Bill Bertka, a former assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach at Allan Hancock College, will be the featured guest speaker at “The Valley Speaks” event on July 30 at the Santa Maria Public Library.
In addition to winning five NBA championship rings with the Lakers, Bertka led the Bulldogs to a state junior college championship in 1957, at one point winning 41 straight games. Bertka also played for the semipro Santa Maria Golden Dukes basketball team in the early 1950s.
“The Valley Speaks” is a free event held monthly at Shepard Hall, co-sponsored by the library and the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society.
For more information, call the Historical Society Museum at 922-3130.
This article appears in Jul 14-21, 2011.