Tony Silver was born on May 6th, 1946 in Asheville, North Carolina. At a young age, his family moved to Lakeland, Florida where he attended Kathleen High School, playing basketball and baseball. Tony played baseball and graduated from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in Bethany, Oklahoma. His first teaching job brought him to Bakersfield in 1969 as a Physical Education teacher in the Fruitvale District.

In 1972, Tony began coaching football at North High School, which would be the beginning of a long coaching career in both football and baseball at North. He coached FS and JV Football from 1972 to 1977. In 1978, Tony moved to the Varsity coaching staff as an assistant and remained on the Varsity staff until 2002.

Tony’s baseball coaching career began in 1975 as the freshmen coach at North. After two seasons, he became the JV coach in 1977. After two seasons as the JV coach, Tony replaced Sam Barton as the Varsity baseball coach, a position he held until 2006. During his 28 year tenure as a head coach, Tony lead the Stars to eight (8) league championship titles in his career, including SYL titles in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1992, and SWYL titles in 1995, and 1997. Among those league titles, the 1992 league championship included an undefeated league record in the old SYL. Tony’s coaching career was highlighted by the 1981 CIF (Valley) Section Championship.

During Tony’s 28 year tenure at North, he amassed a record of 483-275-6. His total career wins for baseball ranked 5th all-time in the central section at the time of his retirement.
Tony taught at North for 38 years from 1971 to 2007. During his time at North, he was a physical education teacher, physical education department chair, Assistant Dean, and Athletic Director. His retirement from coaching in 2006 and from teaching in 2007 did not end his coaching career. He has remained an assistant baseball coach continuously since stepping down as head baseball coach and has been an assistant football coach at Bakersfield College since 2008.

Since retirement Tony spends time with his wife Judy, three children, Crysta, Todd, and Cy, as well as three perfect grandkids.

Barry Townsend never entered a 50 yard swimming race he didn’t think he could win. Although he did not win them all, this competitive and positive attitude has remained constant throughout all of his academic, personal, and professional pursuits.

Barry earned his first national ranking at the age of ten, and went on to receive All-American Consideration and All-American Recognition three out of his four high school years. He is the second person to ever be a three year high school All American. The first was Mark Spitz. He broke the National 50 meter freestyle record for 15-17 year olds in 1969. In his senior year of high school, Barry broke the National High School Record in the 50-yard Freestyle as well as the Valley Section High School Record. This record lasted 15 years and has only been beaten on four separate occasions in 30 years. Also in his senior year, he anchored a medley relay team along with brother, Jeff Townsend, Robert McCowen and Barry McCowen, that received All-American Recognition as well. Barry was recognized as Kern County High School Athlete of the Year as a result of his football and swimming accomplishments.

After graduating from North High, Barry was awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1970. During his tenure at UCLA, Barry was ranked in the top four swimmers in the nation each year and was a nine-event All-American Swimmer. He helped lead UCLA to the Pac 10 Championship in 1971, 1972, and 1973 earning All-American Honors in all four years in college. While at UCLA, Barry studied and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology and a post-graduate degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

After earning his degrees, Barry practiced prosthetics and orthotics for a short time in Los Angeles before moving back to his home town where he practiced for over 30 years. He opened Valley Institute of Prosthetics and Orthotics in 1980 with his brother Jeff, and, in 1982, became the sole owner and manager of the small business which still operates today at the hands of Barry’s son, Trevor. Helping patients conquer obstacles and achieve goals has been his passion from the start, which is why Barry started designing his own high-functioning prosthetics for the second business he create, BioQuest Prosthetics. During this endeavor, Barry applied for and was awarded nine prosthetic foot patents from the United States Patent.

Over the years, Barry has dedicated himself to his work, his community, and his family, including his wife Karen, his four children, and six grandchildren. He still resides in Bakersfield and is collaborating with his brother, Ernie, on a project again driven by ingenuity and creativity.

Jill Turner was 5’10” tall when she was 12 years old. She claims she was uncoordinated, tall and lanky. The 8th grade girls’ basketball coach saw her walking to class and asked if she was a substitute teacher. When she found out that Jill was in 6th grade she quickly put a basketball in her hands and her love for the game began!

Turner attended North High from 1975-1979. She was a 3 sport athlete all 4 years. In basketball, she was MVP twice, all SYL team all 4 years, had 708 career points, and set a school record for points in a game, 27. She was also on the All-star basketball team that went to Japan to compete in basketball. Turner averaged 28 points in Japan and scored a game high 53 points. In volleyball she was all SYL 2 years. She was also on the swim team for 3 years, where she still holds the JV record for the 50 Breaststroke. She also competed on the track team for one year where she was 5th in the CIF championships in the high jump.

