BC to unveil its 1st athletic hall of fame class later this year
The proud athletic history of Bakersfield College, which includes more than its fair share of standout performers, will be immortalized this fall when the school unveils its first hall of fame class.
The list of former Renegades stars includes names such as Frank Gifford, Louis Wright, Michael Stewart, George Culver and Colby Lewis, just to name a few. So finding deserving athletes to enshrine doesn’t figure to be a problem.
BC announced the plan for a yearly recognition in a news release Thursday, stating “the Hall of Fame is being established with the goal to annually recognize the almost 100 years of Renegade Athletics success across all sports. Inductees will consist of standout
former student athletes, coaches, administrators and benefactors who have rendered extraordinary service to the department.”
Longtime Renegades baseball coach Tim Painton found out about the announcement as he was cutting the outfield grass at Gerry Collis Field in preparation for an upcoming season that he expects to start in the next three weeks.
“One of the things that attracted me many, many years ago to Bakersfield College was the history of athletics at Bakersfield College,” Painton said. “It’s kind of strange that we haven’t ventured down this road sooner because there’s certainly a lot of people in this community that have stayed in the community and live here that need to be recognized. So I think it’s a great thing for the community, and it’s a great thing for Bakersfield College.”
A newly elected Hall of Fame Committee will review nominations for consideration and an induction ceremony will be held annually to honor and officially welcome each class. The first class
is set to be honored and inducted in an event currently being planned for fall 2021. The exact date will be announced this summer.
“We are excited to launch this new hall of fame,” Reggie Bolton, the interim dean of Kinesiology and athletic director, said in a news release. “It will be instrumental in properly recognizing the accomplishments of the many talented and successful Renegades who have worn the red and white over the years.”
To nominate an individual for induction into the first class or to sponsor the event, BC has created a link: http://www.gogades.com/ general/Renegade_Athletics_Hall_of_Fame.
And there figures be plenty of names to choose from. Since offering athletics in 1922, Bakersfield College has won 184 conference team championships, 15 state team titles and 10 national team championships.
“There’s now grandsons and granddaughters or great-grandsons and daughters still in the community,” Painton said. “I think too many times, even our athletes today, view Bakersfield College athletics in a very small scope; their time here. And I think it’s important to recognize the history and the people that laid a foundation to get it where it is at today. It’s just a great thing to get this started.”