Inducted in 2014

Terence (terry) Burke - Class of 1955

Terrence's grammar school years were spent at St. Mary's School, a two-story building, at the corner of 5th and Woodrow Streets. While at Taft High he learned to apply himself to a project/problem whether it was learning "Rule 1-W" or drawing freehand to scale in Mechanical Drawing. After graduation, he attended Taft College and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in 1957.

At this time he had to stop his schooling and get a job to earn the funds required to finish college. He was fortunate to land a full time job at Honolulu Oil Co. He stated that, "Having worked with a wide range of individuals from engineers to those who had not finished grammar school, I learned that you can learn something from everyone no matter who it is, how much education they have, or what their station in life is, and I have carried that with me to this day." After one year working at Honolulu Oil he entered his junior year at Long Beach State College, now Long Beach State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

In 1961 he joined the Navy and was sent to Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. After attaining officer status he was sent to U.S. Underwater Swim School in Key West, Florida. He departed there as a U.S. Navy Diver qualified in SCUBA air, mixed gasses, and as a full suit hard hat diver. From there he went to U.S. Navy EOD school in Indian Head, MD, where he learned to disarm explosive devices. The next two years were spent on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). After reenlisting in the Navy for two more years, Terrence volunteered for duty at U.S. Navy Headquarters Support Activity, Saigon. In Saigon, Vietnam he set up the first permanent EOD Team in the country. His U.S. Navy awards consist of the Navy Commendation Medal (V), 2 Unit Commendations, Vietnam Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, to name a few.

He has worked at Atlantic Research Co. as a senior engineer assigned as program manager. While working at Atlantic Research, Terrence went to George Washington University and graduated with a Master of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Systems Management. He returned to government work and has been Joint Service EOD(Explosive Ordinance Disposal) Program Manager and Deputy Director of the PMS-EOD responsible for the development of EOD systems, equipment, and procedures. He has received The Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and is now a self-employed consultant working at Dynamic Systems Corp.

Robert Michael Greene - Class of 1951

At Taft High Robert lettered in swimming, diving, and football, and was a member of California Student Federation (CSF). He played the trombone in the Taft High Band and Orchestra and was twice selected to the All-County Orchestra. Robert was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Taft High at the age of 16 and worked in the Taft oilfields for a year until he was old enough to enter the U.S. Naval Academy where he had received an appointment. He graduated from the Naval Academy with an Electrical Engineering degree and was commissioned into the Air Force and sent to fighter pilot training where he trained in the T-34, T-28, T-33, F-86F, and F-100A. He was then assigned to Etain, France as part of the F-100 Tactical Nuclear Strike Force. He was then assigned to Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio and while there he completed a Master's Degree in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. His next tour of duty was at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico as a project scientist.

In 1966 Robert was sent to Vietnam where he flew the F-100 in 150 close support missions for ground troupes. He then volunteered for a six month assignment in a top secret unit flying 62 interdiction missions in the F-100 . Upon his completion of duty in Vietnam he had been awarded the Silver Star, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star as well as other decorations. He then was sent to Norton AFB, CA, where he was a design Engineer and Manager on the highly successful FX/F-15. After an assignment to Lakenheath, England as a Squadron Commander, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After his service years, Robert worked in the civilian Aerospace sector and earned an MBA from Utah State University. He was selected to several positions, such as Project Engineer, Chief Engineer and Program Manager on the F-17 aircraft; the Tacit Rainbow Autonomous Radar-seeking Missile; the MX/Peacekeeper Missile Stage I propulsion and control systems; and the Standard Missile 3 interceptor, to name a few.

Jerry L. Hayes - Class of 1946

Jerry attended schools in Taft from Kindergarten through high school. While at Taft High he was active in sports as a member of the track and the football teams. He was involved in music and student government and served as Student Body President his senior year. Jerry joined DeMolay and served as Master Counselor.

He attended Taft Junior College, completed his studies there and moved on to UCLA where he received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950.

Jerry enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950, and graduated from Officers Candidate School in 1951. He furthered his education while in the military receiving additional degrees in Electronic Engineering. He also received special education and training in nuclear weapons electronics. This opened new doors in professional work areas for Jerry. Upon completion of his military obligation, he went on to work in the area of Metrology, the study and analysis of measurement of physical phenomena.

Over a period of nearly thirty years, from 1956 to 1983, he worked, supervised, led and managed the U.S. Navy Metrology Engineers Center in Pomona, California. He was responsible for setting technical policies, standards and defining applications for calibration of all test and measurement equipment for all elements of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp. He was instrumental in the development of the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident Missiles.

He created his own consulting firm, Hayes Technology in 1983. During his consulting years he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the National Bureau of Standards on budget and technical proposals.

Dale Kenneth Sechrest - Class of 1957

Dale's father abandoned the family before Dale was born, leaving his mother to raise Dale and his older brother. Dale had a large extended family in Taft who served as role models and a support group for him and his family. Not only was he struck with a family situation, he lost his vision in one eye at the age of eight.

He became interested in playing the saxophone while at Roosevelt Elementary School and Lincoln Junior High School because of his cousin, Carl Peahl, who graduated from Taft High in 1944, and the tutelage of James Garner, Director of the Music for the Taft City School District. He excelled with the sax and was involved in several combos. He named his own combo the Chrestet. In high school he had a couple of excellent music mentors: his cousin, Larry Peahl, who played piano, and Thomas Stevens, a trumpet player, both members of the Taft High Hall of Fame.
Dale joined the Taft DeMolay Chapter and rose to be Master Counselor. At Taft High he played in the band and orchestra, participated in track and basketball, was Key Club President, French Club Treasurer, and class Vice President his sophomore and senior years.

Uncle Sam had no qualms with him joining the Army even with the loss of vision in one eye. He learned Morse Code and was stationed near the Russian border, sending messages to the Navy regarding Russian missile launches.

After his discharge, Dale earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology from U.C. Berkeley. Dale has practiced, taught, and published in the field of corrections for over 40 years. His work focused on the evaluation of correctional programs, including juvenile diversion, correctional privatization, substance abuse programs, treatment of mentally ill offenders, victim-offender reconciliation programs, and correctional standards.

Victor L. Killingsworth - Class 1938

Victor "Vic" Killingsworth attended Conley School in Taft until the third grade, moved to Ventura, California, and then moved back to Taft in his junior year of high school. He graduated from Taft High in 1938. He attended Taft College, graduating in 1940. From Taft College he attended the University of California at Berkley and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Personnel Administration. He voluntarily enlisted in the Navy which took him to New York, where he attended Officer Candidate School at Columbia University. He was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy and was ordered aboard the USS Sumter, an amphibious transport which made landings at Kawajlain, Saipan, and Tinian. From there he was ordered aboard the USS Artemis as the communication officer and promoted to the rank of Lt. JG. In March of 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Lt., transferred from the Artemis, and assigned to duty with the 11th Naval District in San Francisco. He has published a book about his Navy days titled The Gator Navy.

After WWII, Vic worked for Standard Oil for eight months before deciding to purchase a small sporting goods store in Taft. Taft Sporting Goods on the northwest corner of Kern and Sixth Streets was his business for 37 years. During those years he served on different community committees and boards: West Kern Water District, Westside Community Hospital, Westside Little League, Westside Junior Football, and Westside Recreation and Park District. He chaired the committee to save the "Fort" from demolition, and he is the chairman and founder of the project known as the "Oilworker Monument "on the southwest corner of Sixth and Main Streets.