2010 Distinguished Kearny Komets Hall of Fame Inductees
John Baca
Mr. Baca graduated in 1967 and was honored with the Medal of Honor for bravery in Vietnam. His life has been chronicled in film and books.
Cleavon Little
Mr. Little, graduate of 1958, played on the same football team with Ed Buchanan, and was an American film and theatre actor. He attended San Diego State Univewrsity, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in dramatic arts. Mr. Little is well known his lead role as Bart in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles. He passed away in 1992.
Erlene Evelyn Speck
Miss Speck, who was one of the original Kearny High School English teachers, dedicated her life to teaching. Miss Speck was also an author and advisor to the Bible Club.
Jack Taylor
Coach Taylor built a baseball program that turned out many great players, coaches and young men. His teams won on the field and off and many of his players went on to win CIF Championships.
Alan Trammell
Mr. Trammell, class of 1976, has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated at least three times and has won a World Series (he will soon be inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame). He was actually a better basketball player in high school, however he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and soon was in the major leagues winning awards for his glove and bat.
Richard Zaloudek
Mr. Zaloudek led the Kearny High Choir for many years until his retirement in 1976, when the music room he taught in was named after him. His choir won many awards and sold records annually that can still be found today.
Tom Barnett
Coach Barnett came to Kearny in 1968 and stayed until 2000 when he retired. He taught wood shop, was a football coach and wrestling coach before becoming Athletic Director. With Coach Slater, the football teams set a new standard of excellence. Kearny High Alumni Association's Scholarship is named after Coach Barnett.
Fred Bates
Mr. Bates, class of 1947, along with Coach Slater, founded the Kearny High Alumni Association in 1995. He was a student, teacher and coach at Kearny High where his touch is felt all over campus. Recently, his son was a baseball coach at Kearny.
Edwin Buchanan
Ed graduated in 1957 is considered by many the finest athlete to come from Kearny. When he graduated there was no American Football League, and only eight NFL teams. Mr. Buchanan played nine seasons in the Canadian Footbsll League for three different teams and holds records for the longest average carry over a season. He will soon be inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame.
Harold Greene
Mr. Green, class of 1961, is an award-winning journalist, best known for working at KCAL 9 News and CBS 2 News in Los Angeles. During his career he earned ten Golden Mike Awards, the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism Award, nine Emmy nominations (with two wins), three Edwin R. Murrow Awards, and twelve L.A. Press Club Awards.
Edward Ortiz
Mr. Ortiz was also one of the original teachers at Kearny High. He started the music department and set a standard that made records, and broke records. Mr. Ortiz wrote the Kearny High School Alma Matter that is still sung today.
Ron Roberts
Mr. Roberts graduated from Kearny High School in 1969 and was a successful engineer, businessman and City Councilman. He is now a member of the County Board of Supervisors.
Birt Slater
Coach Slater came to Kearny from San Diego High School. He taught history and coached football and track. Coach Slater introduced the stripes in 1961; his teams won more games in the 60's and 780's than any other school. When he retired he went directly to the San Diego Chargers coaching staff. A losing team when he got there, Coach Slater straightened them out as well. He was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions as a Legendary Coach, his records too long to list. The field at the school is named after Coach Slater.