WEST HIGH SCHOOL - Key Persons

Brock Marion

Brock Marion was born forty-five years ago and spent most of his childhood in Bakersfield, California. While attending West High School in Bakersfield from 1983 to 1987, Brock was a very successful student-athlete. As a senior, he led the state with thirteen interceptions. He earned praise not only in football but also basketball and track. His performances merited many honors, including All-Area Back of the Year, selection to the East-West Shrine game, and a football scholarship, to name a few. Coming into adulthood, he left his hometown for what would be an adventure in Reno, Nevada. It was an opportunity that called him to continue his dream of playing professional football. While attending the University of Nevada on a football scholarship, he enjoyed success on the field and also met his future wife. He was a four-year starter, playing cornerback for three years and safety as a senior. Together, Brock and his wife embarked on a journey that would take them many places, a journey that continues to this day. In 1993, Brock's dream became a reality when he was drafted by Jimmy Johnson and the Dallas Cowboys and began an exciting NFL career. After five successful years in Dallas, he spent six years with the Miami Dolphins and his last year with the Detroit Lions, for a total of twelve years in the NFL. During those years, there were many accolades: two Super Bowl rings, three Pro-Bowl appearances, and numerous awards for defensive and special-team accomplishments, including leading the NFL with 1,532 kick-return yards. That season of life came to a close in 2005, when Brock chose to retire from the NFL. He finished his pro career with 3l interceptions, 2 quarterback sacks, 676 tackles, and 235 assisted tackles. He was inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. A new season began with a transition to a new playing field. He and his wife, Keri, now call Oregon home. They have been married for twenty seasons and counting. They are the proud parents of Briana, Olivia, Brock Jr., Hannah, Gennavieve, and Luke. Brock and Keri are continuing on their journey in marriage, parenting, and life in whatever field God calls them.

Carl Dean

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Chuck Holloway

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Dallas Grider

Dallas Grider was born December 5, 1944, in Eufala, Oklahoma, and is the oldest of ten children. He attended schools in both Oklahoma and California. In 1963, he graduated from Arvin High School, where he played football under "The Bear," the legendary Duane Damron, and basketball under Ivan Pfeffer and Bill Nelson. Dallas married his high school sweetheart, Mary Hitt, in 1964. Dallas played football at Bakersfield College in 1963 and then transfered to UCLA in the spring of 1964. He was a team co-captain in 1966, the year in which UCLA defeated Michigan State 14-12 in the Rose Bowl. After coaching UCLA's freshman football team in 1967 and working at Alamany High School for one year while getting his master's degree, he and Mary moved home to Bakersfield. Dallas began teaching and coaching football at West High School in 1969. After eight years as an assistant coach, he became the varsity head coach in 1977. Dallas believed that West High School should be the best in athletics as well as in academics. Under his leadership and with strong administrative support, the football program compiled a record of 77-7-2. This included three Valley championships and one second-place finish. Dallas left West High School to coach at Bakersfield College in 1984. He was named head football coach in 1995. In his twenty years at BC, he coached fourteen Potato Bowls and was defensive coordinator for the national championship team of 1988. In his nine years as head coach at BC, he had a 76-22 record, seven consecutive Potato Bowl appearances, and a berth in the 2000 California junior college state-championship football game, which BC lost to City College of San Francisco. In 2008, he was inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. Dallas and Mary have two children, Amber and Chad, who are both teachers at West High School. Dallas retired in 2004 and now enjoys the many things he couldn't do while coaching. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling with his family.

Darrell Roberts

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Dave Titsworth

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

David K. Cohn

Job Titles:

Managing Partner of the Bakersfield

David K. Cohn is the managing partner of the Bakersfield-based law firm Chain|Cohn|Stiles. He is one of the most highly regarded trial lawyers in the San Joaquin Valley. David grew up in Bakersfield, graduating from West High School in 1968. At West, David participated on the Norsemen football team, playing halfback and defensive end. For the track team, he ran the 220 and was on the 4x100 relay team. After graduation, David obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California, and shortly thereafter, he obtained his law degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. Following graduation, David returned to Bakersfield, joined the now 80-year-old law firm, and eventually became its managing partner in 2000. David was voted "Best Lawyer" in Kern County in the 2015 Bakersfield Californian Readers' Choice Poll. He has also been named a Southern California "Super Lawyer," an honor bestowed upon only the top 5 percent of lawyers in the region. Over the course of his career, David has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar results on behalf of his clients. David is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, on which he holds the rank of associate, and also serves as vice president for its San Joaquin Valley Chapter. He has previously served on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California and as past president of the Kern County Trial Lawyers' Association. Recently, he was selected to join the International Society of Barristers, a widely respected, invitation-only group whose aim is to preserve trial by jury, the adversary system, and an independent judiciary. Outside of his profession, David has served on the Board of Directors for Clinica Sierra Vista and on the City of Bakersfield's Planning Commission. He was chairman of the Board of Directors for the Bakersfield Museum of Art from 2004 to 2005. Above all, David is a proud West High School alumnus.

