In a period spanning nearly seven decades, Walter Bellamy has done well for himself.

Standing tall at 6’11”, Bellamy has made a name for himself in the world of basketball with a career lasting fourteen years, from 1961-1974. Hailing from New Bern , North Carolina , Bellamy was born on July 24, 1939 . After attending Indiana University , Bellamy became the first overall draft pick for the Chicago Packers in 1961. This pick was only the beginning of something special.

Bellamy went on to play for several NBA teams including the Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Utah Jazz. Known affectionately as “Bells,” he played against some of the most formidable men in basketball history including Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing 1,043 games throughout his entire career. Often, his skills on the court matched or exceeded those of his opponents.

Bellamy retired with one of the three best rookie seasons in NBA history. His 31.6 points per game average that season was second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 37.6 and the 19 rebounds he averaged was the third best all-time for a rookie.

“Bellamy is one of the top ten centers that ever played the game of basketball,” said Herbert Dennard, publisher of The Georgia Informer and serious basketball fan.

Bellamy has achieved numerous other accomplishments including a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, NBA Rookie of the year 1961-1962, All Big Ten at Indiana University 1960-1961, four-time NBA All Star 1962-1965, All NBA First Team 1962, as well as an inductee of NBA Hall of Fame in 1993.

When asked about his 1960 Rome Olympic team success, Bellamy noted the power of hard earned teamwork. “I like to think that we were the best team to play based on the results of the 1960 Olympics. This was the authentic dream team because we got no compensation. We were truly amateurs on that team,” Bellamy said. This dream team included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Jerry Lucas and all eventually became Basketball Hall of Famers.

After Bellamy’s retirement, his work didn’t stop there. Bellamy then became involved with the civil rights movement in Atlanta , Ga. and all over the country. Tyrone Brooks, state representative, legislator, and president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, vouches for Bellamy’s numerous contributions. “Bellamy has been very involved with the Atlanta branch of the NAACP since he retired,” he said. I have seen him working with the community with voter education, registration, and motivation, black on black crime, and encouraging African Americans to support Black owned business,” Brooks concluded. Brooks went on to comment that Bellamy’s contributions were unmatched by any other [retired] athlete that he had ever known. “We are extremely proud of his community involvement and continued service in Georgia and throughout the United States . We wish there were other retired athletes like him,” Brooks said.

Bellamy has certainly left his mark on the athletic world and the community of Atlanta , building a legacy that will never be forgotten.