Meldora Mixon
Newspaper Name: Shafter Press
Date of Obit: 16 Dec 1970
Submitted by: Donna Jenkins, Email Address: rdjenkins@sbcglobal.net
Mixon, Meldora -- Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Mish Funeral Homes - Shafter for Meldora
Mixon, 89, of 253 East Euclid Avenue, Shafter, who died Dec. 14, in a Wasco convalarium after a long illness. Homer
Giffard, minister for the Shafter Church of Christ, will officiate and interment will follow in Shafter Memorial
Park. Mrs. Mixon was a native of Alabama and had been a resident of Shafter 26 years. She was a homemaker for over
69 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include three sons, John E. Mixon of Atoka, Okla.,
Brown Mixon of Bakersfield, Garlin Mixon of Taft, and Foster Mixon of Shafter; three sisters, Mrs. Claudia Smith
of Ada, Okla., Mrs. Perlie Villines of Semi. Okla., and Mrs. Versie Harrison of Tonkawa, Okla.; 16 grandchildren
and 34 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Keith Mixon, Larry Mixon, Ray Jenkins, Ron Pelham, Bonnie Lewis
and Ronald Perry.
Arthur Hoagland, Civic Leader, Succumbs at 82
Bakersfield Californian, March 27, 1959
Submitted by Marji Turner at marjisangels@bellsouth.net
Arthur E. Hoagland, 82, 322 South Chester Ave., a leader for many years in city and county development, and pioneer
rancher of the Edison District, died early today at a Bakersfield hospital. Mr. Hoagland, who retired from business
in 1940, suffered a stroke at his home last evening from which he failed to rally.
Mr. Hoagland, was born July 7, 1876, in Rolla, Mo., and spent his early years in the midwest. As a young man he
worked on the railroads, coming west before the turn of the century. He came to Bakersfield in 1898 and entered
ranching in the Falison District.
He held a partnership for a number of years with the late. L. C. Ross in the old Rainier Bottling Works, a business
closed out with the advent of the prohibition era. He turned his business abilities to the operation of a garage
during the 1920’s but also continued his own farming interests. He joined the Miller & Lux Co., engagin in
real estate sales about the time Buttonwillow was being developed in the 19020’s.
While engaged in business enterprises, Mr. Hoagland gave much of his time to civic interest. He was president of
the Kern County Chamber of Commerce for seven years in the 1930’s and had great faith in the ultimate growth of
the city and county as one of the most potential areas in the state. He was president of the Kern County Farm Bureau,
engaging in activities leading to water development and other services for farmers. He served a foreman of the
Kern County Grand Jury, and was for a number of years chairman of the Kern County Democratic Central Committee.
He was president of the Bakersfield Aerie of Eagles in 1910 and was eligible for a 55-year membership pin in that
organization at the time of his death. He was a member for more than 30 years in the Bakersfield Elks Lodge. He
enjoyed many friendships among sportsmen, and in early years, was a member of the Custaie Gun Club at Lebec and
of the Kern County Fish and Game Association. During his years of retirement he enjoyed hunting and fishing until
he suffered a broken leg which curtailed his activities.
Mr. Hoagland is survived by his widow, Maude Evelyn, who resides at the family home; by two daughters, Mrs. Helen
Little of Van Nuys; and Mrs. Evelyn Dennis of Bakersfield and by three sons, Arthur Bruce of Bakersfield, Eugene
Ros of Avennl; an Kenneth W., assistant city attorney. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by a brother, Homer Hoagland of Sun City, Kan., and by a sister, Mrs. Ida Hawkins, of Long,
Beach.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 10 a.m. at the Payne & Son Funeral Home with the Rev. Glenn D.
Puder officiating. Internment will be in the family plot at Union Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include Perry Brite, Bert Mahan, Lloyd Frick, Forrest Frick, Lawrence Hourse, A. R. Hoisington
of Morro Bay, Harry Gill and Jack Vanderlei. Honorary ballbreares will include Tom Hildreth of San Luis Obispo;
Bob Dear, Harry Thompson, Lawrence Weill, Guy Hughes, Dr. Jospeh K. Smith, Arthur Theile.
Kenneth Hoagland
Bakersfield Californian - April 14, 1996
Submitted by Marji Turner at marjisangels@bellsouth.net
Helped secure water supply from Tenneco by Scott Forter, Californian Staff writer
Kenneth Hoagland, a former city attorney who helped his hometown gain a secure water supply when Bakersfield bought
the rights to Kern River water in the 1970s, has died. He was 78. “He was a very bright attorney who did a find
job for the city, “ said former Bakersfield City Manager Harold Bergen, who worked with Hoagland on the water deal.
Hoagland represented the city when it sued Tenneco West, which owned large amounts of farmland in what today is
southwest Bakersfield, asserting the city had a right to water from the Kern River. The lawsuit ended with a settlement.
The city paid Tenneco $17 million for the water rights, storage capacity in the Lake Isabella reservoir and 3,000
acres of settling ponds near California State University, Bakersfield.
“It ensured the city had a water supply,” Bergen said by telephone from his home in Trout Lake, Wash. “Bakersfield
is one of the only cities in the state that has a very adequate supply of water.”
Hoagland, who retired as city attorney in 1980, died of heart failure Friday in a Santa Barbara hospital. He had
lived in nearby Carpinteria since leaving the city attorney post. No memorial service will be held. Family and
friends held a private wake Saturday. Hoagland’s ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
In his 20 years as city attorney, Hoagland developed a reputation as a sharp legal mind who did not mince words.
“He was direct in his responses,” former Bakersfield City Councilman Richard Stiern said. “He did not mush-mush
around.” Hoagland was drawn into some of the city’s political battles of the 1960’s, including the city’s celebrated
effort to prevent Padre Hotel owner Milton “Spartacus” Miller from renting the upper floors of his concrete-walled
hotel because he did not have a fire sprinkler system. The case went to the State Supreme Court, where the city
prevailed. Hoagland also played a key role in helping the city initiate redevelop projects in downtown Bakersfield.
“He was a top-notch attorney,” said retired city official William Jing, who served as public works director while
Hoagland was city attorney.
Kenneth William Hoagland was born Sep. 5, 1917 in Bakersfield. He graduated from Kern County Union High School
in 1935. Four years later he graduated from the University of Southern California, where he had roomed with fellow
Bakersfield resident Romain Clerou, who later became a physician. Hoagland joined the U. S. Navy in 1941 and served
as an aviator, piloting seaplanes in the South Pacific. He was involved in the pivotal Battle of Midway. He received
several medals when he was honorably discharged in 1946. He earned a law degree from Hastings School of Law in
1953. He returned to Bakersfield and began working as a Kern County deputy district attorney.
Hoagland was a member of the Navy reserves for 20- years. A tennis player, he was a member of the Racquet Club.
He also was a dove hunter.
Survivors include two daughters, sons, as well as 11 grandchildren and his cat Tommy.
[names of survivors omitted as they are living]
