August 2, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

On Monday, July 30, Bill Walsh, who coached football for students and pro athletes, died of leukemia. Will he be missed and what do you think his legacy will be? (Asked at Almaden Center)


“I think he showed a whole lot of class. He was the reason that we got to enjoy the golden era of football.”

Bill Kurtz, 72
Almaden
Retired


“He always was a gentleman. He appeared to be fair and treated the men on his teams well.”

Bill Sweet, 86
Almaden
Musician


“It’s sad that he died. After he took over the 49ers, he coached them from one of the worst teams in the league to four or five Super Bowls.”

Michael Dunn, 27
Almaden
Firefighter in Carmel and EMT for Valley Medical Center


“He was such a good coach. He took the 49ers from the bottom all the way to Super Bowl winners. He was unique; he based all of his plays on boxing, making the team face their opponents. He also worked with the team members financially, training the players to save and to wisely invest their money. He insisted that his players get along and work together as a team. His offensive coach, Bill McPherson, coached my husband at Santa Clara University, and he had nothing but great things to say about him.”

Eileen Giacalone, 50
Almaden
Homemaker


“I think his legacy will be as one of the top coaches ever in football. He created a different approach to offensive football. But I thought it was sad when the 49ers pushed him out the door toward the end of his career instead of keeping his expertise around. I thought it was a poor business decision."

Chad Mahoney, 40
Almaden
Mortgage broker


“I think he will be missed. I think he added class to the Bay Area and to all the football programs he was involved in.”

Brad Lyon
Almaden
Software sales


"He was probably the best coach of all time.”

Steve Ruel
Almaden
Owner, SSL Construction Products


"My family’s had 49er season tickets since 1952. I was at every game he coached and two of the Super Bowls. He made football the game it is today. His death is a huge loss."

John Gwinner
Almaden
Business manager for an architectural firm