Charlie May Littlejohn was born in Arkansas but moved to Arvin when she was young and attended school through the Arvin School District. At Arvin High she was one of a very few black students, but was elected head cheerleader by the students
Mrs. Littlejohn worked chopping cotton and other farm work in the fields of Arvin, and soon decided she did not want that for the rest of her life. She saved her $1 an hour until she had enough to pay for books for one year at BC, then earned a scholarship for the second.
She immediately became a student worker in the Business Ed department, and upon graduation, worked in Admissions and records and eventually became the English department assistant, where she was beloved and obeyed for 43 years and was known for her genuine smile and the love she had for her family.
Charlie May Littlejohn was the first African American employee to be hired full-time, and the first employee of BC to serve for 43 years.
Nomination
Charlie Mae is an alum who graduated and went to work for BC immediately. She was the long time, much loved secretary in the English Department. She is well known in the community and currently leads an exercise class for seniors at Martin Luther King Center. She has been very supportive of BC and, after retiring, has come in to the Archives to help identify photos. Her husband, Ron Littlejohn, is also an alum and has done photography for college events.
— Jerry Ludeke
Autobiographical Notes
Charlie Mae Abram Littlejohn was born in a small suburb in Arkansas to parents Ammie and Pauline Abram in January 1937. My early chidlhood years were spent back and forth with my parents and paternal grandmother, who was affectionately called "Aunt Sis" by most people and myself. In the early 1940s, my parents were among those who migrated to Chicago to find work and hopefully establish a better life. Ammie was hired by Armour and Company and Pauline worked for the Campbell Soup Company. My father died when I was 9 years old> Soon after his death, my mother and I moved to Arvin, California, to join other members of her family. I attended most of my elementary school years in Arvin.
My high school yeras were spent at the newly built Arvin High School. My class was the first four-year garduation class. During those years, there were only about a dozen Black students at the school. That being true however, I was elected as the Head Cheerleader for my senior year. At that time, the majority of citizens in Arvin were owners of the farm land there and my being elected as Head Cheerleader was not readily accepted by the white adult community even though it was a student election. There were no incidents during that time, but I learned later from some of my white friends that there was plenty negative talk due to my being elected. I graduated in 1954. I have been a member of the reunion committee for each class reunion. Our 50th reunion was in 2004.
I spent my early "working yeras" earning money by chopping cotton and working in other capacities in the fields of Arvin. I soon decided that was not what I wanted to do for a lifetime. My mother remarried when I was ten and she did domestic work, and my step-dad was a share-cropper and, therefore, couldn't help me with college expenses. I saved my hard-earned $1.00 per hour money and by September had enough money to buy books and attend Bakersfield College for one year. (There was no registration fee at that time.) I had no idea what would happen the second year. However, I was awarded a book scholarship from Jack Davenport Typewriter Company that made it possible for me to attend the second year.
The day that I took the Entrance Exam to enter Bakersfield College (then on the Bakersfield High School campus), the proctor asked to see me after the exam. He asked me if I would like to work in his office when school started. He was the chairman of the Business Education Department. He must have gotten information from the business education teachers at Arvin High School to know that I had been one of hte top students in that major and needed a job. I worked for him for two years. After graduation in 1956, my job ended in that office but I was asked to continue working in the Admissions, Counseling and other offices on campus and to assist the switchboard and copy center operators as needed.
Just before summer ended, the Chairman of the English Department asked if I'd like a full-time job in his department. I immediately said, "I'm not sure I can do the job." He assured me that I could and asked me to talk to his secretary, who was expecting her first child and didn't plan to return. Carol, too, assured me that I could do the job. After 43 years on that job, I retired in 1999. Our family refers to me as the secretary who never applied for a job and, therefore, never had a resume.
It has been noted that I was a student in the first graduating class from Bakersfield College on the Hill. This fact was noted at the 5-year celebration of Bakersfield College on the Hill in 2006. Also, I was the first African American employee to be hired full time in the Classifie Staff. When I retired, I was the first employee at Bakersfield College to have served for 43 years.
I was a member of a community club called The Young Women's Civic Club. Among other things, we raise dmoney and gave scholarships to young black students who needed financial help so they could go to college.