David Manning

David Manning is the son of Mae and Jeff Manning, loyal supporters of West High School for over thirty years. He is one of three brothers who wore the green and gold. David played three years of varsity football for Bert Rowe, and Dean and Dennis played for Dallas Grider and staff. Although he grew up playing organized baseball, Dave's West High athletic career was primarily on the football field. In 1969, Dave's senior year, the football team recorded its most successful season, at the time, which included a marquee-worthy win over powerhouse Bakersfield High. Dave played offensive tackle and was defensive signal caller from the linebacker position. He was named All-City and All-Valley his senior year. In addition, he lettered in baseball his senior year, playing a sport he had not been able to play for many years because of a baseball-related elbow injury.

David Zulfa

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Don Gabbitas

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Don Vettel

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Donny Youngblood

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

DR. BRUCE SCURLOCK

In 1976, with Bruce as quarterback, the Vikings won the South Yosemite League championship. In 1977, Bruce was quarterback when West won the Valley championship. He was named All-League, City Back of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and quarterback of the All-Star Team. All four years at West, Bruce played baseball, which was another sport he loved. He played infield positions during his sophomore and junior years and then played center field his senior year because the coach said he had a strong arm. The team did exceptionally well in 1978, winning the SYL and Valley championships. That was a great year for West High baseball and for Bruce, who was awarded Most Valuable Player. Bruce also played basketball all four years. He truly loved the game, but always said he should have been taller for the sport. As it was, he played on the varsity team for three years. In 1978, in recognition of his excellence in athletics while in high school, he was awarded the Kern County Jim Tyack Award. This award was for his being named Most Outstanding Kern County Male Athlete of the Year. Bruce played football for Bakersfield College for one year. Because he was hurt at the beginning of his second year, he had to give up playing football. He attended the University of California Davis for pre-med and then Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, in Chicago, from which he obtained his medical degree. He did one year of residency at Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, and three years of residency at UC Davis. He is a practicing anesthesiologist in Bakersfield.

DR. FRED LANINGHAM III

Fred Laningham attended West High School for four years and graduated in l982. However, this understates the time he spent on campus. West High School just celebrated its 50 th anniversary, and Fred just turned 52 years old. Fred's father was the first varsity baseball coach of this new high school when it opened in 1965. As the coach's son, he spent his earliest years running around on the baseball field, watching all the great teams and players, a custom which lasted for many years. He hardly ever missed a Viking football game during those early years. Many of his father's players are still great friends of the Laningham family. Because of the lifetime connection with West High School, this Hall of Fame recognition is especially meaningful to Fred and his family. Fred was a scholar-athlete who was co-valedictorian in 1982 and participated in sports all four years. Fred played football on the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity squads. He played safety his junior and senior years on the teams that lost only one game and won back-to-back Valley championships. These teams were known for dominating, straight-ahead-styled running attacks. Dallas Grider was the head coach those two years and Dave Titsworth was the defensive-back coach. As a senior, Fred was All-League and All-City Defensive Back. During Fred's sophomore through senior years, he was on the varsity basketball and baseball teams. Head coaches were: basketball, Ron Lauria; baseball, Dave Titsworth and Chris Craven. During his three years as a shortstop on the baseball team, the squad contended for the league championship. Fred was All-League as a senior. In 1982, he received the Bakersfield Mayor's Trophy for high marks in athletics and academics. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the June 1982 draft but opted to play baseball at Stanford University. At Stanford, Fred lettered in baseball and participated in two College World Series championships in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1983 and 1985. After obtaining his bachelor's degree from Stanford, Fred finished medical school at the University of Arkansas, served as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Navy, became a radiologist at the University of Tennessee, and completed a pediatric-radiology fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. He is now a specialist in Pediatric MRI and Chief of Staff at Valley Children's Hospital in the Fresno area. Like his father, Fred has loved coaching his son, Hagen, now a baseball player at Buchanan High School in Clovis. His daughter Haley attends Pepperdine and daughter Hunter attends Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Fred's wife, Laura, is a seminary student at Fresno Pacific.

Ed DeMello

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Ed DeMello came to the Kern High School District in 1941, teaching Social Studies and English. Ed served as Principal at McFarland and Arvin High Schools before returning to lead West High. He spent the 1964-65 school year preparing for the opening of West High in the fall of 1965. Ed assembled and led one of the finest team of teachers and staff members, building the foundation for West's success in all educational and athletic areas.

