Walt Torrence

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Walt Torrence

| number= 22

| image = Walt Torrence.jpg{{!}}border

| image_size =

| caption = Torrence with UCLA, c. 1959

| height_ft =6

| height_in =3

| weight_lb = 180

| nationality = American

| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|7|31}}

| birth_place=

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|9|20|1937|7|31}}

| death_place = Carmichael, California

| highschool =Grant Union (Sacramento, California)

| college = UCLA (1956–1959)

| draft_year = 1959

| draft_round = 8

| draft_pick = 58

| draft_team = New York Knicks

| career_position = Guard

| career_start=

| career_end=

| highlights =

Third-team All-American – UPI (1959)
First-team All-PCC (1959)
Second-team All-PCC (1958)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }}

}}

Walter Alexander Torrence{{cite news|title=Weekend's Bloody Traffic Toll Claims Three Lives|date=September 25, 1969|newspaper=Auburn Journal|page=A-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25925527/|accessdate=December 3, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} (July 31, 1937 – September 20, 1969) was an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He earned all-conference honors in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) as a junior, and was named an All-American as a senior in 1959. After college, Torrence joined the United States Army. He was one of five Army members on the US national basketball team which won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1963.

Early life

Growing up in Sacramento, California, at age nine, Torrence played basketball at Lincoln Christian Center after school. When the other boys went home for dinner, he would stay and practice, and still be there when they came back after eating. He would get back home around 8:00{{nbsp}}p.m., get in trouble and sometimes be spanked, but continue to stay out late anyway.{{cite news|last=Hyland|first=Dick|title=Walt Torrence Hard Worker|date=December 27, 1958|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25780776/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 28, 2018}}{{open access}} Torrence later played basketball at Grant Union High, leading them to an undefeated season in 1954–55.{{cite news|title=Walt Torrence Dies of Crash Injuries|date=September 23, 1969|newspaper=Independent|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25893527/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}} He also competed in track, finishing tied for second in the high jump at the 1955 state meet and establishing a personal best of {{convert|6|ft|6|in}}.{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Penella|title=Wooden Eyes Choice Performer|date=January 11, 1956|newspaper=Citizen-News|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news/156810708/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=October 11, 2024}}

College career

File:Anderson-Jimmy-1959.jpg

Torrence attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and played guard for the Bruins basketball team for three seasons (1956–1959). Despite not being exceptionally tall or strong at {{convert|6|ft|3|in}} and {{convert|180|lb}}, he led the team in rebounding for three straight seasons. As a sophomore in 1956–57 season, he was named the Bruins' top first-year varsity player.{{cite news|title=Three Awards Go To UCLA's Banton|date=March 14, 1957|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part IV, p. 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26495483/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 24, 2018}}{{open access}} He received honorable mention from conference coaches for the All-PCC team,{{cite news|title=Cal's Friend on PCC Coaches All-Star Five|date=March 13, 1957|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|at=Sec. II, p. 10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26495662/|accessdate=December 24, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and was named third-team All-Coast by United Press International (UPI).{{cite news|title=Baylor of Seattle Top U.P. All-Coast Team|date=March 8, 1957|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26495567/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 24, 2018}}{{open access}}

In 1957–58, Torrence averaged 12.4 points per game to finish second on the Bruins behind senior center Ben Rogers, who scored one more point (324–323).{{cite news|title=Rogers Wins Bruins Point Title|date=March 17, 1958|newspaper=The Independent|page=C-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26495836/|accessdate=December 24, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Torrence earned second-team All-PCC honors,{{cite news|title=Northwest Puts 4 On PCC All-Star 5|date=March 14, 1958|newspaper=The News-Review|page=8|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26495976/|accessdate=December 24, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and was also named second-team All-Pacific Coast by UPI.{{cite news|title=Gambee Is Picked on UP Coast Five|date=March 14, 1958|newspaper=Corvallis Gazette-Times|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26496020/|accessdate=December 24, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Entering the 1958–59 season, Torrence was the only returning full-time starter for UCLA. By then, he had also become a notable high jumper on the Bruins' track team.{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Seth|title=Wooden: A Coach's Life|page=163|year=2014|publisher=Times Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXLWAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22walt%20torrence%22%20wooden&pg=PA163|isbn=9780805099416|accessdate=November 29, 2018}} UCLA basketball coach John Wooden called him the best player on the team, which also included future Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson and future two-time national championship coach Denny Crum.{{cite book|last=Wooden|first=John|title=Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization|page=11|year=2005|publisher=McGraw Hill Professional|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F1QQ7ToNyxgC&pg=PA11 |isbn=9780071467100|accessdate=November 29, 2018}} Torrence became the fourth player in UCLA history to score over 1,000 points in his career.{{cite news|last=Kendall|first=John D.|title=UCLA's Walt Torrence Rates As All-American|date=February 10, 1959|agency=United Press International|page=5|newspaper=La Grange Observer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25839175/|accessdate=November 30, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} He led the PCC in scoring with 344 points, averaging 21.4 points per game,{{cite news|title=Torrence, Smart Take Top Honors|date=March 20, 1959|newspaper=Register Guard|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25900387/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}} and was the only unanimous selection for the first-team All-PCC.{{cite news|title=UCLA Star Paces All-PCC Selections|date=March 13, 1959|newspaper=The Daily Sun|page=C-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25900742/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}} Torrence finished the season with overall averages of 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, which were both ranked second in school history at the time behind Willie Naulls.{{cite web|title=UCLA To Induct Eight New Members Into Athletics Hall Of Fame This Friday|date=October 6, 2009|publisher=UCLA Athletics|url=https://uclabruins.com/news/2009/10/6/207902971.aspx?path=wsoc|accessdate=December 24, 2018}} Torrence was voted a third-team All-American by UPI, and he was also a first-team selection by the Converse Basketball Yearbook and the Helms Athletic Foundation.{{efn|UPI was used to complile the consensus All-American team that year. Converse (1932–1948) and Helms (1929–1948) had also been used in the past.{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Gary K.|title=NCAA Men's Basketball Finest|journal=Ncaa Men's Basketball's Finest|pages=187, 211|year=2005|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketballs_finest/2005/m_basketball_finest.pdf|issn=1521-2955|accessdate=December 25, 2018}}}}{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Norman|title=Robertson Tops Voting For All-America Team|date=March 3, 1959|newspaper=Daily Leader-Times|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25778500/simpsons_leadertimes/|accessdate=November 29, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news|title=Converse All-American Selection System Tops|date=February 19, 1960|newspaper=The Journal-Tribune|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25861869/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 30, 2018}}{{open access}}{{cite news|title=Harman Is On Foundation Second Team All-American|date=April 2, 1959|newspaper=Gazette-Times|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25862404/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 30, 2018}}{{open access}} The University of California system named him their athlete of the year for 1959.{{cite news|title=UCLA Hoops Star Wins Top Honors|date=October 19, 1959|newspaper=Daily Independent Journal|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25899849/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}}

