This week in Kern County history.
Died: April 13, 2021. Gerald William Haslam
Gerald William Haslam, born in Bakersfield, California in 1937, passed away on April 13, 2021, at 84. Known for his literary focus on rural California, particularly the Great Central Valley, he received numerous awards. Raised in Oildale, adjacent to Bakersfield, his early life involved diverse jobs, military service, and education. A Bakersfield College Hall of Fame member, Haslam excelled in sports. His career included teaching at Sonoma State University, where he published widely and contributed to major publications. With wife Janice E. Haslam, he explored Senator S. I. Hayakawa’s and a Depression migrant’s lives. Remembered as the quintessential California writer, Haslam’s impact extended beyond literature. Survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, his death at Petaluma Valley Hospital resulted from prostate cancer.
