Grant Feasel-NFL Seattle Seahawks

Grant Feasel was born and raised in Barstow CA. He was the son of DeWayne and Patricia Feasel. His siblings included Greg and Linda Feasel, who were graduates of Barstow High School. Grant went to Henderson Elementary and Barstow Junior High and was a graduate of Barstow High School 1978. Grant was a not only a great student, he was also an excellent athlete, he lettered in baseball, wrestling and football in high school. He was hard worker and excelled at anything he did, a true competitor. He was a great employee as well. He worked for many years at Naugles Restaurant in town. Mr. Harris was one of the teachers Grant spoke of often, because of the way he cared about the students and he was uplifting and approachable. Even though Grant loved football, he really enjoyed wrestling. Grant grew up on Buena Vista Street and he was a member of the Barstow Church of Christ. He loved to talk about his camping and dirt biking experiences in the high desert. Grant loved music and taught himself to play the guitar and loved the piano. He also was interested in poetry and read it often. One of his favorite poets was Robert Frost..Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference. After graduating from Barstow High School in 1978, Grant got a full four year scholarship to Abilene Christian University in Abilene Texas. He was an Academic All American all four years and Who's Who's in American Students. Grant studied Biology and was a PreMed major. He was accepted into every Dental School in the state of Texas and years later he was accepted into every Medical School in the state of Texas. Grant graduated from college in 1983 with high honors. In 1983, after graduating from Abilene Christian University, Grant Feasel was drafted by the NFL Baltimore Colts in the 6th round. His career spanned 10 years and 117 games. Indianapolis Colts 1984 Minnesota Vikings 1884-1986 Seattle Seahawks 1987-1992. His position was Center and Deep Snapper. Grant was married to his college sweetheart in 1983 and they had three children. Sean, Sarah and Spencer. Grant made his home in Texas after his NFL football career. Grant died July 15, 2012 in Fort Worth Texas. He was only 52. His brain was donated to the Boston University and diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE. A sport related degenerative brain disease. Grant Earl Feasel was dearly loved and is missed by all his family and friends.

Joe A. Martinez-Professional Ring/Sports Announcer

Joseph Anthony Martinez

A 1993 graduate of Barstow High School, Joseph Anthony Martinez was born in 1975

in Apple Valley, CA to parents Patricia Reeder (Green) and James Martinez. Raised by his mother and stepdad Dan Reeder, who passed away in 1996, he attended Thomson, Cameron, Skyline and Montara elementary schools, Kennedy Junior High and BHS. 

His favorite teacher in high school was retired music instructor, Tim Garvin.  "I would say Mr. Garvin impacted my high school years more than any other teacher I had. Though I was a bit of a misfit in my teen years, Mr. Garvin was one of the first people - outside of my parents - to recognize any potential in me to do something positive with my life," Joe said. "He gave me confidence to attempt things I may have never imagined trying."Joe played the tuba in the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, soccer for four years, a year of football, baseball and ran track for the Aztecs. "I wasn't the star of any of the sports I participated in," he said, "but I can say without a doubt, if I didn't take a roster spot, break my wrist my senior year in soccer and fall in love with a microphone, I highly doubt I would be where I am today in my career."

Joe went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Cal State University, Fullerton in 1998, but it would be two years earlier that he started his career as a sports announcer when he began working as the stadium announcer for the Lake Elsinore Storm minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres. 

"What I thought would be a cool college gig with the Storm turned out to be a catapult for my announcing career," he said. "I love to look back on all I've gone through in my life - good and bad - and pinpoint times where God was protecting me or sometimes even allowing me to fall. It took me so long to finally see His hands at work in my life."When asked if there was anything he would differently he said, "Of course I would, but I also wouldn't, if that makes sense. Without my failures, I wouldn't know how to overcome adversity." 

Joe has had an illustrious announcing career in professional sports announcing. He has announced for the Harlem Globetrotters, US Olympic Softball team, the College Softball World Series, professional boxing for HBO, Showtime and is currently the ring announcer for Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN. He is regarded as one of the top microphone handlers in the world and is the first Mexican American to ever announce for the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he continues to serve as the Octagon Announcer several times a year for the cage fighting pioneer. "My career is pretty awesome and it has taken me all over the world, but it doesn't define me," he said. "I am not a sports announcer; it's what I do. 

