Gale Gillingham

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).

Gillingham was born on February 5, 1944, in Madison, Wisconsin. He moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin at age five, and grew up on a farm there. At age 13, his family moved to Tomah, Wisconsin, and then at age 16 Gillingham's family moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, when he was in high school.

He began high school at Monticello High School and/or Tomah High School, but attended Little Falls High School for his junior and senior years after moving to Minnesota. He was a 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m), 215 pound (97.5 kg) fullback on Little Falls' football team, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 1961. He was also on the track and field team, and was a Minnesota State Champion as a senior in throwing the discus in 1962. As a junior, he had set a conference record in the discus throw. He also threw shot put. He was also a member of Little Falls' basketball team.

Gillingham played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He played tackle on both offense and defense, and was also used as a running back. As a senior, he was named second-team All-Big Ten at offensive tackle.

Before his sophomore season (1963), the team planned to use him as a fullback. However, before the season began, Gillingham left the football team, saying he was only playing because his father wanted him to; telling coach Murray Warmath he did not like the sport and would be locked into it if he joined the varsity team. His coaches were surprised, and Gillingham returned to his family home to reflect on decisions he needed to make concerning his future, including coming back to the football team. Gillingham did not play in 1963, but returned to play for Minnesota the next season (1964), as a junior. However, Gillingham lost his scholarship and had to prove himself on a trial basis before Warmath would allow him to rejoin the team.

At Minnesota, his teammates included All-American and future Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Aaron Brown, whom Gillingham faced in Super Bowl I (though neither started in that game).

Gillingham played in the 1966 Senior Bowl. Gillingham also was selected to play in Chicago College All-Star Game, but broke a bone in his hand while training with the team and could not make the college team. However, the July 1966 game was against the Green Bay Packers (the 1965 NFL champions), and as the Packers drafted Gillingham, coach Vince Lombardi played him in the College All-Star Game for the Packers and against the collegians.

The Packers drafted Gillingham with the 13th overall selection of the 1966 NFL draft, where he began his career in 1966 under Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi. Gillingham's selection was made with the knowledge the Packers' offensive line was aging. The 1965 Packers had been NFL champions, and their starting guards on the team were future Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer at right guard and Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston at left guard. By the start of the 1966 season, the 30-year old Kramer had been a first-team All-Pro three times. Thurston, who had been a first- or second-team All-Pro in 1960-61, would be turning 33 toward the end of the season.