Eric Bradshaw

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Hazel Ellis

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Jeff Garnett

Job Titles:

Sales Representative and Area Sales Manager for Core - Mark International

Jeff Garnett moved to Bakersfield from Cahokia, Illinois, in June 1966. After completing 8th grade at Lakeside School, he entered West High School in 1967, graduating in 1971. Jeff played four years of varsity basketball, four years of baseball with two years on varsity, and two years of football with one year on varsity. His many accomplishments were recognized and rewarded. Jeff was West High's MVP in basketball in 1970 and 1971, leading the team in scoring and rebounding both years. He was named 1st team All-SYL and All-City in 1970 and 1971. Jeff led Kern County in both scoring and rebounding in 1971. He held the school record for rebounds in a game, for a season, and in a career. In 1970, Jeff was Co-MVP of the baseball team and led the team in batting average. West had its first league championship in baseball that year. Jeff received numerous offers from four-year schools, including a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley. He decided to stay in Bakersfield and play basketball and baseball for Bakersfield College. While at BC, from 1971 to 1973, he led the basketball team in scoring and rebounding, was leading scorer in the Metro Conference, and made 1st team All-Metro Conference. In 1973, Jeff was leading scorer in California junior colleges. Against Reedley College, he scored 42 points, which was 3 points shy of the school record. He was also named 2nd team All-Metro in baseball in 1973. Following two very successful years at BC, Jeff enrolled at Cal State Long Beach after considering other scholarship offers. After red shirting for one year, he decided to return to Bakersfield. He enrolled again at BC, earned an AA degree, and then transferred to Cal State University Bakersfield in the fall of 1974. Jeff played basketball for CSUB for two years. He led the team in scoring and rebounding, received the Chairman of the Board Award, was named MVP both years, and was 1st team All-CCAA. He held the school record for most consecutive free throws. In 1975, he had 19 rebounds against Cal Poly Pomona, a record which lasted until 1997. In 1976, CSUB won its conference and qualified for the Division-II NCAA tournament. Jeff was 3rd team All-Regional. Through a blended family, Jeff and his wife, Susan, have six children: Jamie Garnett, Tori Sanchez, Jeff Garnett, Kristi Blair, Jake Garnett, and Matt Garnett. They have been blessed with fourteen grandchildren. Jeff is a sales representative and area sales manager for Core-Mark International.

Jim Wren

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

John Mears

When West High opened in 1965, among the entering juniors was a South High transfer, John Mears, an outstanding athlete who would make a valuable contribution to the new high school's athletic programs. John's decision to transfer to West its opening year was certainly West High's gain. John played defensive back on West's first football team and was named All-City defensive back. To say he also excelled that first season in basketball doesn't adequately express his accomplishments. John was named 1st team All-State by Cal Prep Basketball, 1st team All-City, All-League, Most Valuable Player in the South Sequoia League, having led the league in scoring with an average of 25 points per game, and West High basketball MVP. That first year at West, John also went out for the baseball team. He pitched a one-hitter game against Wasco. Unfortunately, he injured his shoulder and had to withdraw from the team. In John ‘s second year at West, as a senior, he was once again a standout on the basketball team. He was the leading scorer in the SSL, averaging 21 points per game, was named MVP of the SSL, and MVP of the West High varsity. John graduated from West in 1967. In the College, Pro, High School Basketball Yearbook 1967, John was recognized as one of the top 100 basketball players in the nation. John's athletic career in football and basketball continued at Bakersfield Junior College from 1967 to 1969. He was a starting safety under Coach Gerry Collis. His sophomore year, he was 1st team All-State safety, 1st team All-Conference defensive back, and recipient of the Captain's Award for defensive player. John received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he started as a strong safety in 1969 under Coach Pepper Rogers. In the game against Syracuse University, he intercepted a pass and ran for a 60-yard touchdown. During the fourth game of that season, he sustained a knee injury, ending his career at Kansas University. After leaving Kansas University, he played one year, 1971, for the University of Hawaii. He started as a strong safety and was named Outstanding Defensive Back for the then-named Hawaii Rainbows.

Kevin Sneed

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Lisa Kiggens D'Amore

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team

Michele Aguilar Carlin

Job Titles:

Member of the Valley Champion Football Team
Executive Vice President of the HR Policy Association

Michele Aguilar Carlin is the Executive Vice President of the HR Policy Association, a Washington, DC based organization representing the interests of Chief Human Resource officers of America's largest employers on federal policy issues. She also serves as the CEO of the American Health Policy institute. Michele graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Science in 1983 from UCLA, she was a 4 Year starter on the UCLA Softball team earning Academic All-American Honors and was a member of the 1982 NCAA Championship team.