I am a Christian first and foremost. I give all glory to God."A devout Christian and an ordained minister, Joe and his wife Lena lead their own ministry - Anchor Of Hope - where they reside in Orange County. "God saved me from myself. There were so many times I just wanted to quit life and crawl into a hole, but the Lord changed my heart," Joe said. "How selfish would it be of me if I didn't share His love and grace with everybody? What God has done and continues to do in my life, in my wife, in my family - I'm just blown away everyday." Joe and Lena have four beautiful children. 

Joe's own quotes:

"Challenges all have consequences; the results will be how you accept those challenges."

"If you want your world to change; change your world."Favorite scripture:"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Website: AnchorOfHopeUSA.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_A._Martinez

Michael Andrew Olguin, President & CEO, Havas Formula

Michael Andrew Olguin, President & CEO, Havas Formula

Michael was born in Barstow on February 17, 1961 to Gillie and Vina Olguin.  He is one of eight kids, which meant everything had to be stretched to go along way – food, money, clothes, toys and time with his parents.  The family grew up like many Barstownians – dinners at home, part-time jobs, pass-me-down clothes and lots of squabbles.  Though most of the kids were approximately two years in age apart, with a range of 18 years from youngest to oldest, it felt like they all grew up together.  They had the same teachers, the same problems, worked at some of the same jobs and most importantly they always faced their challenges like a family.  Elaine the oldest sister still lives in Barstow and is very involved in Kiwanis and formerly it’s president.  Brother Gary teaches 6^th Grade at Crestline school in Barstow, having gone back to school in his late 30s to get his degree and teaching credential.  Sister Lori lives in Victorville and just recently retired from being the office manager of an engineering firm.  Brother Ruben is a very successful realtor in Visalia, California and recently voted President of the Tulare County Association of Realtors in 2018.  Sister Natalie lives in Manhattan Beach and is the former President of Sandpipers, a very prominent philanthropic organization in Los Angeles.  Brother John lives in North Carolina and is also in PR having spent his entire professional career in sports, initially with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 12 years and for the last decade serving as Vice President of Marketing and PR with Chip Ganassi Racing in NASCAR.  Youngest sister DeAnne got her dad’s artistic ability is a working artist and recently completed all of the graphic illustrations for her friend women’s soccer legend Julie Foudy’s new book on leadership for girls called, Choose to Matter.  The bond that was forged back then continues to exist today even though both his parents have passed.  But what has never died is a desire to make an impact on the lives of others, whether it be through work or the community.

While attending Mt. St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Barstow from grades 1-8, Michael spent most of his waking hours playing sports.  Basketball, flag-football, kickball, track & field – you name the game and that’s where you’d find Michael.  His favorite teacher Sister Rosemary was tough with super high expectations – even for kids like Michael who cared more about sports than school.  She knew how to push just enough to get the most out of everyone, but at the same build outstanding relationships with each child. 

As Michael moved on to Barstow High, his desire to succeed appeared to be more reliant on sports than academics.  Michael graduated in 1979 and spent his four years playing basketball, running track and cross country – but his real love was hanging with his friends.  His high school buddies continue to be a big part of his life even today, so many years later. 

Like many in Barstow, Michael had no real understanding of college and what it takes to get there.  Truth be told, the only persons he knew who had a college degree were the teachers at Barstow High, as every other adult was blue collar and working for an hourly wage like his father.  Upon graduation he didn’t have the grades to go to college, and though he loved and played sports, he was never going to play beyond high school, thus finding a job was inevitable.  However, as luck would have it (you will find that luck follows Michael pretty closely) Michael met John Wilder, a former Barstow-area real estate broker while playing for St. Joseph’s adult league basketball team.  John saw some potential in Michael and asked if he’d be interested in managing Horizon Sporting Goods, a retail store he owned in downtown Barstow.  With not a lot of options in front of him, Michael jumped at the chance to leverage his love of sports into a potential career of selling sporting goods.

