I was fortunate to get to know Wally a little bit over several years. He was as nice a man as you'll ever meet under any circumstances, a true gentleman with a terrific attitude and a love for all Martial Arts. It was hard not to smile when around him.
Regardless of your style, or persuasion of fighting (Wally originally studied boxing as a kid, then Judo) if you wanted to talk Martial Arts, he was a guy to talk to, and, man, he trained with everybody. And if you were in any way, shape or form concerned with controlling a limb, balance or hold downs, better pack a lunch and take some notes because no matter how good you were, he was going to make you a whole lot better.
That's Wally and his wife, Bernice (also a Martial Artist) on Wally's 75th birthday. Wally's wearing a Maile Leaf lei that my wife had made for him in Hawaii (Wally's birthplace) and air shipped to Merrimack College where we partied after a week long training camp. That particular lei was originally reserved for royalty, which is why she picked it.
I guess you could say I was a fan of Small Circle.
