CHRIS CHANDLER – Football
One of the most versatile high school athletes in state history, Chris Chandler went on to become a star quarterback at the University of Washington and then on to an 18-year NFL career. Chandler lettered in five sports at Everett High School before entering the UW. He was a two-time bowl MVP for the Huskies and threw 34 career touchdown passes.
As a pro, Chandler is best known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 after the Falcons went 14-2 in the regular season. Chandler was drafted by Indianapolis and also played for Tampa Bay, Arizona, the Rams in Los Angeles and St. Louis, Houston, and Chicago.
During his NFL career, he passed for 170 touchdowns and more than 28,000 yards. He was named to two Pro Bowl teams.
JAMES EDWARDS – Basketball
James Edwards, the 7-footer from Roosevelt High School played 19 seasons in the NBA for eight teams following an All-American career at the University of Washington. He won NBA championship rings with Detroit in 1989 and 1990 and with the Chicago Bulls in 1996. He averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds during his pro career.
As a Husky, Edwards was a four-year letterman and averaged 20.9 points and 10.4 rebounds as a senior. As a junior, he led the Huskies to a 23-5 record in the 1975-76 season and the school’s first NCAA appearance since 1953.
Nicknamed “Buddha” for his stoic demeanor and Fu Manchu mustache that he sported during his NBA days, Edwards was known for his turnaround fadeway that was difficult to block. James led Roosevelt High to the big-school state basketball championship in 1973.
ROSALYNN SUMNERS – Figure Skating
Rosalynn Sumners, who grew up in Edmonds, was the world figure skating champion in ladies singles in 1983 and the Olympic silver medalist the next year in Sarajevo, barely being edged for the gold medal by Katarina Witt of East Germany.
Roz was the three-time U.S. champion in 1982-84 and the world junior champion in 1980. Under the watchful eye of coach Lorraine Borman, Sumners balanced her athleticism and artistry which helped give her that competitive edge. After the Olympics, Sumners turned professional and toured with Disney on Ice and was an original cast member of the Stars on Ice tour.
Inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2001, Fifth Avenue in Edmonds was renamed “Rosalynn Sumners Boulevard” in 1984.
JOHN OWEN – Media
A talented columnist, John Owen wrote for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for 36 years, until 1993, and seven times was named state sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
Hired by legendary Seattle columnist Royal Brougham, Owen was sports editor as well as columnist for much of that span and wrote six columns a week including a popular food column “Intermediate Eater” that he continued to write after retiring.
Owen wrote nine books on sports, travel and food and had more than 50 articles published in national magazines. He covered the Ali-Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” fight, six Olympiads and numerous major national events such as World Series and Super Bowls. Many readers knew him best for his insightful commentary on franchises such as the Sonics, Seahawks and Mariners that arrived when he was a columnist.
GEORGE POCOCK – Crew
George Pocock was one of the pivotal behind-the-scenes figures in “The Boys in the Boat,” the story of the 1936 University of Washington eight-oared crew that won the Olympic Gold Medal in front of Hitler in Germany.
Pocock was a native of England, where he was a champion sculler and learned boatbuilding as an apprentice to his father, the boatbuilder for Eton College. After emigrating to Canada, Pocock was invited by UW rowing coach Hiram Conibear to establish his shell-building business on campus. He mentored UW coaches and athletes and became famous internationally as a boat-builder and rowing authority. He was boatman for U.S. Olympic crews in 1936, 1948, 1952 and 1956. He was the 1948 Seattle Post-Intelligencer sports star of the year.
The company Pocock Racing Shells continues to build shells for crews throughout the United States and internationally.
JOYCE WALKER – Basketball
Joyce Walker is considered by many to be the best female basketball player the state has produced. She led Garfield to a state championship and in the 1980 tournament opener outscored the entire Renton team with 40 points in a 68-35 victory.
Walker starred at Louisiana State in the early 1980s where she averaged 25 points and, as of 2022, still holds the NCAA record for career field goals with 1,259. That was before the 3-point shot. As of 2022, Walker was the 17th leading all-time college women’s basketball scorer with 2,906 points. A two-time All-American, she is in the Louisiana State Hall of Fame as well as the National High School Hall of Fame.
Joyce played professionally in Italy and Germany and later became the third woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. After her playing days, she returned to her alma mater to coach the Bulldogs’ girls’ team.
