By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Miriam Raftery:  Left, Bill Walton at La Mesa's centennial in 2012; right, Walton at La Mesa Boys & Girls Club in 2014

May 27, 2024 (La Mesa)—NBA Hall of Famer and former Helix High School superstar  Bill Walton, 71, died this morning surrounded by his family after a prolonged battle with cancer. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Walton later became an award-winning sportscaster. But he also won hearts and minds in the La Mesa community through his philanthropic efforts, including raising millions of dollars to build the Bill Walton Gymnasium at the Boys & Girls Club in La Mesa, where he was mentored in his youth.

NBA Commission Adam Silver issued a statement recalling Walton as “truly one of a kind. As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50^th and 75^th Anniversary Teams.”  As a broadcaster, Walton overcame lifelong stuttering to deliver “insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans,” said Silver.

He added,  “What I will remember most about him was his zest for life.  He was a regular presence at league events—always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth.” Silver said that he envied Walton’s “boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”

Born November 5, 1952,  Walton developed an early love for sports.  As a boy, he watched the San Diego Chargers play at Sunset Park near Lake Murray.  “I saw all those guys and I dreamed,” he said in a speech at a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club gymnasium that now bears his name.