Shorefront Legacy Center

🧡💙From the ETHS Wildkits to the New York Knicks, “Orange And The Blue We’ll Proudly Wear!!” Born and raised in Evanston, Walter “Pookie” Perrin, is the Assistant General Manager of the New York Knicks.

Crossing our fingers for the New York Knicks before they face the San Antonio Spurs tonight during NBA finals 2026 Game 3 (and we extend our sympathy to any San Antonio fans…) Perrin assumed his role as their Assistant General Manager in 2020, and has made many great draft picks and decisions along the way which hopefully will lead the Knicks to their first NBA championship victory since 1973!

These photos show Perrin during his time on ETHS’s Wildkits between 1964-1968.

Image 1: Walter “Pookie” Perrin is hoisted up by teammate Farrell Jones to cut down the net at Illinois High School Association state tournament after their team won the 1968 Illinois state championship (Courtesy of ETHS)

Image 2: Walter “Pookie” Perrin and teammates, Al Keith, Bob Lackey, and Farrell Jones join around their state championship Trophy following their 1968 victory (Courtesy of ETHS)

Image 3: Photo of Starting Lineup for the winning 1968 championship game; Left to right: Ron Cooper, Bill Battinus, Farrell Jones, Bob Lackey, Walter “Pookie” Perrin (Courtesy of Sam Johnson at Ebony Barbershop)

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Shorefront is dedicated to serving both our local and national communities as we collect, preserve, and educate through the histories of Black individuals, organizations, and businesses from Chicago’s suburban North Shore. We seek to change the American historical narrative by introducing these stories and histories to a broad, wide audience so that the full American story can be recorded and told.

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