Inducted in 2017
garlyn Basham - class of 1931
Born in Delano in 1913, and raised near McKittrick on the Reward Oil Lease, Garlyn Basham attended Midway School, Taft Union High School and Taft College. While attending TUHS, he enjoyed public speaking and was on the debate team and drama club, performed in several school plays and on the track team. Basham graduated Taft Union High School in 1931. While at Taft College, he continued with the college debate team and graduated in 1933. He then took a year off from school to work for Standard Oil Co. and to save money to continue his education. Basham next attended Santa Barbara State Teachers College (which later became UCSB), graduating with a BA degree in English in 1936.
After college, Basham returned to the hallways of Taft Union High School as an instructor for Social Science, Public Speaking and Radio Broadcasting. He also earned a Master of Arts Degree from USC. In 1943, he took a leave of absence from TUHS to enlist in the Naval Reserve. He attended Officer Training School and graduated with a commission of Ensign, USN. After serving with distinction in the US Navy, Basham returned to the faculty of TUHS in 1946. With more schooling in his future, Basham took summer courses in school administration from UCLA and Stanford. He was chosen as Director of Taft College in 1950 (title later changed to President) and became the first Superintendent of the West Kern Community College District when it was formed in 1963. He continued as President and Superintendent until his retirement in 1975.
Garlyn and his wife Mildred had two sons, Roger and Larry. Garlyn and Mildred were married for 68 years when Mildred passed away in 2003. Garlyn passed away in 2005.
John wilt - class of 1955
Growing up on an oil lease, John Wilt learned to do most everything on his own. If he needed something, he built it. This skill and determination paved the way for a successful career in engineering. Wilt graduated from Taft Union High School in 1955, where he was active in Block T, Key Club, and Art Club. After graduation, Wilt attended Taft College for one year, then joined the Air Force in 1956. After basic training, he was sent to the Army Engineering School, and graduating third in his class. The Air Force assigned him to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. While in the service, he married his wife Carolyn and started his family.
Wilt began his career providing technical an engineering support for the Navy with the development of the Polaris and Poseidon ballistic missiles. Wilt advanced to a highly responsible position with Aerojet where his first major assignment provided research, design, fabrication, and manufacturing of the first and second stage liquid rocket engines astronauts would ride into orbit. Wilt personally worked with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, and Buzz Aldrin, among others. Later, he spent nearly eight years as a technical member of a top-secret team that untangled serious program and design problems. For some 20 years, he was the Director of Technology for the Aerojet AF Plant Representative Office, responsible for all Department of Defense and NASA contracts with Aerojet.
Amid many other scientific accomplishments, Wilt was a professor at Golden Gate University and worked many tennis tournaments as a professional tennis official. John and Carolyn continue to organize and present the World Wide Marriage Encounter program. The Wilts also established GraceBound Music and continue to work with Nourish the Children, a program that donates meals to orphans around the world.
John richard (Dick) Snyder - Class of 1955
Dick Snyder was born in Taft in 1937, and graduated from St. Mary’s Grammar School, Taft Union High School, and Taft College. He went on to get both a BS and a PhD from the University of Colorado. He had an outstanding career as Professor and Chair of the History Department at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse, where he retired after 35 years of service. During his tenure, he taught and researched twentieth century American politics. In 1988, he made a major contribution to our knowledge of the 35th President of the United States by organizing an award-winning symposium, The National Conference on John F. Kennedy. The book he edited from this conference, entitled John F. Kennedy: Person, Policy, Presidency, was cited as particularly useful for those interested in restructuring their view of the Kennedy Presidency.
Also while at LaCrosse, Snyder broadened the History Major to encompass more than just American and European History. He created five courses in areas as diverse as the American West and the Vietnam War. He also served the student body for six years as Director of Summer Programs, a portfolio arranging offerings of student summer camps (both athletic and academic) for adult personal development programs.
Dick is quite artistic and his retirement has allowed him the time to write lyrics for two albums of songs. He has also authored two books, both based on his life in Taft. He has traveled extensively and has written several blogs about his trips to places ranging from China through the Baltic to Alaska. Dick is a driving force behind TUHS Class of 1955 activities and served as Chair of the Taft Union High School Hall of Fame Committee for four years.
dr. eugene (Gene) casagrande - class of 1961
Dr. Eugene (Gene) Casagrande graduated from Taft Union High School in 1961. He attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, and graduated from the USC School of Dentistry, where he continued as a part-time instructor. Dr. Casagrande has been a distinguished leader in the dental, Italian American and local communities. He served as President of the Los Angeles Dental Society and the California Board of Dental Examiners. He was instrumental in the fluoridation of the Los Angeles water supply and was proclaimed “Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles” in 1979.
Dr. Casagrande has been knighted by the President of Italy “Cavileiere Ufficiale” and “Commandatore” for his leadership in the Italian American Community, serving as President of Santa Monica Unico, President of Federated Italo-Americans, and the Southwest Vice President of the National Italian American Foundation. As such, he fostered business relations with Italy, promoting a positive image of Italians, and sponsoring many cultural events. He actively raised funds and awareness of Cooley’s Anemia, youth in need and mental health.
Dr. Casagrande practiced dentistry for 30 years in Los Angeles where he resided with his wife, Rose Ann, and their four daughters. He currently travels domestically and internationally, lecturing on the Wand, a computer-generated anesthetic delivery device.
george hurley - class of 1966
eorge Hurley attended Taft schools before graduating from Taft Union High School in 1966. He attended college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on an athletic scholarship for football and started for three years on the offensive line. He was an all-conference player in 1969 and 1970, and after college graduation, was hired to teach and coach at Newbury Park High School in 1972. He is now in his 43rd year of coaching football for the Newbury Park High School Panthers. Since retiring from teaching (but not coaching), Hurley has been active with several community groups in Ventura County.
As an athlete, Hurley was all-league offensive tackle on the 1965 SSL Champion Wildcat football team and was offensive center starter for 28 of 30 football games for Cal Poly, selected All CCAA twice. He was also a rugby player for 12 years with several club and all-star teams. As a coach, 19 of his 43 years were as head football coach and included 130 wins (top 10 all-time for Ventura County), seven Marmonte League titles, 11-time CIF playoff participant, including two title games and a championship in 1993. Hurley was selected league Coach of the Year nine times, county Coach of the Year five times, L.A. Times area Coach of the Year twice, and Don Shula NFL National High School Coach of the Year in 1998. He also coached wrestling for 12 years, refereed wrestling for 25 years, acted as staging coordinator for the wrestling venue at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and officiated Track & Field Meets from 1979-2005.
George married his wife Berta Morris in 1969, and together they have three children (Erin, Ethan and Ryan) and nine grandchildren.
billy nelson - class of 2002
Perhaps Taft Union High School’s greatest runner, Billy Nelson graduated in 2002, and ran his way all the way into the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. While still a senior at TUHS, he won the Division IV State Championship in cross country, and set still unbroken school records in the 3,200 meter (8:54), mile (4:15) and 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:35) in track. He was also the 2003 USA Junior Cross Country champion, won three Big 12 Conference individual titles, is a six-time NCAA All-American (four for track and two for cross country), and a runner-up at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. In 2011, he claimed his first career title in the steeplechase at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Nelson retired in the summer of 2015.
The former Olympian is now an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Colorado Buffaloes, where he competed in college and where he was inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. Nelson has not forgotten his roots, returning to Taft High to give motivational talks and to praise his coaches, David Dennis and Tonya Mauldin, who “never thought it was a pipe dream to make the Olympics.” Nelson lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife Alisa and three children; Arabella, Noah and Lonnie.