NBA Legend Jerry West visits the Presidio of Monterey to speak with service members

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - NBA Legend Jerry West visited the Presidio of Monterey to speak to POM service members on managing performance under pressure, keeping mental stability under stress and adjusting to new challenges and career changes March 6.

Prior to delivering his remarks, a lively question-and-answer session and signing autographs for POM service members, West paid a call on Presidio Garrison Commander Col. Paul Fellinger who welcomed and thanked him for his interest and support of service members.

During his visit, West toured POM and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center facilities and classrooms and met with service members stationed at the Presidio.

West, who had a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was selected as an NBA All Star 14 times and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.

According to Sports Illustrated magazine, West is considered to be one of the greatest NBA players to ever have donned a jersey.

As a manager and coach, West led the Lakers into three consecutive playoff campaigns, and then went on to win seven NBA championships as a general manager, building the 1980?'s Lakers dynasty under coach Pat Riley and such notable players as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Shaquille O?'Neal.

West, whose silhouette serves as the current NBA logo and embodies the best of the sport, is literally a basketball icon.

To learn more about the people and facilities of the Presidio of Monterey visit the official garrison website at www.monterey.army.mil