[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 64 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E835-E836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF CHET ``THE JET'' WALKER'S NOMINATION TO THE NBA HALL OF 
                                  FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2002

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lend my voice to the many 
who are supporting Chet Walker's nomination to the National Basketball 
Association (NBA) Hall of Fame.
  Chet ``The Jet'' Walker is from Benton Harbor, Michigan. Now for 
those of you who don't know about Chet Walker, you need to know a 
little bit about Benton Harbor first. It is one of the untapped gems of 
our state, resting along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is a community 
filled with spirit, grit and determination and that's exactly how Chet 
Walker played the game.
  Chet Walker left Bradley University as the school's all-time leading 
scorer and re-bounder. He led Bradley to the NIT title in 1960. After 
his college days were done, he began a 13-year professional career with 
the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls. During 
his NBA career, Walker averaged 18.2 points per game and 7.1 rebounds 
per game. He was a member of the NBA's All-Rookie team in 1963 and was 
a seven-time NBA All-Star. He was a key member of the 1967 Philadelphia 
76ers who only lost 13 games--considered by many to be the greatest NBA 
team ever.
  When he retired in 1975, Chet Walker was only the eighth player in 
NBA history to play in more than 1,000 games. One of the most 
remarkable highlights of his career was that he only missed 21 games in 
13 NBA seasons. He was there, night after night, for his teammates, his 
coaches and the fans. I think many of us who have competed in 
athletics, politics or in business, understand that having someone you 
can count on day after day as part of your team is one of the most 
valuable contributions a person can make to a group effort.

[[Page E836]]

Chet Walker is that kind of person. He is a contributor, a leader and a 
team-player.
  Chet Walker is also a man of character and integrity. In his current 
career as an independent film producer, he is working on a documentary 
for Katherine Drexel. She was a nun who taught freed slaves as they 
worked toward independence. He won an Emmy for a movie he produced 
about Isiah Thomas' mother called ``A Mother's Courage.'' These are 
films that capture real world feelings about challenging issues. They 
are, indeed, films that make you think. It wouldn't surprise me if one 
day ``Hall of Famer'' Chet Walker wins an Oscar. He has set that as his 
next personal goal, and knowing the way he takes on a challenge, I 
believe he will meet that goal.
  But we should never forget just how skilled Chet Walker was at the 
game he loved. He was a great basketball player. On one hand, he could 
lead a team, like Bradley, to a title. On the other hand, he could play 
a key role in scoring nearly 15 points a game on a team, the 
Philadelphia 76ers, with Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Lucious Jackson 
and Billy Cunningham which not only won the title, but was one of the 
best NBA teams of all time. Chet Walker could rise to the occasion when 
he had to, but he always knew that to be a winner the team had to come 
first. A lesson for all of us to remember.
  For his skills and for his character, Chet Walker has earned his 
place in the NBA Hall of Fame, and I sincerely hope the Honors 
Committee selects him as part of the 2002 Hall of Fame class.

                          ____________________