Corky McMillin
Encyclopedia
Macey L. “Corky” McMillin Jr. (January 14, 1929 – September 22, 2005) was a well-known off-road desert
racer, philanthropist and land developer.
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 acres (1.5 km²) conversion project on the site of the former San Diego Naval Training Center. He eventually 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.http://goliath.ecnext.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2750&item_id=0199-3573609 In the Poway Unified School District, McMillin contributed to anti-drug programs through Partners in Education.http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/partners/corkymcmillin.htm
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.http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/23/homes/18_48_302_22_07.txt
City of Hope Spirit of Life Award in 1985
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
racer, philanthropist and land developer.
Biography
When he was fourteen, 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
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
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 500
SCORE Baja 500 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in early June. The Baja 500 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, San Felipe 250 and Primm 300. The event includes various types of vehicle classes such as small and large bore motorcycles,...
, Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
, Parker 400, San Felipe 250
San Felipe 250
Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in late February or early March. The San Felipe 250 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and Primm 300...
, and Fireworks 250, most of them multiple times. Over the years, McMillin won three SCORE
SCORE International
SCORE International is an off-road sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing and is famous for its flagship event, the Baja 1000 as well as the Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. SCORE races are held in United States and Mexico...
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
Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a project that involves the conversion of San Diego, California's former Naval Training Center into a mixed-use community that includes several distinct districts...
, a 361 acres (1.5 km²) conversion project on the site of the former San Diego Naval Training Center. He eventually 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
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
's College of Business Administration.http://goliath.ecnext.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2750&item_id=0199-3573609 In the Poway Unified School District, McMillin contributed to anti-drug programs through Partners in Education.http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/partners/corkymcmillin.htm
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
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
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.http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/23/homes/18_48_302_22_07.txt
Career awards
2006 inductee in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of FameOff-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is located inside the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.-History:In 1966, Ed Pearlman cofounded the first exclusively off-road racing organization, called the National Off-Road Racing Association...
City of Hope Spirit of Life Award in 1985