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{{Short description|American football player (1944–2011)}}
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{{Infobox NFL player
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
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{{Infobox NFL biography
<!--{{Infobox gridiron football person -->
<!--{{Infobox gridiron football person -->
| name =
| name =
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| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|2|3|mf=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|2|3|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin]]
| birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date = {{dda|2011|10|20|1944|2|3|mf=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|10|20|1944|2|3|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Little Falls, Minnesota]]
| death_place = [[Little Falls, Minnesota]], U.S.
| number = 68
| number = 68
| status =
| status =
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| height_ft = 6
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 255
| weight_lb = 255
| college = [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota]]
| college = [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota]]
| highschool = [[Little Falls, Minnesota|Little Falls (MN)]]
| high_school = Little Falls
|debutyear=1966
| draftyear = 1966
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| draftround = 1
|debutteam=Green Bay Packers
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| draftpick = 13
|finalyear=1976
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| afldraftyear =
|finalteam=Green Bay Packers
| afldraftround =
|draftyear=1966
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| afldraftpick =
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|draftround=1
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| teams =
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|draftpick=13
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* [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[1966 Green Bay Packers season|1966]]–[[1974 NFL season|1974]], [[1976 NFL season|1976]])
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|afldraftyear =
|afldraftround =
| highlights =
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* 2× [[History of the National Football League championship|NFL champion]] ([[1966 NFL Championship Game|1966]], [[1967 NFL Championship Game|1967]])
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|afldraftpick =
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* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl I|I]], [[Super Bowl II|II]])
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|teams=
* 3× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]], [[1970 All-Pro Team|1970]], [[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]])
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* [[Green Bay Packers]] [[1966 Green Bay Packers season|1966]]–[[1976 NFL season|1976]]
* 3× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]], [[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]], [[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]])
|highlights=
* 5&times; [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1970 Pro Bowl|1969]], [[1971 Pro Bowl|1970]], [[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1969 Pro Bowl|1969]]–[[1971 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1973 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1974]])
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* [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]]
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* 2&times; [[History of the National Football League championship|NFL Champion]] ([[1966 NFL Championship Game|1966]], [[1967 NFL Championship Game|1967]])
* Second-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1965 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1965]])
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* 2&times; [[Super Bowl]] Champion ([[Super Bowl I|I]], [[Super Bowl II|II]])
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* [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame|Packers Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 128
| statvalue1 = 128
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| statlabel5 =
| statlabel5 =
| statvalue5 =
| statvalue5 =
| nfl = 2514894
}}
}}
'''Gale Herbert Gillingham''' (February 3, 1944 – October 20, 2011) was a professional [[American football|football]] player, a [[Guard (American football)|guard]] for ten seasons in the [[National Football League|National Football League (NFL)]] with the [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[1966 Green Bay Packers season|1966]]&ndash;[[1974 Green Bay Packers season|1974]], [[1976 Green Bay Packers season|1976]]).<ref>[http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/132299713.html Former Packer Lineman Gillingham Dead At 67]</ref><ref name=gsvdstpy>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/128848353.html |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last=Hendricks |first=Martin |title=Gillingham survived some tough Packer years |date=August 31, 2011 |accessdate=January 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name=expggdes>{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7130594/green-bay-packers-former-guard-gale-gillingham-dies-67 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |title=Ex-Packer Gale Gillingham dies at 67 |date=October 21, 2011 |accessdate=January 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name=ggblg>{{cite web|url=http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/gale-gillingham-a-packers-hall-of-famer/?_r=0 |publisher=''New York Times'' |agency=(NFL blog) |title=Gale Gillingham, a Packers Hall of Famer |last=Barall |first=Andy |date=October 23, 2011 |accessdate=January 11, 2016}}</ref>
'''Gale Herbert Gillingham''' (February 3, 1944 – October 20, 2011) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Guard (American football)|guard]] for 10 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[1966 Green Bay Packers season|1966]]&ndash;[[1974 Green Bay Packers season|1974]], [[1976 Green Bay Packers season|1976]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/132299713.html |title=Former Packer Lineman Gillingham Dead At 67 |access-date=2011-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404025244/http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/132299713.html |archive-date=2012-04-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=gsvdstpy>{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/128848353.html |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last=Hendricks |first=Martin |title=Gillingham survived some tough Packer years |date=August 31, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name=expggdes>{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7130594/green-bay-packers-former-guard-gale-gillingham-dies-67 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |title=Ex-Packer Gale Gillingham dies at 67 |date=October 21, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name=ggblg>{{cite news|url=http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/gale-gillingham-a-packers-hall-of-famer/?_r=0 |newspaper=New York Times |agency=(NFL blog) |title=Gale Gillingham, a Packers Hall of Famer |last=Barall |first=Andy |date=October 23, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>


