By Joe Pisani
BRIDGEPORT—He’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated. His high school basketball records from his years at Kolbe are unchallenged. He scored more points than any other high school basketball player in New England history. He’s a legend in the sports world and in the community. And now, Walter E. Luckett Jr. has a street named after him, right beside the school he loves.
Several hundred people came out July 25 to pay tribute to a man beloved for his community initiatives and unselfish commitment to young people. They gathered to dedicate Walter Luckett Way at the high school he attended until 1972, when he was named National High School Player of the Year.
The Kolbe Cathedral Prep gym was filled with friends, family members, business associates, former classmates, clergy, civic and political leaders, and residents who showed up to honor an athlete described as the “epitome of community service — a humble man of family and faith who sees the potential in people and brings them together because he knows success is never achieved alone.”
One by one, they came forward to praise the star basketball player whose promising career was cut short by a knee injury, but who came back to Bridgeport to do great things for the city and for young people.
Luckett, who turned 73 on July 24, was joined by his wife Valita of almost 53 years, who has been his lifelong partner in community service and the vice president of the Walter E. Luckett Foundation, which he founded to provide programs for youth in need of additional support.
Among those paying tribute was U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal who said, “Walter is a basketball star, but his real claim to fame is that he is a role model to countless kids. He’s also an example that there’s no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
Looking into the audience, Blumenthal said Luckett has touched people from different races, ethnic backgrounds, politics and faiths, and united them in a common cause.
“He’s more than just a sports star,” Blumenthal said. “Walter Luckett is a great human being.”
Mayor Joe Ganim, joined by members of the City Council, read a proclamation making it Walter Luckett Day in Bridgeport.
His longtime friend Terry O’Connor, former executive director of the Cardinal Shehan Center and recently retired chair of the Kolbe board, put it this way: “He’s a genuine, down-to-earth guy who never flaunted his achievements and who despite his success remained humble and committed to giving back.” Luckett served with O’Connor on the boards of Kolbe and the Shehan Center.
Luckett was gracious in his response and gave all the credit to the community and those who helped him, particularly to his parents and others in the Bridgeport neighborhood where he grew up.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said. “I wanted to make sure this was a community celebration, and it is. What more can I ask for?”
His message to young people was simple: “Education is paramount. I can’t emphasize that enough. You can be the best basketball player in the world, but your backup should be your education.”
Valita Luckett also expressed her gratitude, first of all to God.
“Our heart is full, full of the love and support displayed here today,” she said. “The many calls, cards, texts, emails all indicated that this honor is indicative of the friendships, relationships and partnerships developed in support of Walt and the contributions he made to Bridgeport, not only in sports years ago, but more importantly, to the community work he’s done to give back and share his blessings. It is certainly a humbling experience and a dream come true. For Walt to smell the roses while he is alive is an honor and a blessing.”
She mentioned the loss of many loved ones in recent years, including the recent passing of his brother Larry and said, “He [Walter] is reminded of and cognizant of the fragility of life, and the need to use time wisely and to know he still has miles to go before he sleeps.”
Later, the group gathered on the corner of Washington Avenue and Calhoun Place.
“This is a celebration of community, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a lot of people,” Luckett said as the sign “Walter Luckett Way” was unveiled to a burst of applause. His street is between the school and Kolbe’s Louis V. Gerstner III Center for Students and Families.
“This is truly awesome, and I hope it will be here forever,” he said. “I know my mother and father are looking down and smiling. The seed was planted long ago, and I am trying to provide water. You can’t do it alone.” Then, he told the crowd, “Bridgeport rocks.”
Luckett played for Kolbe from 1968 to 1972 and was named National High School Player of the Year in 1972. He scored 2691 points, still the highest total in the New England Region. As a junior, he led Kolbe to the state championship victory, and as a college freshman at Ohio University, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. From 1972 until 1975, he played for the Ohio Bobcats and was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, but an injury prevented him from playing.
He returned to his hometown, earned a degree from University of Bridgeport, got an MBA from University of New Haven and went to work at Unilever as manager of community relations.
Kolbe Principal Camille Figluizzil said, “Mr. Luckett is the perfect model of an outstanding human being who cares for others and never forgets the gifts he was given. He continues to show up for the Kolbe community. He attends some of our basketball games to cheer our athletes on and impart messages that give students technical basketball cues, but more importantly positive and encouraging ways of thinking.”
Each year, hHe and Valita deliver an introduction to the work world curriculum each year and introduce 11th -graders to paid internships.
“Walter Luckett Jr. builds a stronger community by believing in its people,” said Valencia Goodridge, president of the New Haven Metropolitan Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. “He is a mentor, a coach, a visionary—and Bridgeport has always been home. Through Kolbe High School, youth mentoring, ECHO Perfect 10, Adult Financial Literacy, the Walking While Black community policing initiative, and his partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, he continues to show young people that excellence is within reach.”
Lorraine Gibbons, executive director of the Shehan and McGivney centers, said, “Walter is the epitome of someone who loves the community and wants to give back, especially so students can have better outcomes. He’s really a humble person. He and Valita are all about kindness and being positive.”
