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Willie Galimore
Willie Galimore (March 30, 1935 – July 27, 1964), nicknamed "the Wisp", was an American professional football player who played halfback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1963. He was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL draft. Tragically, his NFL career was cut short with his death at age 29 in a traffic accident just ahead of the 1964 season.
Galimore played college football for the Florida A&M Rattlers of Florida A&M University, a historically black school, working with the legendary coach Jake Gaither. He was inducted a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. As a professional, Galimore was a member of the Bears team that won the 1963 NFL Championship Game and his jersey number 28 is one of fourteen uniform numbers retired by the Bears.
Willie Galimore was born March 30, 1935, in St. Augustine, Florida. He attended Excelsior High School in that city.
In 1952, Galimore enrolled at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, a historically black school with a total enrollment of just 1,000 men and 1,000 women at that time. Despite Florida A&M's small enrollment, the school was a legitimate football powerhouse under legendary head coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither. The 8–2 Rattlers were National Negro Football Champions in 1952, but had suffered the loss of 15 players to graduation and 10 more to the military draft, leaving the cupboard bare for 1953.
One of the 19 returning players coach Gaither placed his hopes upon was sophomore Willie Galimore, who did not letter in 1952 but who was regarded as a "sure comer" and penciled in as the starter at the critical left halfback position. Gaither's assessment proved astute, with the Rattlers finishing the 1953 season undefeated at 9–0, having administered five straight shutouts to opponents to start the year. At the post-season team banquet Galimore was presented with the J.R.E. Lee Sr. Memorial Trophy as FAMU's outstanding player of the 1953 season. The Rattlers again won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship and Galimore was tapped as an All-American for the first time.
Galimore was one of the lettermen taking the field for Florida A&M in the 1954 season — part of a 70 man veteran and freshman contingent as fall football practice opened. The Rattlers' excellent starting backfield returned complete for Galimore's junior season, and expectations were high, despite the loss of three starters on the line to graduation or the draft. Once again Galimore — called by one reporter one of "the fastest men ever to lace on football shoes" — was a team star, helping lead FAMU to a record of 8–1 and a share of the informal Negro National Football Championship.
In the 1954 season's ultimate game, the 22nd Orange Blossom Classic, played in front of more than 41,000 fans, Galimore broke an Orange Bowl individual record, gaining 295 yards on the ground. This record could have been even more epic if not for referee flags, as Galimore had additional touchdowns of 87 and 72 yards called back by penalty. The points were not needed, as the Rattlers routed Maryland State College, 67–19, with Galimore crossing the goal line to paydirt three times.
Galimore finished his time at Florida A&M as the school's all-time leading rusher, with 3,592 yards gained — an average of 8 yards per carry. He was the first three-time All-American in the history of the school and still holds the FAMU single-game rushing record for his 295 yard performance against Maryland state in 1954.
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Willie Galimore
Willie Galimore (March 30, 1935 – July 27, 1964), nicknamed "the Wisp", was an American professional football player who played halfback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1963. He was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL draft. Tragically, his NFL career was cut short with his death at age 29 in a traffic accident just ahead of the 1964 season.
Galimore played college football for the Florida A&M Rattlers of Florida A&M University, a historically black school, working with the legendary coach Jake Gaither. He was inducted a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. As a professional, Galimore was a member of the Bears team that won the 1963 NFL Championship Game and his jersey number 28 is one of fourteen uniform numbers retired by the Bears.
Willie Galimore was born March 30, 1935, in St. Augustine, Florida. He attended Excelsior High School in that city.
In 1952, Galimore enrolled at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, a historically black school with a total enrollment of just 1,000 men and 1,000 women at that time. Despite Florida A&M's small enrollment, the school was a legitimate football powerhouse under legendary head coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither. The 8–2 Rattlers were National Negro Football Champions in 1952, but had suffered the loss of 15 players to graduation and 10 more to the military draft, leaving the cupboard bare for 1953.
One of the 19 returning players coach Gaither placed his hopes upon was sophomore Willie Galimore, who did not letter in 1952 but who was regarded as a "sure comer" and penciled in as the starter at the critical left halfback position. Gaither's assessment proved astute, with the Rattlers finishing the 1953 season undefeated at 9–0, having administered five straight shutouts to opponents to start the year. At the post-season team banquet Galimore was presented with the J.R.E. Lee Sr. Memorial Trophy as FAMU's outstanding player of the 1953 season. The Rattlers again won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship and Galimore was tapped as an All-American for the first time.
Galimore was one of the lettermen taking the field for Florida A&M in the 1954 season — part of a 70 man veteran and freshman contingent as fall football practice opened. The Rattlers' excellent starting backfield returned complete for Galimore's junior season, and expectations were high, despite the loss of three starters on the line to graduation or the draft. Once again Galimore — called by one reporter one of "the fastest men ever to lace on football shoes" — was a team star, helping lead FAMU to a record of 8–1 and a share of the informal Negro National Football Championship.
In the 1954 season's ultimate game, the 22nd Orange Blossom Classic, played in front of more than 41,000 fans, Galimore broke an Orange Bowl individual record, gaining 295 yards on the ground. This record could have been even more epic if not for referee flags, as Galimore had additional touchdowns of 87 and 72 yards called back by penalty. The points were not needed, as the Rattlers routed Maryland State College, 67–19, with Galimore crossing the goal line to paydirt three times.
Galimore finished his time at Florida A&M as the school's all-time leading rusher, with 3,592 yards gained — an average of 8 yards per carry. He was the first three-time All-American in the history of the school and still holds the FAMU single-game rushing record for his 295 yard performance against Maryland state in 1954.