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Glendale college honors its own with Hall of Fame ceremony

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GLENDALE — Mark McMillian admits he was a “hard-headed kid” when he came out of Granada Hills Kennedy High in the late-1980s.

He found his way to Glendale Community College to compete in track and field. However, with the help of two individuals whom McMillan credits as being tremendous influences in his life, Jim Sartoris and John Cicuto, he became a standout in football.

“When I came to the college to run track, coach Sartoris and coach Cicuto kind of put me under their wings and really helped to mold an unmolded kid and made me what I am today,” McMillian said.

“Glendale college is the place that gave me my start and wherever I go, I pay homage to those two guys for what they did for me in my life. …I would say those guys are probably about 90% responsible for helping me be successful on the football field and in life.”

McMillian became an All-American for the Vaqueros at defensive back in 1988 and continued his collegiate career at the University of Alabama. He played eight years in the NFL with five teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. He finished his career with 23 interceptions.

McMillian returned to Glendale college Saturday and was one of the latest inductees into the Glendale Community College Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the college’s J. Walter Smith Student Center. McMillian was joined by fellow honoree Cicuto, his former coach. Also honored were Kelly Korras, Harry Hull, Hudson Houck and the 1974 men’s cross-country team.

The induction ceremony took part in the college’s gym to accommodate a crowd of more than 300.

“What is wonderful is to see all the former players who I have known over the years, like Mark McMillan,” Cicuto said. “I think we have a special place here at Glendale college and we have had our share of great athletes come through here over the years.

“But for me to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, well I’m humbled, honored and overwhelmed. To be in the company of the people who have been inducted into this over the years is just such an honor.”

Cicuto is a former Vaqueros head football coach and is currently serving as the college’s athletic director.

With its first induction class honored in 2002, Glendale college has saluted its share of outstanding athletes, including current NFL head coach Andy Reid, former Olympic gold medal swimmer Cathy Ferguson, world-record and Olympic gold-medal sprinter Frank Wykoff and former Major League Baseball player Wally Ritchie.

Helping originally bring the Hall of Fame to Glendale college 13 years ago was Hull, who took his place among those he helped enshrine over the years.

“It is definitely something that is near and dear to my heart,” said Hull, who is the past president of the GCC Foundation and has served as the emcee and chair of the HOF committee. “It has grown to beyond what we thought it was going to be. It is just so great for Glendale college. It is just a privilege to be a part of it.”

Houck played football for one year at GCC in 1961 before moving to USC where he played on the Trojans’ 1962 national championship team. A former coach at Crescenta Valley and at USC, Houck spent 29 years in the NFL from 1983-2011 as an offensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers.

“The college did a lot for me from the standpoint that it got me on the right road academically and we had a really good football team that helped me get a scholarship to USC,” said Houck, who has coached on two Super Bowl championship teams and coached four players who have been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

“When you look up there on the board and see the quality of athletes who have made it into the Hall of Fame, I just feel honored to be among them.”

Korras was another inductee who credited Cicuto for helping her become successful in athletics and beyond. She was an All-Western State Conference softball pitcher for the Vaqueros in 2008 and continued her collegiate career at the University of Hawaii-Chaminade. In addition, Korras also pitched for the South African National Team.

“This is so overwhelming,” she said. “To be inducted with such great people and such great athletes is definitely an honor. To be inducted with coach Cicuto is also very special. He has been a mentor for me in athletics. …This just means so much to me.”

Coached by John Tansley, a 2006 Hall of Fame inductee, the 1974 Vaqueros’ men’s cross-country team won a state championship, the first in the sport in school history.

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