Born in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], Gillingham grew up on a [[farm]] in nearby [[Stoughton, Wisconsin|Stoughton]].<ref name="mvandermausegbpg">[http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111021/PKR07/111021165/Mike-Vandermause-column-Gillingham-deserves-Hall-Fame-consideration?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Vandermause, Mike. "Green Bay Packers G Gale Gillingham deserves Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration," ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'', Saturday, October 22, 2011.]</ref> His family moved to [[Little Falls, Minnesota]], when he was in high school and he played college football at the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|University of Minnesota]], where he was a teammate of future [[Kansas City Chiefs]] defensive end [[Aaron Brown (defensive lineman)|Aaron Brown]], whom he faced in [[Super Bowl I]].
Born in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], Gillingham grew up on a [[farm]] in nearby [[Stoughton, Wisconsin|Stoughton]].<ref name="mvandermausegbpg">[http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111021/PKR07/111021165/Mike-Vandermause-column-Gillingham-deserves-Hall-Fame-consideration?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Vandermause, Mike. "Green Bay Packers G Gale Gillingham deserves Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration," ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'', Saturday, October 22, 2011.]</ref> His family moved to [[Little Falls, Minnesota]], when he was in high school and he played [[college football]] for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota Golden Gophers]], where he was a teammate of future [[Kansas City Chiefs]] defensive end [[Aaron Brown (defensive lineman)|Aaron Brown]], whom he faced in [[Super Bowl I]].


In the [[1966 NFL draft]], Gillingham was the thirteenth overall selection. In his rookie season, he alternated as the starter at left guard with veteran [[Fuzzy Thurston]]. During the [[1967 Green Bay Packers season|1967]] season, he took Thurston's spot full-time, opposite perennial All-Pro [[Jerry Kramer]]. He started the [[1967 NFL Championship Game|Ice Bowl]] and [[Super Bowl II]], coach [[Vince Lombardi]]'s final games after nine seasons with the team.
Gillingham was the 13th overall selection of the [[1966 NFL Draft]], and in his rookie season, he alternated as the starter at left guard with veteran [[Fuzzy Thurston]]. During the [[1967 Green Bay Packers season|1967]] season, he took Thurston's spot full-time, opposite perennial All-Pro [[Jerry Kramer]]. He started the [[1967 NFL Championship Game|Ice Bowl]] and [[Super Bowl II]], coach [[Vince Lombardi]]'s final games after nine seasons with the team.


Gillingham was the last member of the [[Vince Lombardi|Lombardi]]-era Packers to be active with the franchise. By time he retired, [[Bart Starr]], whom he blocked for when Starr was leading the Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls, was the team's coach. Gillingham was a five-time Pro Bowler (1969, '70, '71, '73 and '74), six-time All Pro (1968, '69, '70, '71, '73, '74, and a two-time NFL First Team All Pro (1969 and '70). He was inducted into the [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]] in 1982.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/>
Gillingham was the last member of the Lombardi-era Packers to be active with the franchise. By time he retired, [[Bart Starr]], whom he blocked for in the first two Super Bowl wins, was the team's head coach.<ref name=gtret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PlLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7fgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6126%2C110375 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Gillingham to retire |date=March 1, 1977 |page=22}}</ref> Gillingham was a five-time Pro Bowler (1969, '70, '71, '73 and '74), six-time All Pro (1968, '69, '70, '71, '73, '74, and a two-time [[Associated Press|AP]] NFL First-team All Pro (1969 and '70). Gillingham was selected as the inaugural winner of the [[Forrest Gregg]] Award for the NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year following the 1970 season. He was the NFC choice as the NFLPA/[[Coca-Cola]] Offensive Lineman of the Year for 1971. He&nbsp;retired a few months after the 1976 season,<ref name=gtret/> was inducted into the [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]] in 1982.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/>


