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Davitt leads inductees for 2009 Hall of Fame |
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by Alex Leon, Sports Information Director
“Unless Harley riding is a sport, I probably have no business being here tonight,’’ said former Superintendent/President Dr. John Davitt. “But since I am, I would like to thank several individuals from the college who have more to do with campus development and creating new athletic facilities than I ever did.’’ Davitt’s comments as the last of six inductees capped off a perfect night as five individuals and one team took their place in the Glendale Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony and banquet took place Saturday, March 21, 2009 on campus at the J. Walter Smith Student Center. Jeff Nelson, George McGowan, Steve Moore, Tony Spino, the 1978 women’s volleyball team and Davitt were inducted that evening. Nelson was the individual state champion in cross country for the Vaqs in 1980 and also helped his squad win the team title. He held the high school record in the two-mile in 8:36.3 for almost 30 years until it was broken this past spring. McGowan and Moore were All-American teammates on the 1967 football team at wide receiver and were also teammates at Glendale High. McGowan went on to become a record setting receiver in the Canadian Football League. He was named CFL Player of the Year in 1973 and was named to its hall of fame in 2003. After his playing days, Moore was a long-time assistant for the Seattle Seahawks. Dr. Davitt was the Superintendent/President at the college from 1985 to 2006, and the athletic facilities improved greatly during his tenure, including the construction of the six tennis courts on Mountain St. and the renovation of Sartoris Field in 2005. Spino was a student-trainer at Glendale from 1968-70. He has been a trainer at UCLA for 35 years and has been on the staff of 19 NCAA Championship teams. He was also a trainer for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks from 1975-79. The 1978 women’s volleyball team won the Western State Conference title and finished fourth in the state. The team was coached by Dianne Spangler. “The spirit of the hall of fame was on display tonight and Davitt’s comments about what is good and great about the college was right on,’’ said former men’s athletic director Jim Sartoris. “Combine Davitt with a great women’s volleyball team, George McGowan and Steve Moore, whom I coached and are great guys and Jeff Nelson who was one of the best runners we have ever had. “And then you have Tony Spino, whose story practically brings you to tears. I don’t know of any other school that puts on this kind of event that gets better and better each year.’’ & |
