and served in the office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Frances Casas

Starting her career at East High in 1986, Casas was the glue that held East High together, serving as office supervisor and principal’s secretary since 1991 under five past principals at East High going back to Jean Philippe, Bill Hatcher, John Gibson, Lee Vasquez and Leo Holland. Frances retired in 2020 after 34 years.

William Earl Edwards

A former student body president of East High and a talented shot put and discus thrower for the Blades, Edwards graduated magna cum laude from Cal State Bakersfield, where he was also an All-American hammer thrower for the Roadrunners. After serving as an intern to Rep. Bill Thomas, Edwards’ journey continued at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall, where he earned his juris doctor.

After law school, he established Dermaly Industries, founded Uplift Association, a nonprofit organization, served as vice chair of the Kern County Planning Commission, serves on the board of directors for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and his recent formation of William.law Foundation supporting children impacted by familial challenges through the Willverines Youth Program.

Rick Kreiser

A 1971 grad, Kreiser attended Bakersfield College before starting his business career, opening then managing Sage Music Mart and opening a second store in Santa Cruz in 1974. Rick and wife Kris returned to Bakersfield and opened Carney’s Office Equipment with father-in-law Bob Carney that is still active today.

Kreiser, the recent winner of the John Brock Award, has made community service the staple of his personal and professional life. He is a leader in many local service organizations, including his most recent hobby, Guitar Masters, an 11-year concert series that brings world-class musical acts to perform.

In addition to adding richness to Bakersfield’s cultural scene. Guitar Masters’ annual Christmas benefit concert has raised more than a half-million dollars for the Kern County Cancer Foundation.

Le’Andre Matthews

One of the best running backs to come out of East High, this 2005 grad had a stellar football career as a Blade and at the time of his graduation held almost all the rushing records at East High, including scoring six touchdowns in one game and 27 touchdowns in a season. He ended his Blade career with 4,087 career rushing yards.

Matthews went on to play for the Bakersfield College Renegades for two years before heading to Missouri Valley College to finish his football career.

Shirley Oesch

A member of the East High class of 1962, Oesch was an outstanding student who went on to earn degrees from Bakersfield College and UC Santa Barbara. She returned to the Blade campus in 1967 where she was a teacher for 20 years before moving into an administrative role, becoming the best grant writer in the Kern High School District.

Her grant-writing skills brought in millions of dollars to both East High and KHSD. In 1997 she transferred to the Kern County Superintendent of School’s Office and was instrumental in starting the Kern County Museum school with students from East High and BHS.

The museum school was the gateway to the first KCSOS charter school. In 2000, Oesch established Valley Oaks Charter School and served as principal and director for seven years.

Michael Olague

Olague was one of 10 members of his family to graduate from East High. The 1973 grad was an outstanding student and athlete, lettering four years in tennis, was a gold seal member of CSF, president of the East High Key Club, and was selected as the East High Boys’ State representative. All this led to Olague being named Bobby Blade. He graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a business degree and quickly jumped into the banking business both locally and statewide. Starting his career with Bank of America for 20 years, he spent another 10 years with Rabobank and has finished his career with Bank of Sierra for the past 12 years.

Steve Talbot

A self-proclaimed “average student,” Talbot graduated in 1963; during that time he developed his debating skills, becoming East High’s best debater, which would prove invaluable in his television and education careers. After East High, Steve attended Bakersfield College before graduating from Cal State Northridge with a degree in broadcast journalism.

Immediately after graduating he enlisted in the Army, where he started his broadcast career. A longtime sports reporter here in Bakersfield and TV anchor, his career took him to Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, covering such events as the Kentucky Derby, Daytona 500, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Major League Baseball.

Talbot also wrote, voiced and produced an Emmy award-winning documentary about Arnold Palmer. In 1998, he was hired as communications manager for the Kern County Superintendent of School’s Office supervising all public relations.

While there, Talbot wrote a history of the KCSOS. He retired in 2012, after more than 50 years in the Army, media and education