The only season he wasn't on offense was [[1972 Green Bay Packers season|1972]] when [[head coach]] [[Dan Devine]] inexplicably shifted him to the [[lineman (American football)|defensive line]] after the pre-season. even though Gillingham was the team's best offensive lineman. During that campaign, the success of the Packers' offense heavily depended on a strong running attack led by [[MacArthur Lane]] and [[John Brockington]]. Devine's move failed when Gillingham sustained a season-ending [[knee]] injury two games into the regular season, and he was criticized for eventually being a factor in diminishing the team's playoff run.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/>
The only season he was not on offense was [[1972 Green Bay Packers season|1972]] when [[head coach]] [[Dan Devine]] inexplicably shifted him to the [[lineman (American football)|defensive line]] after the pre-season, even though Gillingham was the team's best offensive lineman. During that campaign, the success of the Packers' offense heavily depended on a strong running attack led by [[MacArthur Lane]] and [[John Brockington]]. Devine's move failed when Gillingham sustained a season-ending [[knee]] injury two games into the regular season, and he was criticized for eventually being a factor in diminishing the team's playoff run.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/> In 1982, he was inducted into the [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/history/hof/gale-gillingham | title = Gale Gillingham | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | website = Packers.com | access-date = September 20, 2023 | archive-date = May 23, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230523020207/https://www.packers.com/history/hof/gale-gillingham | url-status = live }}</ref>


After his playing days, Gillingham was in the real estate business in Minnesota and retired in 2010.<ref name=gsvdstpy/> Noted for his brute strength, he was one of the first players in the NFL to use [[weight training]] to stay in playing shape during the offseason.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/> His oldest son, [[Karl Gillingham|Karl]], is a Professional Strongman and has competed in two Worlds Strongest Man competitions. Middle son, [[Brad_Gillingham|Brad]], is a 6 time World Champion powerlifter with several National and World Records. Youngest son, Wade, is a former Professional Strongman and is widely regarded as having one of the best grips in the world.
After his playing days, Gillingham was in the real estate business in Minnesota and retired in 2010.<ref name=gsvdstpy/> Noted for his brute strength, he was one of the first players in the NFL to use [[weight training]] to stay in playing shape during the offseason.<ref name="mvandermausegbpg"/> His oldest son, [[Karl Gillingham|Karl]], is a Professional Strongman and has competed in two Worlds Strongest Man competitions. Middle son, [[Brad Gillingham|Brad]], is a 6 time World Champion powerlifter with several National and World Records. Youngest son, Wade, is a former Professional Strongman and is widely regarded as having one of the best grips in the world.


Gillingham died at age 67 in 2011 in Little Falls, survived by his three sons and one daughter.<ref name=expggdes/>
Gillingham died at age 67 in 2011 in Little Falls.<ref name=expggdes/>


In 2016, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Gillingham to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2016.htm |title=PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016 | accessdate=December 9, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Gillingham to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2016.htm |title=PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016 |access-date=December 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413094415/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2016.htm |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Footballstats |nfl=2514894|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=GillGa00 |dbf=GILLIGAL01 |rotoworld=}}
* {{Football stats |nfl=2514894|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=GillGa00 |dbf=GILLIGAL01 |rotoworld=}}
* {{IMDb name|2884644}}
* {{IMDb name|2884644}}
*{{Find a Grave|78834695}}