In 1960, Ron Littlejohn and I were married. Our first child, Gigi, arrived in 1961; our second child, R. Todd, arrived in 1965; and our youngest child, Tara, arrive din 1972. During those years, Ron and I were very active in the McKinley PTA, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls. I was the leader of the same group of girls from grade 2 through 7. Although my time with them was limited to Saturday mornings, we fulfilled most of the tasks required by Camp Fire. I have good memories of those times and enjoy seeing some of "my girls" with their families from time to time.
Our amily was very active in our church, holding several offices and chairing many of the activities for chidlren and women. One o fmy most memorable tasks was organizing a different theme luncheon each month for about a year and a half. These lunchsenos were for the women of the church, and each woman was encouraged to invite a guest outside our congregation. Since our chuch is quite small, the group attending totaled around 25-30 women. The luncheons included not only beautiful decorations to fit the theme, but also food, a speaker to bring a lesson, and lots of door prizes.
Another big event for Ron and myself was to be involved in our church's first Big Salad Spread. The women of the church were asked to make large salads for hte event and to wear long dresses and introduced with their spouses or escorts at the beginning of the event. It was a quite a spectacular "first" for us. Ron and I were also in charge of the souvenir program, which was quite a task to say the least. Everything turned out well.
With an idea in mind, I approached the staff at the Holloway-Gonzales Library to ask for permission to present a Weight-Control/Healthy Eating workshop for three months. My idea was to invite people who worked in different kinds of health/weight control, exercise and fitness and nutrition jobs to come and speak to the group. I was greatly surprised and pleased that all of the people that I contacted agreed to come, and they did. The last person to visit with us spent a time telling us about foods that were were not familiar with, and then took us to the grocery store, where she explained and showed us more. We were also treated to a mini buffet of fruits, vegetables and cheeses, and crackers that had been shown to us. Most of the members of the class did not lose a great deal of weight, but we learned a lot about the importance of exercise, weight control and healthy nutrition.
During my working years at Bakersfield College, I made a point to encourage and help students as much as possible. My job as Departmental Assistant in the English Department gave me the opportunity and duties to help students, staff and faculty. At one point, the English Department was changed to the Humanities Division (to include Spanish, Music, Fine Arts, and Philosophy Departments). However, when the college enrollment began to grow, the Division was changed back to the English Department.
In 1993, I was honored by the students of the college to serve as the Grand Marshall of the Homecoming Activities that celebrated 80 years of Renegade Glory. I was introduced while riding around the football field in a brand new red Cadillac convertible during hte Halftime activities at the football game.
In 1994, I was selected by my peers to receive the distinguished service award of Classified Employee of the Year. This announcement was made at the all-staff meeting at the end of that school year.
I retired in 1999 after 43 years of service, which was a bittersweet decision - I had made many friends with students, staff and faculty. I was honored by faculty and staff at a retirement party that included about 143 people. Other than faculty and staff, only my immediate family members were able to attend due to the size of the restaurant. My family decided to host another retirement party for other family and friends about a month later. There were about 140 people in attended there as well.
Since retiring, I have been active with a group of retired Black women known as New Spirit. Although the group was organized before I was able to participate, their initial purpose was to do social things together.
Soon after I joined, the group began working with the American Cancer Society and The American Heart Association distributing to citizens of the Black community information and workshops to promote awareness of health issues, fitness and exercise and the importance of healthy nutrition.
We were also involved in Relay for Life, the fundraising event sponsored by the local Cancer Society. I personally raised over $1,000 each of the first two years that we were involved.
I am still active with activities sponsored by New Spirit. Our group was also very actively involved in the Good Neighbor Festivals at MLK Park, preparing and serving food at the annual Kwanzaa events and other community activities.
My immediate family has also been involved in the Revlon Walk in May of each year around the Coliseum area in Los Angeles. Our consensus was to do something meaningful with our family during the Mother's Day weekend. We all attend a buffet luncheon on Mother's Day.
In January of 2003, I decided to conduct a chair exercise class at the Senior Care on Fourth Street. After attaining permission and a date and time fo the class, I announced it to members of New Spirit. Our first meeting drew about 17 people. I am still volunteering and conducting the class two days each week at the center. The 40-45 minutes of exercises are presented on video and participants sit on a chair during the entire session. The exercises include music fo each exercsise and all parts of the body, from head to toe, receive a good workout.
