The history and pride of Vaquero athletics shined Saturday night at the 2nd annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction. Five individuals’ and one team’s talents were honored and became immortalized achievements in the eyes of the Glendale Community College family.
Frank Wykoff, Damon Bame, Ed Tucker, Virginia Manker, Andy Reid, and the 1977 women’s cross country team compiled this year’s honorees, earning their entrance into the Hall of Fame not only for their athletic achievements, but for their upstanding leadership and impact upon the college.
Frank Wykoff was inducted as an Outstanding Athlete posthumously, and his son David accepted the award . Wykoff had already made a name for himself prior to attending the college when he tied the Olympic Record in 10.6 in the 100 meters at the United States Olympic trials while a senior at Glendale High.
By the time he reached Glendale Junior College, he was widely considered the world’s fastest human being. He went on to compete and earn gold medals in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympic Games. Son David said, “he had quite a career.”
Bame was honored for Outstanding Athletic Achievement, and was grateful in his acceptance. Bame was one of the best defensive players in the history of Vaquero football, leading the 1960 team to a record of 7-2.that helped the 1961 squad to a 9-1 record. Which earned him the title of Glendale College Man of the Year and a football scholarship to USC. In 1962, he helpled lead USC to a National Championship. He remained close to the school and later becoming the defensive end coach. He has made 4 different coaching stops in his career.
Yet he has remained humble in his achievements, noting, “All the people in my life, I represent you and I thank you.”
Tucker was awarded as an Outstanding Coach, coaching track and field at Glendale College from 1954 to 1967. He led the Vaqueros to eight Western State Conference Championships and earned them the first state championship in school history in 1959.
As a coach he compiled an outstanding record of 438-39.
Tucker regarded his honor as “unspeakable as far as words go.” Of all the time he spent on the east coast, he shared that he always remembers GCC fondly, adding, “we had such a good time, such fun, repoire.”
Manker, who was a pioneer for women’s sports at the college, earned the Hall of Fame’s award for Meritorious Service. She joined Glendale in 1965 and soon realized there was a need for organized women’s competition. Manker took over as women’s athletic directorshortly before the committee on athletics of the California Community Colleges eliminated all coed sports teams and the remaining women’s sports teams were included in the existing men’s athletic conferences.
The 1977 women’s cross country team was enshrined as an Outstanding Team, going undefeated in 10 meets that year, including the WSC finals, Southern California and state championships. The team comprised of six young runners: Tina Moran, Laurel Spector, Emily Whitney, Jan Parker, Marcie Parker and Kathy Rouse, who were headed under the instruction of Dianne Spangler. To this day, their foundation remains strong, as they are the first and only women’s team in Glendale College history to win a state championship.
Reid earned the Pillar of Achievement award for his great accomplishments throughout his playing and coaching career, which has essentially led him to the National Football League. He anchored the 1977 offense which led the squad to a WSC title. During that season, Reid connected on 21 of 22 extra point attempts that season and four of five field goals as kicker to finish fourth on the team in scoring with 33 points. However, his achievements following Glendale College are what stake him as a true pillar of achievement.
Like many NFL coaches, Reid paid his dues at the college level, coaching at four different institutions. His break finally came when he was hired by Green Bay Packer coach Mike Holmgren in 1992. He became the assistant head coach of the Packers in 1997 when they won the Super Bowl. Reid left Green Bay to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, and was later named Executive Vice-President of Football Operations for the Eagles in 2001. Among his achievements, the most outstanding was being named NFL Coach of the Year in 2000.
Regarding his induction, Reid said, “without my high school coaches, my junior college coaches, and everybody else along the way, I would not have been where I am now.”
Athletic Director Jim Sartoris lauded the inductees, adding, “Once you’re a Vaq, you’re always a Vaq.”