After nearly two years, the excitement of the job had dwindled and the realization that it was not going to amount to much had become a reality.  Then as luck would have it, another former Barstow athlete came into Michael’s life.  Rudy Bryan, one of Barstow High’s greatest athletes had returned from his football-playing days at the University of Oregon.  Rudy had taken the job as General Manager of the Barstow YMCA, a gig that was right up his alley – he loved kids, was a natural leader, a great organizer and of course le loved sports and community events.  Over the months Rudy became one of Horizon’s biggest customers, buying jerseys, balls and other sports equipment -- during that time Rudy and Michael became fast friends.  One of the biggest programs that the YMCA sponsored was Up With People.  At the time, Michael could never have imagined how this organization would change his life.

Up With People was a travelling performing group comprised of over 100 students that went from city to city and in each, the cast members would stay with local host families in order to get a full immersion into the local community.  The program was designed to foster good will and relationships between people of all races, colors and creeds through music and performing.  Though Michael had absolutely no historical relationship with music or performing, he was intrigued by the idea of traveling the world – even if it meant singing and dancing to do it.  With a bit more luck, Michael was selected to travel and visited many countries in South America, Canada, Mexico and nearly 35 states – all in one year.  Though only 20 years of age, Michael felt like he was experiencing things he could have never imagined – thus the seed of desire to accomplish big things had been planted.

Upon his return to Barstow, Michael came back a highly motivated, focused and determined person who was ready to do the heavy work necessary to succeed.  At 21 years-of-age, Michael began his first semester at Barstow Community College and made the decision that academics was going to be his priority.  He joined the honorary academic society Alpha Gamma Sigma, became vice president of the student body and played doubles with his close friend Luis Martinez on the BCC tennis team.  After two years, Michael graduated with honors and with lots of financial aid transferred to San Diego State University with a goal of becoming a public relations professional. 

Though Michael was older than most transfer juniors, he decided to be actively involved in everything SDSU had to offer.  He joined Sigma Chi fraternity, played intramural basketball and worked on campus to ensure he had some spending money.  In May of 1987, Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.  He quickly landed an internship, that turned to a full-time job at one of San Diego’s largest public relations agencies – The Gable Agency.  After nearly six years in the PR industry Michael made the difficult decision to go out on his own and open up The Olguin Company, a full-service PR firm in San Diego in 1992.  Though the first few years were challenging, he quickly realized if he listened to his father’s words of advice “work hard and treat people fairly” and with a little luck he could succeed.  Though he won some big name clients, such as Great Expectations, Yamaha Marine, 76 Lubricants and others, he realized he needed to make changes in order to really drive growth.  Thus, in 1998 Michael changed the name of his young company to Formula PR because it reflected the process necessary to succeed in marketing – a formula. 

Formula grew quickly and expanded to offices in LA and NY and began to win big name clients like Tecate Beer, Guitar Center, Easton Sports, Kashi Cereal, Newcastle Brown Ale and Phillips 66 and more.  As the client portfolio grew, so did the head count and before long, the company was over 100 people and rapidly growing.  With that growth the public relations industry started to take notice and suddenly Formula landed on Advertising Age magazine’s listing of the hottest PR agencies in the country.  That coupled with many client awards for outstanding work drove interest in potential acquisition by many global advertising agencies. 

Thus, in 2014 Formula was acquired by Havas, a French-based, publicly-traded marketing communications company and renamed Havas Formula, with Michael being elevated to President and CEO.  Since that date, Havas Formula has luckily grown by 20% each year and won new client brands like Jaguar/Land Rover, Panda Express, Yelp, Trane/American Standard, Justin’s Nut Butter and Chase Bank to name a few.  This success has been instrumental in Havas Formula winning many awards, the most important being named 2017’s Best Agency to Work For, by industry publication The Holmes Report.

Michael calls this luck!

However, Michael is proof that if you work hard good things will happen, even if you are not a natural academic.  Michael has always believe that if he had never joined Up With People, his and his whole family’s life would have been different.  It opened his eyes to what exists outside of the small confines of Barstow.  However, he realized he couldn’t do it without an education and the strength of character that was formed all those years ago in Barstow. 

In 2017, Havas Formula celebrated its 25^th year in business and was just recently ranked the 53 largest firm in the United States and the 88^th largest firm in the world by PR Week.

As a bi-coastal executive, Michael splits his time between Rye, NY and San Diego, California.  He lives with his girlfriend Sarah Christianson and his two kids Sophia (17) who has been visiting many colleges across the country in preparation for her academic future and son Eli (14) who spends his time playing sports – baseball, golf and basketball – chip off the old block!

