Corky McMillin

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Macey L. "Corky" McMillin Jr. (January 14, 1929 – September 22, 2005) was a well-known off-road desert racer, philanthropist and land developer.

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[edit] Biography

When he was 14, Corky and his family moved from a small Missouri town to Chula Vista, California. Corky started a small construction company in Bonita, California in 1960, with his wife, Vonnie, who handled accounting duties. In 2000, because of his contributions to the community, an elementary school in Chula Vista was named after him.

While McMillin was busy building houses, his passion was taking his family to the Imperial Sand Dunes on the weekends. As sons Mark and Scott got older, McMillin decided to try his hand at off-road racing. His first venture into a competitive event came at the 1976 Baja 1000 with his son, Mark. Although the father-son team did not finish that first race, Corky kept after it and his first win came in the 1979 Baja 1000. McMillin went on to win many more races including the Baja 500, Baja 1000, Parker 400, San Felipe 250, and Fireworks 250, most of them multiple times. Over the years, McMillin won three SCORE Points Championships and on two occasions won overall titles at both the San Felipe 250 and the Baja 500. As the McMillin Companies continued to prosper, Corky expanded into different markets, including Liberty Station, a 361-acre conversion project on the site of the former San Diego Naval Training Center. He ventually became one of the largest private developers in the country.

The Corky McMillin Cos. donated $1.5 million to enhance the real estate program at San Diego State University's College of Business Administration.[1] In the Poway Unified School District, McMillin contributed to anti-drug programs through Partners in Education.[2]

Corky McMillin died at the age of 76 less than two weeks after he had a heart attack while racing in his final desert race, the SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300.

While his sons continue to run the family business -- Corky McMillin Companies -- his daughter, Laurie Ann Ray, an interior designer who is also on the board of directors of the family's corporation, decorates the company's model homes.[3]

[edit] Career awards

2006 inductee in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame City of Hope Spirit of Life Award in 1985

[edit] References

[edit] External links