Honoring Those Who Give Back
Honoring Those Who Give Back
Honoring Those Who Give Back
On March 14, CSU Bakersfield will induct its 2009 class of accomplished former students into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame, a ceremony of recognition that was initiated when four of Bakersfield’s most prominent individuals began their collegiate education many years ago.
Over the years, many have spoken about the brain drain in Kern County – the idea that some of the most brilliant local teenagers will head off to college out of state and never come back. The exact opposite of this idea will be represented when Pauline Larwood,
Joel Heinrichs, Wayne Montgomery and Bill Rector will be honored at the third annual recognition dinner to be held at Seven Oaks Country Club.
“The Hall of Fame event recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions in their chosen field of endeavor or in their community, and whose accomplishments and careers have brought honor and distinction to the university,” said Nancy Chaffin, CSUB alumna and chair of the Hall of Fame committee. “The 2009 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame class members serve as examples of graduates who have not only made a significant and lasting impact in their professions, but more importantly they have substantially improved the condition of our community for generations to come.”
A committee of university representatives and Alumni Board members selected the inductees. Nominations were obtained from campus deans, the Alumni Board, the president’s office and the president’s cabinet. “The 2009 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame class compares well to any university Hall of Fame inductees nationally,” Chaffin said.
The 2009 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:
Pauline Larwood
A government relations consultant since 1995, Larwood is serving her third term as trustee of the Kern Community College District and a six-year term appointment by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Larwood received her master’s in history from CSUB in 1976.
As a 12-year member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, Larwood guided policies for operation of the county including her role as planning commissioner. Her leadership has brought attention to issues relating to air quality, land use, citizenship, international understanding and valley fever. In addition to her dedication to improve the environment, Larwood is a strong advocate of education in the community including serving on the Advisory Board to the President at CSUB. Larwood holds a lifetime elementary teaching credential. Per Garden Pathways, Inc., who named Larwood 2007 Woman with a Heart for Bakersfield, “Pauline is a person of humility; she is interested in getting the job done and is not concerned about getting credit for making a difference.”
Larwood takes pride in her combined family with husband Thomas of five boys, two girls and eight grandchildren.
Joel Heinrichs
The CEO of Lightspeed Systems, Heinrichs earned his master’s in public administration from CSUB in 1989. He is also currently the vice president of the Kern High School District Board of Trustees. In 1995 Heinrichs was appointed county administrative officer by the Kern County Board of Supervisors and successfully implemented a number of initiatives to streamline central services, welfare-to-work programs and permit processes.
Heinrichs has sat on numerous nonprofit boards and assisted organizations with strategic planning workshops and issues. He was awarded the John W. Doubenmier Award for public sector innovation for his work in implementing the principals of total quality management to improve public services. He, along with his wife Arlene, have provided strategic planning, project management, fundraising and civic education services to United Way of the Central Coast, Kern County Superintendent of Schools and Kern County Waste Management Department.
Wayne Montgomery
Montgomery has been the owner of Montgomery Insurance since 1977. He is also currently the pastor of Christ Community Church in Wasco. He is a two-time CSUB alum, having received both his bachelor’s in psychology in 1976 and master’s in education in 1978 from the university. Montgomery has served on numerous boards and committees in Bakersfield and Wasco over the years, has traveled and preached on every continent, was a missionary to South America, and has received the Wasco Citizen of the Year Award, Traveler’s Insurance Company Man of the Year Award and the Master Boardsmanship Award from the California School Boards Association. He also has served in the U.S. Air Force. Montgomery’s children started the
CSUB Wayne and Sally Montgomery Scholarship in honor of their parents’ 70th birthdays. The scholarship fund is to honor their parents’ dedication to higher education and will be given annually to a CSUB student.
Bill Rector
Now the chief of police for the Bakersfield Police Department, Rector has been with the organization since 1982. He has worked a variety of areas including patrol, training, vice/narcotics and juvenile/sex crimes. He graduated from CSUB in 1989 with a master’s in education.
Rector was promoted to assistant chief in 1999 and served in that position for five years. Rector, the city’s 17th police chief, is one of the youngest police chiefs in the history of the Bakersfield Police Department. Rector’s community service includes the
Bakersfield Kiwanis Club, Police Activities League, Kern County Law Enforcement
Foundation, Mayor’s Youth Council, Vision 2020 Advisory Council and the Student Leadership Program at Garces High School. Rector also teaches criminal justice as adjunct faculty at CSUB and Bakersfield College.
Under Rector’s leadership, the Bakersfield Police Department was awarded the 2008 Helen Putnam Award for the top safety education program in the state.
He and his wife Whitney have two children.
“We are pleased to recognize four more outstanding graduates of CSU Bakersfield,” Chaffin said. “Joel, Pauline, Wayne and Bill exemplify professional success as well as
personal integrity. Each has excelled in their chosen field and been generous in their commitment of time and resources to the community and the campus. We couldn’t ask for a more distinguished group of individuals to represent CSUB.”