Bill Walton Way’ Proposed on Stretch of Road Basketball Legend Frequented
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) - Activist Shane Harris was joined today by family members of the late Bill Walton to announce twin proposals to rename a street in San Diego and a memorial area in La Mesa after the basketball legend.
Hall of Famer Walton, the greatest basketball player San Diego produced, died in 2024 at the age of 71.
The proposals, which Harris will send to the respective cities, are asking for:
-- San Diego to rename a portion of Park Boulevard between Upas Street and Zoo Drive, a stretch that runs along the edge of Balboa Park where Walton frequently cycled, "Honorary Bill Walton Way;'' and
-- La Mesa to expand Walton's 2003 Walk of Fame display and create a "Bill Walton Square'' or "Bill Walton Corner'' near Helix High School, where his basketball journey began.
"Bill Walton was more than a basketball player -- he was the heartbeat of San Diego,'' Harris said. ``He gave his time, his voice, and his heart to the people of this city. Honoring him this way ensures that San Diego's love for Bill will live on in the streets he once walked, rode, and inspired.''
Walton was born on Nov. 5, 1952, in La Mesa, where he led the Helix Highlanders to San Diego Section championships in 1969 and 1970 and a 49-game winning streak. He was selected Player of the Year in all three of his varsity seasons at UCLA and NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973.
His wife, Lori, thanked those gathered Wednesday for remembering Bill.
"Bill gave so much of himself to this city because it gave so much to him. Our family is humbled and deeply moved by this outpouring of love,'' she said.
Walton was the first player selected in the 1974 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, and had an injury-plagued professional career, playing at least 60 games in only three seasons. He led Portland to the NBA championship in 1977 and was selected as the NBA Finals MVP and the league's MVP in the 1977-78 season, despite playing only 58 of 82 regular-season games, before playing for the hometown San Diego Clippers from 1979 through 1985 (the Clippers' first season in Los Angeles) before being traded to the Boston Celtics and winning another championship there.
Padres Hall of Famer and longtime sports broadcaster Ted Leitner spoke Wednesday about Walton's character and impact.
"Bill was a force of nature,'' Leitner said. ``His love for people, for this city, and for life itself was unmatched.''
Walton overcame a stutter to become an Emmy-winning broadcaster. He began his broadcasting career in 1990 as an analyst on Clippers' telecasts.
Walton was also an analyst for CBS, ESPN, ABC and the Pac-12 Networks, winning a Sports Emmy for best live television sports telecast in 1991 and being selected as one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association in 2009.
"Bill didn't just live in San Diego -- he belonged to it,'' Harris said. "Now, this city will forever belong to him."
Walton is survived by his wife Lori and sons Adam, Chris, Nate and Luke.
Walton considered himself a lifelong San Diegan and had lived in the same home near Balboa Park for over 40 years.
