Inducted in 2026

Jack Lynch - class of 1932

Born in 1915 at Standard Oil’s Division B Pump Station in Taft, California, Jack Lynch developed a passion for tennis at an early age. Under the mentorship of local tennis standout Tony Lopey, Lynch spent countless hours practicing on the Division B hardcourt, developing the skill, precision, and discipline that would define his athletic career.

Lynch’s talent quickly became evident during his years at Taft Union High School. As a sophomore in 1930, he captured his first Valley Singles Championship, beginning an extraordinary run of success. He went on to win three consecutive Valley Championships while earning national recognition by claiming the National Junior Singles Championship and a National Junior Doubles title, establishing himself as one of California’s most accomplished young tennis players.

His achievements earned him an athletic scholarship to Stanford University, where he continued competing against top players from across the country. Following his collegiate career, Lynch pursued a professional career with Richfield Oil and later settled in Bakersfield, where he remained active in the tennis community.

Lynch continued competing well into adulthood, earning numerous tournament victories and finishing as runner-up in the National Senior Hardcourt Championships (60’s Division). The annual Lynch Cup, a high school tennis tournament held in his honor, celebrates his lasting influence on tennis in Kern County. In 1981, he was inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.

Carl f. (rick) twisselman ii - class of 1958

Carl F. Twisselman II was born on May 30, 1940, in Atascadero, California. Shortly after his birth, his parents, Carl and Dorothy Twisselman, brought him home to the family’s Temblor Ranch near Cholame, just northwest of McKittrick. Growing up on the ranch, Carl became deeply involved in ranching and grazing operations, continuing a lifelong connection to the land and agricultural community. He attended Olig Elementary School, McKittrick Elementary School, and graduated from Taft Union High School in 1958 before continuing his education at Taft College and the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1961, Carl married Martha Matney, a fellow Taft High alumna. Together they returned to the ranch to build a life centered on family, ranching, and community service. They raised four children—Mary Ann, Carl F. Twisselman III (Rick), Julie, and Kathy—all graduates of Taft Union High School.

Carl has dedicated decades of service to his community. He has been an active member of the Kern County Cattlemen’s Association for more than 50 years and served for over five decades as a trustee for the McKittrick Elementary School District, helping maintain the quality of education for local students.

He was also a founding member and first president of the Kern County Autism Network, served as chairman of the Golden Empire Special Education Partnership, and worked with regional planning groups to improve services for students with special needs throughout Kern County. Additionally, he served on advisory boards for the Bureau of Land Management in both Kern and San Luis Obispo counties.

Through his leadership, dedication, and commitment to family, agriculture, and community service, Carl F. Twisselman II has made a lasting impact on the people and communities of Kern County.

john means - class of 1965

John M. Means, a proud Taft native and graduate of Taft Union High School’s Class of 1965, has devoted his life to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening communities, and advancing social and environmental justice. A first-generation college student, he continued his education at Taft College, CSU Long Beach, and California State University, Bakersfield, earning a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and launching a career that would impact thousands throughout Kern County and California.

A longtime educator and advocate, Means taught psychology and child development before pioneering Bakersfield College’s first child development center designed to integrate infants and children with disabilities. His commitment to equity shaped his later work in workforce and economic development, where he created pathways for women, minorities, farmworkers, and underserved students to access high-wage careers.

Means rose to become Vice Chancellor of Educational Services for the Kern Community College District, where he led initiatives including dual-enrollment programs that enabled high school students to earn college credit—and even associate degrees—before graduation. He also founded the KCCD Clean Energy Center, securing more than $5 million in funding and training over 800 workers, veterans, and farmworkers for careers in renewable energy.

Beyond education, Means served on the Bakersfield City Council, advocating for environmental protections, clean water, and early renewable energy initiatives. Throughout his career, his leadership, resilience, and dedication to service have reflected the values of Taft—hard work, compassion, and the transformative power of education.

mary schoeser - class of 1968

When Mary Schoeser was a student, she “did it all.” As remembered by her longtime friend and classmate Jan McPherson, Mary was an Outstanding Senior, a Life CSF Member, a band member, performer, and editor of the Derrick. She was deeply involved in school life, organizing events, programs, and activities with energy and leadership. Even then, Mary’s curiosity, discipline, and commitment to excellence were evident.

Those early qualities became the foundation of a distinguished international career. Today, Mary Schoeser is recognized worldwide as one of the leading textile and wallpaper historians of her generation. For more than forty years, her work has transformed how textiles are understood—not simply as decorative objects, but as vital historical records reflecting culture, labor, technology, and identity.

Mary’s professional journey took her from California to major museums, universities, and archives in the United States and the United Kingdom. She has worked as a curator, consultant, archivist, cataloguer, and conservation specialist with renowned institutions, contributing to exhibitions, strengthening museum collections, and preserving textile history for future generations.

As an author, Mary Schoeser’s impact is especially significant. She has written numerous influential books and hundreds of essays and articles that are now foundational texts in textile, fashion, and design history. While she was writing one of her major textbooks, her partner remarked, “This will be the definitive work on the topic for the next forty years.” That assessment has proven true, as her scholarship continues to shape the field worldwide.

Mary is equally committed to education and mentorship. She has lectured internationally, taught at respected institutions, and shared her knowledge generously with students, scholars, and professionals. Through service on academic boards, advisory panels, and professional organizations, she has helped elevate textile and wallpaper history within the broader discipline of art and design history.

From her leadership as a student to her global influence as a scholar, Mary Schoeser exemplifies lifelong achievement and lasting impact. She is a most deserving inductee to the Hall of Fame.