Alumni From All Walks of Life Inducted Into OCC’s Hall of Fame

What do a renowned best-selling novelist, a chief of pediatrics for a health care center, a Minnesota Vikings place kicker, an internationally recognized artist, and the owner and founder of a Sacramento lobbying firm have in common? They’re all former Orange Coast College students and recent inductees into the college’s Alumni Hall of Fame.

Clive Cussler attended the college from 1967 through 1969 and says he owes his writing success to English professor Pat Kubis. Six of his seven novels have made the New York Times Bestseller List. Susan Huscroft graduated from OCC in 1965 and now serves as chief of pediatrics for El Monte Comprehensive Health Care Center.

Benny Ricardo, of Asuncion, Paraguay, came to the United States as a young boy and later became OCC’s place kicker during the 1971-1972 football seasons. Ricardo recognized athletic director and coach Dick Tucker for giving confirmation to his dreams of playing with the pros. Ricardo now ranks eighth on the NFL’s list of active scorers, with 433 points.

Richard Shaw attended the college from 1961 through 1963 and has had one-person art shows throughout the nation and exhibits of his work in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Holland, Great Britain and France. Cathy Barrett Sizemore was at the school from 1968 through 1972. She is the founder and owner of Sacramento Advocacy Group and regularly lobbies for the Girl and Boy Scouts, YMCA and the Camp Fire Girls.

Judianne Kelly of Costa Mesa swept the U.S. National Badminton Championships at Atlanta in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories. Kelly, 36, is a physical education teacher at Irvine Intermediate School in the Garden Grove School District and has played badminton for the past 18 years, five years professionally.

Kelly said that a triple-crown win has not been accomplished since 1972 by Pam Brady of Flint, Mich., who was Kelly’s doubles partner in this competition. Kelly teamed up with Mike Walker of Leucadia to win the mixed doubles category.

Together they share seven mixed doubles titles and are tied for the record for most mixed doubles wins, Kelly said.

Francis M. Crinella has been appointed director of the state Developmental Research Institutes. Crinella serves as director of Fairview Developmental Community (formerly Fairview State Hospital) in Costa Mesa. He will stay in this position until his successor is chosen.

The institutes research the nature of developmental disabilities and ways to improve methods of care, treatment, training and social integration for the estimated 750,000 California citizens with special developmental needs. The institutes will initially be centrally coordinated from the facility’s Fairview Institute.

Stanton American Legion Post 783 has named Harry Dotson Stanton Man of the Year for community services he has performed. Dotson is a contract administrator in the Community Development Council’s Weatherization Department. He also received a Certificate of Recognition from state Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim).

Randy Gast of Orange and Ken Beko of Santa Ana have been elected president and vice president of the Associated Students of Rancho Santiago College for the 1985-86 school year. Gast, a political science major, is currently president of the Collegiate Republicans club at the Santa Ana college and serves as an Associated Students senator. Beko is a pre-med major and also is an Associated Students senator.

Eric Dowell, 14, and Toni Stafford, 10, were chosen as the Buena Park Boys Club Boy and Girl of the Year. Eric was chosen because of his willingness to help other children learn about the club’s sports programs. Toni was selected for her participation in game activities and her leadership qualities.