Baylor University Mourns Passing of Distinguished Alumnus, Former Regent Chair Gale Galloway

Baylor University is mourning the death of Gale Galloway, B.B.A. ’52, a Distinguished Baylor Alumnus, past Baylor Regent and Chair of the Board, and a Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame and Wall of Honor inductee. Galloway died Sept. 25 at the age of 96.

“Gale Galloway was a leader in his community, a veteran who served his country, a Christian husband and father, and a devoted Baylor Bear. We pray for his family and friends, and we honor his legacy of service,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Gale was passionate about the things that mattered to him – family, his career, football and Baylor University. He was a leader in the Baylor Family as a Baylor Football Letterwinner, as a member of our Board of Regents and as a champion for scholarships for students and student-athletes. We pray that his family will find comfort in the race he ran so well.”

A native Texan born in Pearsall southwest of San Antonio, Galloway maintained a strong work ethic from an early age that he carried throughout his life. His father died when he was only four, and his mother and four siblings worked together to provide for each other at the height of the Great Depression. With his choice of athletic scholarships, Galloway ruled out Notre Dame for being too far away for his mother to watch his football games. While on a train ride to Dallas, he hopped off in Waco and never regretted the decision. With its Christian foundation, Baylor felt like home and affirmed his abiding belief that all things are possible through Christ. The University, in turn, gained a student-athlete of distinction.

In each year that Galloway played, the Bears finished the season nationally ranked. He co-captained the 1951 Orange Bowl team that achieved a national ranking of ninth, the highest postseason ranking of any Baylor team and included 10 NFL draft picks. Galloway is one of only five people who have been named to both the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame (1983) and Wall of Honor (2003) for his postgraduation achievements.

“Gale’s direct impact and participation within Baylor Athletics spans for nearly seven decades. And throughout that time, his loyalty and commitment to his beloved alma mater never waned,” said Baylor Vice President and Director of Athletics Doug McNamee. “Till his final days, every conversation was about how he could continue to give back to Baylor. He’ll be dearly missed.” 

A leader on and off the field, Galloway was in the Air Force ROTC and advanced to lieutenant colonel. Although the Chicago Bears drafted him, he was called to active duty and served as an officer in the Air Force until the conclusion of the Korean War.

While in the Air Force, Gale witnessed the crash of a B-36 with fellow service members onboard. He and several others were prevented from rushing to provide aid to ensure the safety of the would-be rescuers from the flaming wreckage. He vowed if he ever found himself in a similar situation that he would help and deliver assistance. Years later, he was in a company plane at Houston’s Hobby Airport when a commuter plane went down less than 100 yards away and careened into several vehicles. Galloway and his pilots rescued three people from the wreckage as it spewed 40-foot flames. As a result of his actions, he received the Carnegie Foundation’s Medal for Personal Heroism, the highest honor given to a civilian.

Having honored his commitment to the military and after a brief stint coaching at Texas A&I, Gale transitioned into the oil industry, where he rose to the top position of three Fortune 500 corporations.

Galloway served on the Baylor University Board of Regents from 1990-98 and as Board Chair in 1994-95. In 2014, Baylor presented Galloway and his wife, Connie, with the Founders Medal, one of the most distinguished awards given by the University to men and women whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the University. 

In addition to supporting student scholarships at George W. Truett Theological Seminary and in Baylor Athletics, the Galloways’ supported the Simpson Athletic and Academic Center, the former Galloway Suites and renovations of Floyd Casey Stadium, and other areas. For his support and service, Baylor honored Galloway with the W. R. White Meritorious Service Award, the Herbert Reynolds Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award, among others.

“Gale and Connie Galloway have left a truly incredible legacy at Baylor University,” said Jason Diffenderfer, vice president for advancement at Baylor. “Through their transformational support of scholarships through the Baylor Bear Foundation, Gale made a way for student-athletes, like him, to thrive on the field and in the classroom. Gale is an inspiring example of the impact our Baylor alumni can have in this world. His leadership, his life of service and his professional integrity are truly an inspiration, representing the best of our alumni in That Good Old Baylor Line.”

Galloway was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Connie Bird Galloway, a Baylor Alumna by Choice who died on July 3. He is survived by his children, Georgia Gayle, Michael Will and Tara Lee Galloway. A joint celebration of the lives of the Galloways will be held at a later date at Austin Baptist Church.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.