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{{1966 NFL Draft}}
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{{PackersFirstPick}}
{{Packers1966DraftPicks}}
{{Packers1966DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl I}}
{{Super Bowl I}}
{{Super Bowl II}}
{{Super Bowl II}}
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{{Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame}}
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{{1966 NFL Draft}}
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{{PackersFirstPick}}
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{{Green Bay Packers HOF}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillingham, Gale}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillingham, Gale}}
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[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Super Bowl champions]]
[[Category:People from Little Falls, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]]

Latest revision as of 00:53, 27 April 2024

Gale Gillingham
No. 68
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1944-02-03)February 3, 1944
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died:October 20, 2011(2011-10-20) (aged 67)
Little Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Little Falls
College:Minnesota
NFL draft:1966 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:128
Games started:102
Fumble recoveries:3
Player stats at NFL.com

Gale Herbert Gillingham (February 3, 1944 – October 20, 2011) was an American professional football player who was a guard for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers (1966–1974, 1976).[1][2][3][4]

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Gillingham grew up on a farm in nearby Stoughton.[5] His family moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, when he was in high school and he played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was a teammate of future Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Aaron Brown, whom he faced in Super Bowl I.

Gillingham was the 13th overall selection of the 1966 NFL Draft, and in his rookie season, he alternated as the starter at left guard with veteran Fuzzy Thurston. During the 1967 season, he took Thurston's spot full-time, opposite perennial All-Pro Jerry Kramer. He started the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl II, coach Vince Lombardi's final games after nine seasons with the team.

Gillingham was the last member of the Lombardi-era Packers to be active with the franchise. By time he retired, Bart Starr, whom he blocked for in the first two Super Bowl wins, was the team's head coach.[6] Gillingham was a five-time Pro Bowler (1969, '70, '71, '73 and '74), six-time All Pro (1968, '69, '70, '71, '73, '74, and a two-time AP NFL First-team All Pro (1969 and '70). Gillingham was selected as the inaugural winner of the Forrest Gregg Award for the NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year following the 1970 season. He was the NFC choice as the NFLPA/Coca-Cola Offensive Lineman of the Year for 1971. He retired a few months after the 1976 season,[6] was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1982.[5]

The only season he was not on offense was 1972 when head coach Dan Devine inexplicably shifted him to the defensive line after the pre-season, even though Gillingham was the team's best offensive lineman. During that campaign, the success of the Packers' offense heavily depended on a strong running attack led by MacArthur Lane and John Brockington. Devine's move failed when Gillingham sustained a season-ending knee injury two games into the regular season, and he was criticized for eventually being a factor in diminishing the team's playoff run.[5] In 1982, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.[7]

After his playing days, Gillingham was in the real estate business in Minnesota and retired in 2010.[2] Noted for his brute strength, he was one of the first players in the NFL to use weight training to stay in playing shape during the offseason.[5] His oldest son, Karl, is a Professional Strongman and has competed in two Worlds Strongest Man competitions. Middle son, Brad, is a 6 time World Champion powerlifter with several National and World Records. Youngest son, Wade, is a former Professional Strongman and is widely regarded as having one of the best grips in the world.

Gillingham died at age 67 in 2011 in Little Falls.[3]

In 2016, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Gillingham to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Former Packer Lineman Gillingham Dead At 67". Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  2. ^ a b Hendricks, Martin (August 31, 2011). "Gillingham survived some tough Packer years". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Ex-Packer Gale Gillingham dies at 67". ESPN. Associated Press. October 21, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  4. ^ Barall, Andy (October 23, 2011). "Gale Gillingham, a Packers Hall of Famer". New York Times. (NFL blog). Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Vandermause, Mike. "Green Bay Packers G Gale Gillingham deserves Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Saturday, October 22, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Gillingham to retire". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 1, 1977. p. 22.
  7. ^ Christl, Cliff. "Gale Gillingham". Packers.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016". Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gale_Gillingham&oldid=1220965159"