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mardigan
07-30-2007, 02:01 PM
Former 49er Coach Bill Walsh Dies Of Leukemia



(CBS13) SAN FRANCISCO William Ernest Walsh, 75, the Hall of Fame coach who led the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl wins in the 1980s, died at home Monday of leukemia.

Born November 30, 1931, Walsh will be remembered as creator of the West Coast Offense, and one of the most brilliant minds ever to coach football.

Walsh began his football career began at Chatham Glenwood High School. He attended San Jose State University, where he was a boxer and wide receiver.

His first coaching job was at Washington High School in Fremont. Walsh progressed to college coaching, first at the University of California in Berkeley and then at Stanford.

In 1966 Walsh started his professional football coaching career as an assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He also worked with Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers before becoming head football coach at Stanford.

In 1979 Walsh was appointed head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. During Walsh’s decade-long stay as 49ers coach, the team won three Super Bowls and became the NFL’s flag bearer. It was during his time with the 49ers that Walsh and his coaching staff perfected the style of play now known as the West Coast Offense. In 1988 he left as coach, but acted as adviser and general manager of the 49ers.

In 1993 Walsh was elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Walsh first went public with the news of his illness in November of 2006. In 2002 Walsh suffered a loss to leukemia when his son, ABC journalist Steve Walsh, died from the disease at age 46.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells and bone marrow in which blood cells are produced. Each year 9,000 Americans die of the disease.


(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)


http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_211144518.html

BeerIsGood!
07-30-2007, 02:02 PM
Beat me to it while I looked for the link - sad to see. He's been extremely sick for a while now so I'm sure it's somewhat of a relief to end the suffering.

peewee's lovechild
07-30-2007, 02:13 PM
Great man.
Great coach.

I always admired him, even when he killed my beloved Cowboys.

Johnny_Blaze_47
07-30-2007, 02:16 PM
Damn.

Condemned 2 HelLA
07-30-2007, 02:20 PM
Great man.
Great coach.

I always admired him, even when he killed my beloved Cowboys.

He did the same thing to the Rams when I followed them when they played out here every damn year as well.
My deepest and most sincere condolences to his family.
:depressed

Fillmoe
07-30-2007, 02:31 PM
Great Coach.... Too bad I was too young to watch the 80s Niners.....


RIP

samikeyp
07-30-2007, 03:27 PM
Great man.
Great coach.

I always admired him, even when he killed my beloved Cowboys.

Amen. He won and won with class.

RIP

tlongII
07-30-2007, 03:49 PM
One of the greatest coaches of all time and a great man.


R.I.P.

E20
07-30-2007, 03:50 PM
I never really watched Football, but he seemed like a man who commanded respect and seemed just by his apperance that he was great at what he did. RIP

timvp
07-30-2007, 06:41 PM
RIP

John Patrick
07-30-2007, 07:54 PM
RIP. Damn.

Mr.Bottomtooth
07-30-2007, 07:56 PM
Great coach. Great guy. He was the perfect example of a great head coach. Rest in peace. :depressed

StylisticS
07-30-2007, 08:39 PM
I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Great coach. One of the greatest of all time and the footprint he leaves in the NFL will always be remembered. This hit the sport very hard. RIP Bill Walsh.

spurschick
07-30-2007, 08:53 PM
:toast RIP

kingsfan
07-30-2007, 10:30 PM
One of the greatest coaches of all time and a great man.


R.I.P.Agreed. Condolences to his family and friends.