Lee Allan Walton

LEE ALLAN WALTON

April 24, 1935 - December 20, 2016

Lee passed peacefully from cancer, his loving family by his side in the home he built in

Morgan Hill. Survived by his soul mate and wife Susan of 65 years, daughter Shawn

Walton Barreras, son Lon Walton, grandchildren Morganleigh Barreras, Luke Walton,

and Natalie Walton, son-in-law Todd Barreras, and daughter-in-law Victoria Walton.

Lee was born in Centerville (Fremont) California, a man with many interests and talents

who lived his life to the fullest. Lee loved his family, water polo, scuba and free diving

hunting, fishing, traveling, working outdoors and spending time with his friends.

Retired Army Captain, was an Army Ranger and then served as Company Commander of

his Reserve Unit in Hayward. While in college at S.J.S.U. he was in the Army R.O.T.C.

Retired Professor San Jose State University Kinesiology Department after 35 years.

Honored as Distinguish Alumnus Professor Kinesiology Department 2000. Recipient

of Professional Service Award 2016.

As an athlete played Water Polo for San Jose State 1953-1956, senior year was co-

captain of the team. 1957 was voted into the Helms Hall of Fame and the San Jose

State College Hall of Fame. Played for the San Francisco Olympic Club for 4 years

and was a member of the 1958 National A.A.U. Championship team. 1956 was

Named 1st alternate to the United States Olympic Team. Member of Blue Key

National Honor Fraternity San Jose State Chapter.

Began coaching career at Washington High School in Fremont where his swimming

and water polo teams captured 9 out of a possible 16 championships, never finishing

below 2nd in the league. Other teams in the league were Santa Clara and James Lick

Honored by the school year book as Hatchet Coach of the Year. After 4 years at

Washington High School began coaching at San Jose State.

Coached SJSU water polo team from 1961-1972 winning 14 championships.

During this time he coached: 27 players to All American status, some

honored more than 1 year, thus having players being All Americans 49 times. 8 players

honored into the San Jose State University Hall of Fame.

1 Olympian and 14 players on the United States National Team. 1967 won the Loyola

Of Chicago Invitational. His1968 SJSU team won the first National Collegiate

Championship. 1971 won the Puerto Rico International Invitational Tournament, John

Gebers Most Valuable Player. 1972 won the United States National AAU Championships

in Puerto Rico, winning this championship allowed SJSU to be the only California

college team to play the U.S.S.R. National team that won the 1972 Olympics on their tour

of the United States. Game was played at De Anza before over 1000 spectators. Honored

5 times as Northern California’s Water Polo Coach of the year. Honored by the American

Aquatics Coaches as the Outstanding Coach of the year in 1969. Throughout his career

as SJSU Water Polo coach played various National teams: Russia, Yugoslavia,

Switzerland, Venezuela, and Argentina. 1969 American Aquatic Coaches Association

Coach of the Year Banquet of Champions Santa Clara Valley Sports Hall of Fame and

Overall Coach of the Year. Santa Clara Valley Broadcasters Banquet of Champions,

Coach of the Year. Published numerous articles on Water Polo in the National Water

Polo Magazine. Developed Water Polo Decathlon. SJSU was the first team to use ear

guards on water polo caps, now used Internationally. Speaker at clinics held at

UC Berkeley, Stanford, USC, Irvine, Fresno, and San Jose. Played major role in the

formation of the N.C.A.A. Water Polo Rules Committee and Championship Tournament

Committee, secretary for organization. 1974 coached for the United States in the World

Student Games held in Moscow winning the Bronze Medal. 1975 coached Puerto Rico’s

team for the Central American games held in Cuba and for the Pan American games held

in Puerto Rico. 1976 coached Queensland, Australia teams for the Australian Nationals

where 2 of the teams won Gold. 2006-2010 coached Master’s Water Polo ages 55+ and

60+. Won 5 National Championships, 2 Senior Games Championships and 2 Fina World

Championships, one played at Stanford the other in Perth, Australia.

Most recently Lee was a member of a committee that had to raise funds to bring back

Water Polo to San Jose State University, the sport had been discontinued for 32 years.

After retiring from coaching, Lee continued teaching, and was dive master for SJSU

scuba program. Several students became World Champion Sport Divers. In the 70’s

volunteered his time to help clean the ocean floor of war debre and live ammunition in

Truk Logoon, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Micronesia to make habitats for

sea life and divers to safely enjoy.

In High School, Lee lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. Never played

water polo. While playing football for San Jose State broke his wrist, started watching

water polo and became interested in playing the sport as he saw a possibility of going

to the Olympics. His mother’s brother, Lee’s uncle, went to the Olympics in the 30’s as

as a Javalin Thrower.

N.C.A.A All American’s coached (some more than 1 year): Gary Read,

John Williamson, Jim Monsees, Frank Barnes, Bruce Hobbs (goalie), Bill Parker,

Jack Likens, Mike Runnels (goalie), Mike Albright, Steve Hoberg,

Bob Likins (goalie), Dennis Lombard (goalie), Dan Landon, Greg Hind, Tim Halley,

Dennis Belli, Bill Gerdts, Mike Monsees, Steve (Harpo) Hamann (goalie), Fred Belcher,

Jim Williamson, Ken Belli, Brad Jackson, Ed Samuels, Bruce Watson, Steve Spencer,

and John Gebers.

San Jose State University Hall of Fame: Jack Likins, Bob Likins, Greg Hind,

Brad Jackson, Steve (Harpo) Hamann, Bill Gerdts, Bruce Watson, and Ed Samuels.

National Players coached were: Bill Gerdts, leading scorer for the United States team

that won the Gold Medal at the 1972 Pan American games. Greg Hind, Jack Likins,

Bob Likins (goalie), Steve Hoberg, Tim Halley, Jim Williamson, Dennis Belli,

Dennis Lombard (goalie), John Schmidt, Steve (Harpo) Hamann (goalie), Bruce Watson,

Ed Samuels, and John Gebers.

Olympic Player: Steve Hamann, Goalie. U.S.A. boycotted games, held in Russia 1980.

World Student Games held in Russia 1974. Steve Hamann who was Voted Outstanding

Goalie of the World, Brad Jackson, John Gebers and Ed Samuels.

Member of Gustine Gun Club where he began going out to the marsh with his father at

the age of 5. Lee continued this sport with his wife by his side, his children,

grandchildren, and friends. Portion of Thanksgiving Day, this year was spent, doing

what he loved, hunting for pheasants.

He is preceded in passing by his father Allan Walton a 3rd generation of California

and his mother Josephine Walton.

He will be missed by all who walked his path. Celebration of Life to be held at the

Morgan Hill Community Cultural Center on February 26th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.