This brief biography of Alice Rankin Beard was shared in a cookbook pamphlet published by the Kern County CattleWomen in 2007. Our artist, Alice Rankin Beard, is the third generation to continue the Rankin tradition of raising cattle. She was born in Isabella, California in 1915 to Mary and Walker Rankin Jr. She and her younger sister, Raechel, grew up learning the cattle industry on the Bloomfield Ranch in Southfork. As youngsters, they loved visiting their grandparents, Walker and Lavinia Rankin, at their ranch just over the mountain in Walker Basin. They would meet up with their cousins, Leroy and Billy, sons of Lee and Julia Rankin, and this foursome always managed to get into a little mischief. The Lightner and Rankin Ranches are two of the oldest continuously run family cattle ranches in California.

Alice has fond memories of her grandmother, "Nana," (Lavinia Lightner Rankin) and her stories of the family's covered wagon trip from Missouri to California in 1849. The Lightner family settled in Walker Basin in 1858, and Alice's grandfather, Walker Rankin Sr., founded Rankin Ranch in 1863. Alice and Raechel were always captivated by their grandmother's childhood tales of the Indians living in the Basin, the occasional visits from bandits, and the Union soldiers passing through on their way from Fort Tejon to Fort Independence during the Civil War years. This was "early day life" in the history of California.

A one room school house in Southfork served as the beginning of Alice's education, and after moving to Bakersfield during her teen years, she graduated from Kern Union High School (now Bakersfield High) in 1933. It was there, she was encouraged by Ruth Hyle Emerson to try her hand at drawing and painting. Alice was a "natural," and she has continued to paint throughout her life.

Alice attended Bakersfield College, and graduated from UCLA in 1939. She then returned to Bakersfield where she taught Physical and Health Education at Bakersfield High. In 1941 she met the love of her life, 1st Lieutenant Robert Beard, who was serving in the United States Air Force during WWII. They were married in Walker Basin on August 16, 1941. In 1946 they settled in the Basin on the family ranch, built a house, and raised their four children, Rob, John, Walker, and Mary Lou. Years later, Alice, once again, taught at Bakersfield High School.

Although Alice had no formal education in art, her love for painting led her to many workshops conducted by prominent artists during the next 25 years while she and Bob ran the Double U Cattle Ranch near El Paso, Texas. Alice's love for nature, and her "country" lifestyle is conveyed in her many works of art which have won recognition in numerous shows in California and Texas.

In 1991 a 50th wedding anniversary party was planned for the couple with family and friends gathering at the Lightner Ranch. Alice remembers that her grandparents, in 1868, were wed at the same location, by the "lilac bush" where she and Bob were also married. Since that time, several more family weddings have taken place at this very same spot...and Alice proudly proclaims..."And there have been no divorces!"

Alice and Bob returned from Texas in 1995, and once again lived on the Lightner Ranch. In November of '96 Bob lost his battle with emphysema. Alice continues to live on the ranch where she and her son, John, run the family cattle business. She proudly accepted the honor of "CattleWoman of the Year" in 1999 presented by the Kern County CattleWomen's organization. Alice is a charter member of this group which was established in 1948. Alice loves her family, her ranch, and her country...and she is often called upon by local museums and clubs to talk about her family history, and the cattle industry. Many changes have taken place in her lifetime and she continues to tell her story.

After a wonderful "Mexican Dinner" prepared by Rudy, our Rankin Ranch cook of 30 years, Glenda Rankin will share a little about the Lopez Hill House Project. This little historic Victorian house belonged to Glenda's mother, and is scheduled to be moved to Pioneer Village at the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield on April 20th. You may want to stay over at the ranch for the weekend following our History Week and witness this historic event. It's not often that you can see a house being moved down the city streets...of course, you'll have to be an "early bird" to see it. The move will begin around 1:00 a.m. and should take five to six hours arriving at the Kern County Museum sometime around 6:00 a.m. Breakfast is being served after its arrival at the Museum.

A photo display board with historic shots of the Lopez Hill House will be in the recreation room following dinner.