Ron and I celebrated 53 years of marriage in August 2013, and we are enjoying being grandparents of 5 granddaughters and 1 grandson. Although they all live in other cities, each visit with them is very special and enjoyable.
Dr. Alexander is an alum of Bakersfield College. He went on to earn his BA and DDS from UCLA. Since the mid-80s he has provided free dental care to Bakersfield College football players and other athletes. He is recognized as the Bakersfield College team dentist and has provided support to the Bakersfield College Helmet Club and other athletic and academic organizations.
Dr. Bill Baker was also a player on the BC Renegades Football team, and was encouraged to become a Doctor by Dr. Romain Clerou. He returned to Bakersfield and became the Renegade’s team doctor in 1977 upon the retirement of Dr. Clerou.
Mr. Gil Bishop came to Bakersfield as a teacher and coach at East High School. His primary coaching jobs were as head track coach of basketball and track, and in 1947 he was asked by BC Athletic Director Ed Simonsen to be the public-address announcer for Renegade home football games at Griffith Field.
In addition to being an excellent black history professor, he was a dynamic role model in the community. I understand he was also an excellent track and field competitor of BC and a close dear friend of many administrators and coaches.
Carl Bryan graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1963. He attended and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following college, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam for 19 months.
John is a Bakersfield native who attended Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield College where he ran track and cross country under Bob Covey.
It’s safe to say that without Morris B. Chain, one of the most prominent lawyers in Kern County history, there would be no Bakersfield College Renegades.
Vernon Chappel was the male yell leader whom everyone loved and looked forward to seeing return to BC.
Born hard of hearing , Cody Colchado was raised in Bakersfield. While playing football for Foothill High, Cody incurred an injury which left him visually impaired and later totally blind.
Dr. John Collins was a California native who graduated from Cal with a Bachelor’s degree in 1940. Later, in 1953, he received a Master’s degree from Cal, and eventually a Doctorate in Education from UCLA.
One of the unique attributes of Bakersfield College is the strong commitment to the college by generations of families in the community. One example of this commitment to BC and to the football team is the Damron Family. 3 generations of the Damron family have attended and worked at Bakersfield college, both in the football program and in instruction.
Jackie Fisher was a BC student and football player from 1967 to 1969. In 1971, he transferred to California State University, Fresno, and earned a Bachelor's of Arts in 1973. He then went to California State University Bakersfield and earned a Master's of Arts in 1974. He earned his Ed. D. from University of La Verne Educational Leadership in 1994.
Mr. Robert Frapwell worked for Wright, Metcalf, and Parsons, Architects and is the architect in charge of the design and building of the Bakersfield College Panorama campus
Bakersfield College alumna Senator Jean Fuller attended Bakersfield College in 1968 and 1969, and then transferred to California State University, Fresno to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, she earned a Master’s in Public Administration at California State University Los Angeles and a PhD in Educational Policy and Organizational Studies at UC Santa Barbara.
Dr. Greg Goodwin should be a BC Star because of his extensive and effective teaching of history to BC students for many years. During his years as a faculty member he served BC on many significant BC committees and programs.
Mayor Harvey L. Hall was raised in Bakersfield and is a life-long Californian. He attended Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield Community College and San Francisco City College.
When you mention Mary Jane Johnson’s name on the campus at Bakersfield College, you always get the same responses—“Oh I LIKED working with her. She really knew what she was doing. And she was so NICE!” Mary Jane Johnson graduated from Bakersfield College and worked for us for 38 ½ years.
Jason Kilp, a native of Tehachapi, and a graduate of Bakersfield College is the Creative Director for Bold Array, an award-winning web design agency based in Orange County, California.
Dr. Norman Levan is professor emeritus and former chief of dermatology at the USC School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree in 1939.
Richard Miles is an American Diplomat, entering the Foreign Service in 1967.
Israel Moran, maiden name Israel Paul
Dr. Augustine Munoz is a first generation college student who proudly hails from a local Bakersfield neighborhood.
