Cuesta dedicates gym to Dr. Gil Stork
Cuesta College President Dr. Jill Stearns (in Cuesta jersey), Dr. Stork, Vice-President of Cuesta College Trustees Barbara George, and Cuesta Athletic Director Bob Mariucci, brother of former 49er coach Steve Mariucci, and student athletes representing (wrestling, volleyball, women’s basketball and men’s basketball).
–Saturday night, Cuesta College formally dedicated its gym as the “Dr. Gil H. Stork Gymnasium”, honoring the former college president.
Stork started working at Cuesta in 1967 as a football coach. Over 51 years, he taught math, coached football and baseball, and served in various administrative position. He retired as college president several years ago.
Stork is the longest serving Cuesta Employee in college history. Among his accomplishments, he spearheaded the drive to build a North County Cuesta College campus in Paso Robles. He also promoted Measure L, the first Cuesta College bond measure to gain passage in more than 40 years.
Among those to attend the celebration Saturday night at “Stork Gym,” Warren Hanson, the former Cuesta Athletic Director who convinced Stork to accept a position as an assistant football coach. 97-year-old Dr. Frank Martinez also attended. Martinez also served as President of Cuesta College.
At the outset of his speech at the new Stork Gym, Stork praised Cuesta basketball coach Rusty Blair for his 500th victory Saturday night. Blair was a student at San Luis Obispo High School in 1968, when Stork taught there.
While he was in college, Stork played on the ill-fated 1960 Cal Poly football team. He was on the charter plane which crashed shortly after taking off in Ohio following a game against Bowling Green University. He said his second chance at life, which was taken from many of his teammates, inspired him to give back to his community as an educator.
Comments