Jill attended Bakersfield College from 1979-1981 and competed in basketball and volleyball both years. As a Freshman she averaged 17.4 points per game, 12 rebounds and had an overall shooting percentage of 46%. She was awarded MVP and was on the first team All-Metro conference team. As a sophomore, Turner averaged 18 points per game, 13 rebounds and had an overall shooting percentage of 59%. She was awarded MVP, was selected on the first team All-Metro conference and received Sophomore Athlete of the year. In volleyball she was selected All-Metro team for both freshman and sophomore seasons and was awarded the MVP as a sophomore. Turner was the only athlete, male or female in the Metro conference history that was selected on the first team All-Metro team in two sports for two consecutive years. After BC, she attended CSUN on a full ride scholarship for basketball. Turner was a 2 year starter at CSUN and averaged 11 points per game with a 54% career shooting average.

In 1984, she began her coaching career at BHS as the frosh-soph girls’ basketball coach. She coached at BHS for 3 years and had a record of 33 wins, 9 losses. She was hired by Lloyd Williams in 1986 as the North Highs girls’ frosh-soph basketball coach and teacher under the direction of varsity coach, Curt DeRossett. Turner coached the frosh-soph team for 5 years and compiled an overall record of 97-9, with 5 consecutive league championships. She was the NHS varsity coach for 2 years with a 25-23 record. Turner has taught Special Education at the Kern High School District for the last 28 years. She has been blessed to have had two loving, supportive, amazing parents who encouraged her and came to every game she participated in or coached. She has also been blessed with three beautiful children Keyon 17, James 9 and Madison Marie 1.

When Eddie Van Fossen entered North High school your athletic classification was based on a thing called exponents. That was a combination of height, weight and age. So if you didn’t have enough exponents you were allowed to play “B” Class sports even as a senior. So, Van Fossen was one of the most dominating “B” Class athletes ever at North High, excelling as a running back in football and a guard and MVP of his basketball team as a senior. He also played baseball as a freshman, ran track as a sophomore and was on the swimming team as a senior. And with all of that, he still found time to serve as President of the Associated Men Students. In addition Eddie was involved in several clubs on campus and even played the trumpet for two years in the school band!

After graduation from North High he joined the US Army and while stationed at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM, he played on the bases’ football, basketball, track, volleyball and horseshoe teams. Bored he was not.

While in the Army he learned to fly and became involved in air racing in 1984. Over the next 11 years at the Reno Air Races he was the top qualifier 5 times, won 17 heat races, and was National Champion 7 times. In 1994 at the Phoenix 500 Air Races, he won 2 heat races and the Championship Race.

Because of his success he was awarded the Pulitzer Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association for 1993.

Also in 1993 he was inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. His greatest memory of North High was being involved with all the fellow athletes, students, coaches, and teachers and of course graduation day. His class of 1958 was the 2nd full graduating class of the school.

Eddie still lives here in town with his wife Tracy, sons Mark, Darren and Jeff and daughter Tobey. Plus 11 grandchildren. Still involved with flying as part of the Old River Crop Dusting Team.

Congratulations Eddie and welcome to the North High Athletics Hall of Fame for an outstanding career both on the ground and in the air.

Don is a true product of the 08 area, growing up on Lincoln Street and China Grade Loop in Oildale. He attended Standard School from Kindergarten through the 8th grade. After one year at Bakersfield High School, he, along with hundreds of other Oildale “River Rats”, was fortunate to be the in the first group of students to enter North High School. This group of sophomores is responsible for the school colors being red and grey and the team names being the Stars, Comets and Twinks when the school opened.

While at North, Don participated in football and baseball for 3 years, and, basketball for 2 years. In 1953 he was named the Most Outstanding Player on the first undefeated football team in North’s history, the B class Comets. In 1954 & 55 he earned the top “Student Athlete” award on the varsity football team. He played B class basketball for 2 years, playing in the B class Valley finals in 1955. He was a 3 year starter at 3rd base for the varsity baseball team. His proudest moment at North High occurred in the fall of 1954, when he quarterbacked the varsity football team to its only Valley Championship to date. During his athletic participation years, he was fortunate to play for 2 coaches who are also members of the North High Athletic Hall of Fame, Jordan “Turk” Eliades and Dick Heber.

After high school, Don attended Stanford University for one year. He was then drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps through the Reserve Program, but, got an ‘’early out” to go back to school. In 1959, he was a member of the National Champion B.C. Renegade football team. In 1960 he entered the University of Nevada at Reno to play football and finish his college education. During fall practice he broke his right shoulder, which finished his playing days. In the fall of 1961 he was asked to help coach the freshman football team at the University of Reno, thus beginning the career that would last for 40 years.

Don returned to Bakersfield in 1963 to begin his teaching and coaching career at South High School. For 28 years he was a math teacher and coach at the school. He coached football for all 28 years including being head varsity coach for 15 of those years. He also spent 15 years at South with the baseball program, eight of those as head varsity coach. During this time, he was lucky to have come in contact with hundreds of outstanding young men who have grown up to be contributors and leaders in their communities. He was also fortunate to coach athletes who have gone on to the professional ranks in both football and baseball. During the last 10 years in education, he served as Athletic Director of the first new high school in the Kern High School District in 21 years. While at Stockdale High, Don created an exceptional coaching staff for this brand new school.

Don is happily retired now and enjoying life with his wife of 52 years, Lorraine. They spend time traveling, golfing, and spending the time together that they missed during his teaching and coaching years.