Ryan Northway is proof that a Certificate is a great way to start a career.
Dr. David Rosales served in the United States Army in Vietnam from November 1967 to March 1968 during the Tet Offensive. He served as a military advisor to popular forces in Vietnam in I Corps and returned to home base at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, 18th Airborne Corps until May 1970. He attained the permanent rank of E-5.
Patrick O. Shaffer is a native son of Delano, California. He graduated from Bakersfield College before getting a Masters Degree from Fresno State College.
Dr. Robert Sheldon was the team doctor for many years along with Dr. Clerou, attending all games. Dr. Sheldon was an all-conference guard for the Renegades in 1936 and went on to Stanford to become an ear-nose-and throat doctor, later attending Harvard. He worked with Dr. Romain Clerou as a team Doctor for the Renegades, splitting his time between Bakersfield College and Bakersfield High School.
When you pause to look at the life of Mary Kay Shell, two phrases stand out - breaking boundaries and serving the community.
After graduating BC, Dr. David Smith continued his studies, becoming a medical doctor with a specialty in addiction Medicine and Clinical Toxicology
An inspirational example of a local high school student taking Bakersfield College, Delano campus classes then graduating from a California University. She continues her life’s journey to places she never thought she would experience.
Carol Sorrell currently holds the title of Chief Operating Officer at Bakersfield Family Medical Center. In this position, she has total responsibility for Bakersfield Family Medical Center as well as Coastal Communities Physicians Network in San Luis Obispo, through Heritage Provider Network.
Dr. Bill Thomas was born and raised in Bakersfield and graduated from North High in 1969.
Bakersfield College is proud to honor our longest living alumni, Mr. Ross Thornton who is 101.
Michael Tivnon graduated from UC Irvine and is a Board Certified in Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery.
Mary Trichell is the owner of the W. A. Thompson Distributing Companies serving Kern County and the high desert areas of California.
Grace Van Dyke Bird came to teach at what was then called Bakersfield Junior College in 1917, after her graduation from the University of California, Berkley with majors in French and architecture. She quickly emerged as a leader, and in 1921 she was named dean of the college, the title then assigned to college chief executives. (Her successors would all be called President, so in 1976 the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees conferred upon her the title President Emeritus.)
After Attending Bakersfield College, Phil Walker continued his education, eventually earning a PhD in education.
James Wall currently serves as a Trustee and Vice-Chairman of the Financial Executives Research Foundation and as Chairman of the Research Committee. Previously he was the National Treasurer and Board Member of Financial Executives International and Area Vice President of the Western Region. He is the 2009 recipient of the FEI National Distinguished Service Award.
Born in Bakersfield, Betty Younger knew she would be an artist as a young child.
Milt Younger was also born in Bakersfield and, like Betty, knew what he would be from an early age—a lawyer.
Accessibility Center
George Culver attended Bakersfield College in 1962-1963 and was named all-Metropolitan Conference both years. He signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees in 1963 and played 9 seasons in MLB. The highlight of his career was throwing a no-hitterr for the Cincinnati Reds against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29, 1968. He posted a record of 48 wins, 49 losses, and 27 saves with a career ERA of 3.30. George then went on to spend 30 years in the minor leagues as a manager, pitching coordinator, and pitching coach in both the Phillies and the Dodgers organizations.
He has spent the last 22 years as a supporter of Bakersfield College, which started when he began the BC Baseball Hot Stove Dinner as a means to upgrade the baseball facilities. The Hot Stove dinners generated over a million dollars, which provided lights for the BC baseball field, a state of the art clubhouse complete with showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, lockers, and coaches offices along with two new scoreboards and dugouts. BC is now considered one of the top Community College facilities in the nation and will proudly host the State JC championship again this year.
His work in the Bakersfield community has also helped raise money for the Cal State Bakersfield University baseball program plus help for the local high schools and various youth baseball groups. He brought baseball to the Police Athletic League for inner city kids in the Bakersfield area and has raised funds to purchase equipment and helped coach players in the PAL program.
George Culver is a true Mr. Baseball in the Bakersfield community. He has had outstanding athletic success as a community college student and as a major league baseball player and has exhibited outstanding qualities of leadership and citizenship in the Bakersfield community