Taft, California
Greetings from Pete Gianopulos, Class of 1942
The Taft Newsletter
Attachments:
Tom's and Vasiliki's wedding pictures
Tom and Vasiliki Gianopulos
(NOTE: The series continues about my parents who both came from Greece and settled and
lived the rest of their lives in Taft. This information is from the writings of my brother, George
Gianopulos, from a document that he wrote in 1994 called “Tom Gianopulos, Citizen of America –
Citizen of Taft, a Biographical Sketch,” from George’s book called “Wake up Eddie for a Dime”
and from my memory. The name of Vasiliki in Greek means princes.)
After the 25 day journey to America, Vasiliki was welcomed to the city of New York City by her
betrothed, Tom Gianopulos, a man she had never met, never knew, never talked to and had
never seen except for a small photograph sent to her earlier. She always said that she was very
happy because the picture that had been sent to her by her betrothed actual looked like the
young man that she met, which was not the case with many of the ladies aboard the ship. Some
of the ladies had been sent pictures taken when the men were younger than was the case when
the ladies met their betrothed on arrival in new York City.
Tom and Vasiliki were immediately married by a Justice of the Peace on the day of their arrival
on November 3, 1923, and they departed by train for California.
The small Greek community greeted them when they arrived in Bakersfield. They
were married on November 18 by a Greek Orthodox priest adjacent to the farm house on the Nick
Harris farm. This farm was located outside of Bakersfield on the northeastern 40 acres off the
intersection of Harris and Stine Road. Many a happy times were spent visiting the Harris's at
their ranch, even though at the time there was neither gas nor electricity in the house. Mrs. Harris
did her cooking on a large wood stove in her kitchen and the toilet was outside of the house. W
hat is remembered is that the perishables were kept in an enclosure with a roof outside on the
north side of the house, and the walls were covered with burlap to keep the items inside that
enclosure cool. There were no ice boxes and, of course, no refrigerators yet in those days. All of
the farming was done with horses pulling the farm equipment to plow and do other farm work.
The newlyweds settled in Taft, first in a house that Tom owned at 500 Lucard Street where
their eldest child, Pete, was born in 1924 and later in a garage apartment at 502 Lucard when
their second child, Margaret, was born in 1926. George was born at 504 Lucard Street in 1928.
In those days the mother would give birth to the baby at home.
Tom had the house built at 504 Lucard Street where the family finally settled. Their third child,
George, was born there in 1928. Tom and Vasiliki would live in that house for over 58 years.
Reader's Responses
From Lawrence Hildebrand, Class of 1966, from Phoenix, Arizona
Pete It was interesting to read about Sam Workman, a star track & field performer
@ Taft High when I & my friends were in junior high school in the early '60s. My
"fuzzy" memory seems to recall Workman running a hand-timed 9.7 in the 100-yd
dash and jumping something over 24' in the long jump (briefly leading the nation
for prep athletes). However, a much more knowledgeable person about such
things is Tom O'Brien, Jr, my classmate, friend and son of the legendary weight
events coach @ Taft High. You can contact him @ his email address shown
above. He has an "encyclopedic" memory about track & field marks from that
era.
Lawrence Hildebrand, Phoenix
From Roger Brown, Class of 1964, from Taft, California
I am not a historian, but when I was a freshman running track at TUHS, Sam
Workman was my idol – a senior sprinter. I remember him running 9.8 in the 100
yd dash, just missing Doug Smith’s record of 9.7. (I believe Doug’s record still
stands, partly because of the conversion to metric distances and the fact that no
one else has run that fast.) Sam did indeed set the school record in the broad
jump (long jump) with a leap, as I recall, of 24’-4½”, I believe breaking Sid
Stringfellow’s long standing record. Taft had a very good long jumper a few
years ago, (I think his name was Chuck Bishop, not sure), who was right around
24’, but I believe Sam’s record still stands. I also remember Sam dueling with
Billy Mackey of EBHS in the 220 yd dash. Mackey was a national record holder
in the 180 yd low hurdles at the time, I believe, and a high school all-American
running back in football. The showdown race occurred in a duel meet at Martin
Memorial Stadium, when the track was inside the stadium, the straightaway in
front of the home stands. Today the 200 meter dash is run partly on a curve –
that day, the 220 yd dash was run on a 220 yard straightaway. Sam blew past
Mackey early and won the race in a school record 20.9 sec. by at least 10 yards.
It was an incredible effort. Everyone was amazed. Don Cassida was the head
track coach that year (we also had Roy Staley and Tom Obrien). I remember
that when Sam was at Fresno State with Darrell Newman and Charlie Craig, he
was referred to as the “iron man” because he competed and excelled in so many
events in their meets. I suggest conferring with Larry Peahl for more detail.
Congrats to Sam; hope the award materializes; however, regardless, his
accomplishments are etched into the minds of all who saw him run.
Roger Brown, Class of 1964 (50th and best graduating class)
From Brad Cross, Class of 1963, from Bakersfield, California
WAKE UP EDDY FOR A DIME. "GET A JOB, GO TO WORK!" THOSE WERE
THE CHILDHOOD AND TEENAGE YEARS. I have that book, signed by George.
Now I'm rereading it. Keep em coming Pete. Brad Cross class of 1963.
From Tom O'Brien, Class of 1966, from Cameron Park, California
I believe that Sam should have a 9.6 credit for 100 yards. He also won the
Golden West Invitational 220 yd dash. That meet is for the best high schoolers in
the nation. Ironically, Sam won the high school version of the West Coast relays
the same year that Doug Smith won the open 100. Workman jumped 24 feet and
was beaten by Norm (sorry can't remember last name) of Madera. Most people
don't realize that Workman was actually injured most of his senior year. He
started the track season off with his arm in a full cast. He ran 9.8 with the cast. I
have to believe that my dad allowed him to compete with strong training
techniques where other athletes wouldn't have been able to compete. My
brother in law has shared a true story with me about Workman. As a freshman
when he didn't have a drivers license, he would run to school from Valley Acres
instead of taking the bus. That is dedication.
From Richard Williams, Class of 1964, From Pine Bluff, Aizona
I believe that Taft has over the years, moe outstanding achievers per capita
than any other town or city in America! Well done, one and all! Well done!
Richard Williams
Member of Class of 1958 gone and also a member of the Class of 1942
Sorry to have to report that a member of our class of 1958 has passed away.
He is John Hromyak. This group of boys was my second group of counselees at
Taft Union High School after I became a counselor.
An obit appeared in The Bakersfield Californian that Preston Burdette from the
Class of 1942 had passed away. Pres and the Gianopulos families were
neighbors while growing up and attending school in Taft. .
From Helen (Abott) Larson, Class of 1942, from San Ouis Obispo, California
Was sure sorry to hear about Preston. We were always good friends with
him in school and had a lot of good times with him and jean at reunions. We are
dwindling down every year."