Career
After graduation in 1928 Gale was offered an instructor position in physics at Grinnell College, and eventually became Professor of Physics. Until his death in 1998 he collected science equipment which had become obsolete and maintained a series of exhibits which now form the core of Grinnell"s Physics Historical Museum. From Bardeen, Gale acquired early versions of the transistor.
While Noyce was his student at Grinnell:
Gale"s mentorship of Noyce was also instrumental in protecting him from disciplinary action when Noyce stole a pig from a nearby farmer (who actually was also the Mayor) and then slaughtered it in Clark Hall for a college luau.
The prank would have earned him expulsion and jail time since livestock theft was a felony offense in Iowa, if not for Gale"s intervention. Gale was also the physics instructor for Grinnell music student Herbie Hancock.
The large "Alpha and Omega Sundial" which sits next to the Noyce Science Center on the Grinnell College campus is named in honor of Gale"s wife Harriet.
