Inducted in 2016
James E. Richard - Class of 1942
James "Jim" E. Richard graduated from Taft Union High School in 1942. Jim was born and raised in Taft until he entered military service. Jim was a retired U.S.Navy Commander when he passed away in September 2005. He served thirty years in the Navy earning a Silver Star in WW II while aboard the USS Barb, one of the most decorated submarines in US history. After retiring from the Navy in 1974, he worked for the defense contractor QED Systems until 1995. His naval career as well as his heroism are well documented.
Dr. Robert C. Marshall - Class of 1957
Dr. Robert "Rob" C. Marshall graduated from Taft Union High School in 1957. Bob was born in Taft to parents Bob and Opal Marshall. He attended UCLA medical school and after his graduation entered the US Air Force at Lowery Air Force Base in Colorado. He decided to be an Ear Nose and Throat specialist and returned to UCLA for another residency. Bob opened a highly success practice in Bakersfield and was the "go to" guy for complicated trauma cases. He has been a good samaritan and more than active in his community and continues to be physician advisor at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Richard D. Johnson - Class of 1954
Dr. Richard D. Johnson graduated from Taft Union High School in 1954. Richard attended UC Berkeley. He received his pharmaceutical degrees from UC San Francisco. During his career in the pharmaceutical industry, he went from an initial lab coat chemist to ultimately Corporate Vice President of two Fortune 500 companies. He was instrumental in identifying and product licensing two life saving drugs that have been widely distributed. He is currently giving back to pharmacy as an adjunct graduate professor for the University of Missouri School of Pharmacy.
Dr. Richard T. MarshalL - CLass of 1959
Dr. Richard "Rick" T. Marshall graduated from Taft Union High School in 1959. Rick was also born in Taft to parents Bob and Opal Marshall. Rick had a special compassion for animals and chose to be a veterinarian. He graduated from UC Davis as a DVM. He served as a pilot in the USAF during the Vietnam War. His first practice was in Hollywood, but not exactly to his liking, he returned to Sacramento where he built his own veterinary hospital. Today, he is the Director of Research Laboratory Services for Sutter Health.
Joseph B. Pecora - Class of 1955
Joseph "Joe" B. Pecora graduated from Taft Union High School in 1955. Joe graduated from UCLA where he majored in International Relations. He joined the Air Force and after 4 years of service, he applied to the State Department for the position of Diplomatic Courier which enabled him to travel widely in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Wishing for more stability he returned to San Francisco as a social worker for the next twenty years. He retired to work full time on on his passion to restore Alamo Square, a collection of Queen Ann, Victorian, and Edwardian houses. The culmination of this is the book "The Storied Houses of Alamo Square."