Gale Gillingham

Background

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Gillingham grew up on a farm in nearby Stoughton.

Career

His family moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, when he was in high school and he played college football at the University of Minnesota, where he was a teammate of future Kansas City Chiefs defensive end 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 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

By time he retired, Baronet 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. The only season he wasn"t 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. After his playing days, Gillingham was in the real estate business in Minnesota and retired in 2010. 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.

Youngest son, Wade, is a former Professional Strongman and is widely regarded as having one of the best grips in the world.

Achievements

• Middle son, Brad, is a 6 time World Champion powerlifter with several National and World Records.

Membership

Gillingham was the last member of the Lombardi-era Packers to be active with the franchise.