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.

Biography Early life

Willie Galimore was born March 30, 1935, in St. Augustine, Florida. He attended Excelsior High School in that city.

College career

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.

Galimore (#48, middle row, far right) with lettermen returning for the 1954 Florida A&M squad. 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. 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. — 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. The points were not needed, as the Rattlers routed Maryland State College, 67–19, with Galimore crossing the goal line to paydirt three times. 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.

Although Galimore still retained a year of eligibility at Florida A&M for the 1956 season, he was drafted as a "future" by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League in the January 1956 NFL draft. The Bears made the Florida speedster their choice in the fifth round of the draft, the 58th overall player selected.

Professional career In a Saturday night game in October 1957, Galimore (#28) takes a screen pass 56 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Colts.

Blessed with incredible speed and impressive lateral mobility, the difficulty suffered by defenders attempting to contain Galimore earned him the nickname "Willie the Wisp". He ran with a slightly gangly upright style comparable to Lenny Moore of the Baltimore Colts and was at his best beating defenders to the edge.

In a documentary short by NFL Films on Galimore, it was said that he was probably the last great find before NFL scouting became sophisticated. Bears assistant coach Phil Handler, while scouting for talent in Florida, received a tip about Galimore's prowess as a halfback, and the Bears subsequently drafted him in the fifth round (58th overall) of the 1956 NFL draft. His contemporaries (including Chuck Bednarik and Doug Atkins) referred to Galimore as one of the best runners they ever faced.

Social activism

Galimore's last visit to his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida came just weeks before his death, and he participated in the St. Augustine movement during the Civil Rights Movement, becoming the first black person who was able to register as a guest at the previously all-white Ponce de Leon Motor Lodge, where the arrest of the 72-year-old mother of the governor of Massachusetts for trying to be served in a racially integrated group had made national headlines a few months before.

Galimore's civil rights activism is honored with a Freedom Trail marker at his home at 57 Chapin Street in St. Augustine. His widow, Audrey Galimore, took part in the dedication of the marker on July 2, 2007. A community center in the historic Lincolnville neighborhood of the city also bears Galimore's name, and he is depicted on a historical mural painted by schoolchildren on Washington Street.

Death and legacy

At age 29, Galimore and teammate Bo Farrington were killed in an automobile accident on July 27, 1964, in Rensselaer, Indiana. Galimore's Volkswagen left the road on a curve and rolled, a few miles from the team's training camp at St. Joseph's College. His number 28 was retired by the Bears.

Galimore was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Galimore's son, Ron Galimore, was the first black member of the United States gymnastic team.

NFL career statistics Legend Won the NFL championship Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1957 CHI 12 12 127 538 4.2 67 5 15 201 13.4 56 2 1958 CHI 12 1 130 619 4.8 36 8 8 151 18.9 79 3 1959 CHI 12 2 58 199 3.4 36 1 10 125 12.5 34 2 1960 CHI 12 9 74 368 5.0 54 1 3 35 11.7 33 0 1961 CHI 14 12 153 707 4.6 60 4 33 502 15.2 84 3 1962 CHI 7 3 43 233 5.4 77 2 5 56 11.2 29 0 1963 CHI 13 5 85 321 3.8 51 5 13 131 10.1 44 0 82 44 670 2,985 4.5 77 26 87 1,201 13.8 84 10

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1963 CHI 1 1 7 12 1.7 7 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 7 12 1.7 7 0 0 0 0.0 0 0