Frank Thomas

Walker Notable Sports Figures
FURTHER INFORMATION
Books
Moore, Matthew S., and Robert F. Panara. Great Deaf
Americans, 2nd edition. Rochester, NY: MSM Productions,
1996.
Periodicals
Associated Press (June 6, 1995).
Farrey, Tom. “Deafness No Barrier for Denver Lineman.”
Seattle Times (September 13, 1991): B1.
Hambleton, Ken. “Walker’s Hits Do the Talking.” Sporting
News (May 14, 1990): 41.
Keyser, Tom. “Proud Gridiron Warrior.” Calgary Herald
(September 30, 1994): C4.
Lahm, Brian. “Kenny Walker Finds Niche in Calgary
Stampeders.” Omaha World Herald (December 14,
1994): 27SF.
Other
“Atlanta Falcons Coaching Staff.” NFL.com. http://
www.nfl.com/teams/coaching/ATL (December 12,
2002).
“Kenny Walker.” About.com. http://deafness.about.com/
library/weekly/aa042401.htm (December 10, 2002).
Bill Walton
1952-
American basketball player
Sketch by Wendy Kagan
The professional basketball career of Bill Walton,
though plagued by injury, had flashes of brilliance
that prompted sportscasters to compare him with the
greatest centers in the history of the National Basketball
Association (NBA). In a pro ball career spanning thirteen
years, Walton played for three teams—the Portland
Trailblazers, the San Diego (later Los Angeles) Clippers,
and the Boston Celtics—helping to lead two of
them to national championships. Elected to the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, he was
named one of the fifty greatest players in NBA history
in 1996. Since 1990, Walton has worked as a sportscaster
covering basketball.
Hooked on Basketball Early
He was born William Theodore Walton III in La
Mesa, California, not far from San Diego, the son of a father
who worked as a music teacher and a mother who
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Bill Walton
was a librarian. Although neither of his parents had any
particular interest in athletics, preferring art, literature,
and music, Walton followed in the footsteps of his older
brother, Bruce, and gravitated toward sports. Another
major influence was Frank “Rocky” Graciano, a volunteer
coach at the Catholic elementary school Walton attended.
Young Walton’s first coach “made it [basketball]
fun and really emphasized the joy of playing the team
game,” Walton told ESPN. The game proved a haven for
Walton, who told ESPN, “I was a skinny, scrawny guy. I
stuttered horrendously, couldn’t speak at all. I was a very
shy, reserved player and a very shy, reserved person. I
found a safe place in life in basketball.” He also found
time to keep his parents happy by taking music lessons.
After an early growth spurt, Walton had reached a
height of more than six feet by the time he entered Helix
High School in La Mesa. During Walton’s junior and senior
years in high school, the Helix basketball team,
coached by Gordon Nash, won forty-nine consecutive
games to win the California Interscholastic Federal High
School title two years in a row. For his part, Walton,
who towered nearly seven feet tall as a senior, was
ranked as the best high school basketball player in the
state. Among Walton’s honors during his last two years
in high school were being named All-State and All-Conference
in both 1969 and 1970 and All-American and
Helix Athlete of the Year in 1970.
Throughout his years in elementary and high school,
Walton had avidly followed the exploits of UCLA’s bas-