   Our President Michael Olguin introduces Havas Formula at#GLM2015 in London!

 Q and A

1. Who was your mentor? How did he or she influence you?  I never really had a mentor, though the one person that really believed that I could do more was Jean Rhodes, the mother of my high school girlfriend who really believed I could go far in life if I really put my mind to it. 
2. Which high School did you attend and year of graduation?  Barstow High School, Class of 1979
3. Which was your favorite subject? Speech Communications – this is where I overcame the fears I had about public speaking.  We played a lot of charades and gave oral presentations in front of the class forcing each student to overcome their fears.
4. Advice you would like to share to a high school student. Though teachers can play an important role in your education and growth, it’s really up to you to focus, set goals and challenge yourself to truly realize your potential.  The foundation for success is education.  This cannot be trivialized or minimized. 
5. Favorite Quote  Stand up for something, or you’ll fall for anything.  Alexander Hamilton

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Mark Johnson-Professional Golfer

Mark William "Beer Man" Johnson 

 

Mark Johnson was born in Barstow, Ca on May 22,1954 to Lefty and Jackie Johnson. 

Mark attended Thompson Elementary School. While attending Barstow High School he met Carl Edwards, his favorite teacher and golf coach. "Mr. Edwards not only taught me about golf, he was my life coach without me knowing". In 1972 Mark became the first individual in Barstow history to win a CIF High School individual championship. His favorite class in high school was P.E.

He decided to forgo college and turned pro directly out of high school in 1972; he played on mini-tours around Southern California for two years, a decision which he regrets.Unable to support himself financially, Johnson regained his amateur status and for the next 18 years earned a living driving a Budweiser truck while continuing to hone his skills in amateur tournaments. (Source Wikipedia)

In 1998, at the age of 45, Johnson parked his beer truck and regained his professional status. With the sponsorship of his long-time employer, H Olson Distributing of Barstow, and a handful of local businessmen, Johnson played two years on the Canadian Tour and a year on the Nationwide Tour to prepare for the Champions Tour, which he joined after reaching the age of 50 in May 2004..

The same year Mark won the Qualifying School at the King and the Bear in Jacksonville, FL.
In 2004 Johnson won the final stage of Q-School to retain the 2005 playing privileges and won his 5th start in 2005

Johnson won his first Champions Tour event at the 2005 Toshiba Senior Classic in his 14th start. He won in spectacular fashion holing out an 89-yard wedge shot for an eagle at the 510 yard par-5 18th hole.

The Cinderella stories of guys like Mark Johnson, aka Beerman, give hope to men everywhere with dreams of making it on the Senior — ahem, Champions — Tour. CreditJeff Mermelstein for The New York Times (article)

                  

Mark had 2 mentors that he gives credit for his success, Larry Babica and Dave Stockton. While Mark was an amateur Larry Babica, friend, teacher and one of the best people he ever met. He believed  in his abilities more than Mark. "He knew more about my golf swing then I did".

Dave Stockton, a professional golfer showed Mark the ropes of golfing. His knowledge and mentor-ship gave Mark insight of what to expect after countless hours of practice on the golf course in which he would play the next tournament. "He helped me reach my dream by competing with the best players in the world".

The best advise he can give to high school students is to "Never give up and chase your dreams. Don't let anyone say you can't do it". -Mark Johnson

His favorite quote is; "I have to believe in myself, I know what I can do, what I can achieve". -Sergio Garcia

Johnson's status as a former beer truck driver has earned him somewhat of a cult following from Champions Tour galleries. It is not uncommon to hear someone shout, "Way to Go Beer Man" during rounds. Johnson embraces the Beer Man persona.

He lives in Helendale, California. He has 2 adult children Ryan and Heather. Mark is engaged to Beth Andrew-Lendway.

Mark Johnson makes Top 4 in the Top 10 shots on the Champion Tour. (3 minutes, 55 seconds)

Highlights and accomplishments

• In 2004 Johnson won the final stage of Q-School
• Winning the 2005 Toshiba Classic
• Runner-up 2006 Toshiba Classic
• Winning the California State Amateur Championship in 1996
• Most victories in Southern California Golf Association in the last 101 years.