This historic Kern County home has housed several families in its 99 years. The people who have lived in it came from different walks of life, all of them playing a role in Bakersfield's history. Jose Jesus Lopez, better known as J.J. Lopez, built the Lopez home in downtown Bakersfield in 1909. On J. J.'s first visit to Kern County in 1872, Bakersfield was not much more than a village with one main street....a few houses, one store, a blacksmith shop, a hotel and saloon. J. J. became a prominent citizen of Kern County and recorded much of its early day history.

We are very proud to have Patsy Henry, a local Piaute Native American and the Co-Chair of the Kern River Paiute Council at the the "Nuui Cunni: Native American Cultural Center in Lake Isabella join us this evening. She has some fascinating stories and will bring some very interesting Native American artifacts to share with us.

MISSION STATEMENT
THE "NUUI CUNNI" CULTURAL CENTER IS DECATED TO PRESERVING,
RESTORING, AND TEACHING OUR NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE, HISTORY,
AND TRADITIONS BY PROVIDING A FACILITY AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATIONAL,
CEREMONIAL, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS
AS WELL AS THE INTERESTED PUBLIC.

The "Nuui Cunni" Center operates under a Special Use Permits offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Forest Service in the Sequoia National Forest, Greenhorn District, the Kern River Paiute Council has entered into a partnership and been authorized to manage and operate the "Nuui Cunni" Native American Intertribal Culture Center as an established facility to curate and display Native American artifacts, crafts, art, to promote and restore the culture and history of our local Indian Communities as well as recognize and respect all wishing to exercise their educational programs and spiritual ceremonies.
The 3,150 square foot special designed building houses a museum, library, gift shop, and visitors center.
The 5.6 acre grounds features native plant exhibits, artifacts, dance arbor, tule hut, lamada, sweat lodge, prayer garden, and area for large activities.
The location on Isabella Lake is beautiful, breathtaking and radiates a spiritual atmosphere.
The Gift Shop is always open during operating hours, and is stocked for those interested in handmade Native American crafts and wares.
A large granite stone plaque, placed midst rocks and oak trees displays a prayer poem dedicated to the local tribal members that were massacred nearby. I reads:

In Memory of the Native People who perished here April 1863.
"As your eyes behold the water and the sky,
see those who struggled and died for a way of life;
As the Wind and Sun caress your face,
Feel their love of mother earth;
As you turn to go,
Leave a prayer to halt all inhumanity,
One to the other.
Take within your spirit - the love of our
Creator.

---

Visitors are Welcome
No Admission Fee
Come on in, the coffee is always on.

Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Deeply involved in the Kern River Valley Historical Society, Bob was a director and curator for the Kern River Valley Museum. He gave much of his lifetime collection of artifacts to the Society so they might be shared with visitors to the museum he loved so well. Bob was a gentle man and beloved by those who knew him. He entertained children of the valley elementary schools with his stories and even today they use his books as reference. He took 5th graders on a yearly field trip into the high country for an overnight camp out. It was there he told stories and cooked his famous "cowboy stew with mountain biscuits."

Recipient of numerous awards throughout the country, for his writing and his knowledge of the Kern River Valley, Bob was unassuming and surprised by the accolades he received. When asked about his reasons for writing his nine history books, Bob simply said, "I did it because it needed to be done." And to the question, "What has meant the most to you over the years?" came the reply, "I have 6 loves: The Lord, My Family, My Friends, the Kern River Valley, Cowboying and the Forest Service." (In later years he might have added golf.)

A plaque dedicated on October 6th 2007 in Bob Power's memories stands at the Kern River Valley Museum.

Following Marge's introduction of Bob's historical books, we'll load up on the hay wagon for an evening in the meadow for our barbecued tri-tip beef dinner. You'll love Rudy's famous BBQ sauce. There will be lots of good food...visiting...and a horseshoe tournament with prizes!!!

But the evening is not over yet. When we return to the ranch Chuck Barbee, a local Kern River Valley resident will share a segment of his wonderful documentary, based on Bob Powers' books. The Rankin Ranch Theater will be complete with popcorn and drinks.