Torrence finished his UCLA career with averages of 15.3 points and 8.5 rebounds, leaving the school ranked second in scoring average, and third in both total points and career rebounds. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. Through the 2017–18 season, his final season averages of 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds still ranked fifth all-time among UCLA seniors.{{cite web|last=Timiraos|first=Alex|title=2018–19 UCLA Men's Basketball Information Guide|year=2018|publisher=UCLA Athletic Communications Office|page=127|url=https://uclabruins.com/documents/2018/10/15/MBKB_19MG_107_128.pdf|accessdate=December 25, 2018}} Wooden included Torrence among former players he would choose for his all-time 2-2-1 zone press unit.{{efn|Wooden also named Keith Erickson, Gail Goodrich, Keith Wilkes (known later as Jamaal Wilkes), and Sidney Wicks.{{cite news|last=Terbush|first=Don|title=Sideline Slants|date=June 29, 1975|newspaper=The Times-Standard|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25753305/|accessdate=November 27, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}}}

US Army

File:Walt Torrence 1962.jpg

Selected by the New York Knicks in the eighth round of the 1959 NBA draft,{{cite news|title=Harman Choice of SL Hawks|date=April 1, 1959|newspaper=Medford Mall Tribune|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26399702/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 21, 2018}}{{open access}} Torrence instead joined the US Army. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1960, and was stationed at Angel Island in California in his first year. He was a captain by 1965, when he took command of Headquarters Battery, 5th Missile Battalion at Olathe Naval Air Station in Kansas.{{cite news|title=Captain in Command|date=June 17, 1965|newspaper=The Kansas City Times|page=4A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25861291/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 30, 2018}}{{open access}}

Torrence competed in the 1962 Military Olympics in Germany. In 1963, he was the captain of the Armed Forces team that won the United States trials for the Pan American Games. It was the first time that the military services won the trials.{{cite news|title=Service Stars Win Pan-American Trials|date=April 3, 1963|newspaper=Springfield Daily News|agency=Associated Press|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25862861/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}} Torrence was one of five Armed Forces members, all from the Army, who were selected for the 12-man US national team at the 1963 PanAm Games in Brazil.{{cite news|title=U.S. Cagers Named For PanAm Games|date=April 4, 1963|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|page=14|agency=UPI|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25861657/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}} The US won the gold medal, but Torrence played in just three games after returning home due to the death of his father.{{cite web|title=FOURTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1963|date=June 10, 2010|publisher=USA Basketball|url=https://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/fourth-pan-american-games-1963.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404144932/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/fourth-pan-american-games-1963.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2015|accessdate=December 24, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Walt Torrence Father Dies|date=May 1, 1963|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26493654/|accessdate=December 24, 2018|via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} He was also a member of the US squad which finished fourth at the 1963 World Championship.{{cite news|title=United States Cage Cub Bites Dust In Brazil|date=May 31, 1963|newspaper=The Mexia Daily News|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25898921/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=December 2, 2018}}{{open access}}

Death

On September 20, 1969, Torrence died at age 32 in Mercy San Juan Hospital in Carmichael, California, from injuries suffered in a car accident near Sacramento. He was a passenger in a car on Interstate 80 about {{convert|1/4|mi|m|abbr=on}} west of Alta that went off the center divide, hit a concrete drain box, and glanced off an oncoming car.{{cite news|title=Three die in county auto accidents during weekend|date=September 22, 1969|newspaper=The Press-Tribune|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25753189/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 27, 2018}}{{open access}} His wife Ada and four children—Sandra, Alex, Gregory, and Raymond—received a court-approved settlement of $25,000 from the driver and owners of the vehicle.{{cite news|title=Walt Torrence Family Awarded Settlement|date=July 30, 1970|newspaper=Auburn Journal|page=B-5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25839133/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 30, 2018}}{{open access}}