Gale and Connie Galloway, BBA '52
- Baylor Founders Medal
As a young man from Pearsall, Texas, Gale Galloway had the academic and the athletic ability to attend any school in the country. He chose Baylor and, together with his wife, Connie, has for decades invested in the life of the University. We honor their significant contributions through the presentation of the Baylor Founders Medal.
In addition to his academic and athletic abilities, Gale Galloway (BBA ’52) maintained a strong work ethic from an early age. 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, Gale ruled out Notre Dame for being too far away for his mother to watch his football games. While on a train ride to Dallas financed by SMU coaches, 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.
Each season that Gale played for the Bears, the team was 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.
A leader on and off the field, Gale was in the Air Force ROTC and advanced to lieutenant colonel. Although the Chicago Bears drafted him, Gale was called to active duty and served as an officer in the Air Force until the conclusion of the Korean War.
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.
Connie Bird Galloway of Caldwell, Texas, is Gale’s wife of 48 years. A Baylor Alumna by Choice, she has received the Herbert Reynolds Service Award and the W.R. White Award from Baylor. She holds degrees in psychology from Louisiana State University and the University of Houston and worked in mental heath. Connie served on the Mental Health Board of Louisiana, the State of Louisiana Historical Commission and the board of the Houston Symphony. She is actively involved in Austin’s Helping Hand Home for abused children, among other activities.
Gale was a Baylor Regent from 1990-98 and served as Board Chair in 1994-95. In addition to supporting student scholarships at George W. Truett Theological Seminary and in Baylor Athletics, the couple’s interests have included support for 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 has honored Gale with the W. R. White Meritorious Service Award, the Herbert Reynolds Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award, among others.
