March 13, 2002
This is another The "B"Line column, a periodic collection of news items of interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714.
FLINGING GREEN & GOLD - Gale Galloway is a former chairman of the Baylor University board of regents and a past-president of both the Baylor "B" Association and the Baylor Alumni Association - a service record not likely to be matched anytime soon. But between spending time in Austin and his ranch in Pearsall, the chief of GLG Energy is still finding new ways to represent his beloved university. As co-captain of the 1951 Baylor football team that met Georgia Tech in the 1952 Orange Bowl, Galloway accompanied seven of his former teammates back to Miami for the Orange Bowl's 50th Anniversary celebration on Jan. 2. Others making the trip included Dick Murray, Don Carpenter, Bill Barnard, Billy Don Sherman, Jack Sisco, Joe Elam and John Hancock. Four other '51 Bears, Stan Williams (the other co-captain), Bill Sweet, H. B. Garrett and Walter Bates, had planned to be in Miami for the three-day event, but unfortunately had to cancel . . .Galloway, a center and linebacker, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1952 National Football League draft, but military service prevented him from launching a professional career. He was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980 and later named to Baylor's 1951-59 All-Decade team. He says he still frets over the Bears' 17-14 loss in the final minutes of the '52 Orange Bowl and recently expressed his feelings about the Orange Bowl and other matters in a letter to the "B" Association. It deserves publication and the following is an edited version:
"Baylor got some good press out of this event and thanks to Athletic Director Tom Stanton and Coach Kevin Steele, our group was properly attired in Green and Gold everywhere we went. They certainly knew Baylor University was in town.
"At one of our evening get-togethers each team was asked to introduce its members present and to make a few comments. I was called upon because I was co-captain of the Baylor team. It gave us a chance to get some closure on a very disappointing loss.
"I told members of the Georgia Tech Team that after 50 years I could finally bring my self to congratulate them on their win (up until now I had always felt Georgia Tech was not nearly as good a football team as four or five other teams that we had beaten during the 1951 season).
"However, the Georgia Tech players brought to my attention that their team won 11, tied one and lost none that year, having beat the University of Georgia 48-6 in the game before ours. And the team went on to win 12 straight and the national championship following the 1952 season.
"This information helped, but I still hope to out-live all the players who participated in that game so I can name my own score.
"The Georgia Tech players were with us at all of the events and are a great group of fellows. They tried to make it a little easier on us by telling us how lucky they were to intercept Larry Isbell's pass and kick the game winning field goal with 2:56 minutes to play.
"On this particular evening I was able to introduce each Baylor player and brag on all his accomplishments and to tell those present that almost every member of our team went on to graduate on schedule and report to active duty in the service of our country. Several were highly decorated in military and/or civilian life: one became a professional football player, one became a general and others became colonels, majors, captains and lieutenants. The Korean War was in progress when we finished Baylor and almost all of us had a contract with Uncle Sam to serve - those obligations (or rights) affected our being drafted by the pros, but there were no regrets. Our team members always served when called upon. And we never bragged about this because that is the way you are supposed to live your life.
"Players in the Class of '52 still have the best career won-loss record of any Baylor football team and it was accomplished at a time when the Southwest Conference was at its best, not a time when it was going out of business. And it was accomplished when we played major college non-conference games.
"We were the first Baylor team to play in one of the four major bowl games in those days (Orange, Rose, Sugar and Cotton) and we have more players in the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame than any other Baylor class or team.
"Am I proud of being a small part of this group? You bet I am. And they were and are a fine group of men - hard working, loyal and committed - who gave their all to Baylor University, their country, communities and families.
"For the team I would just like to say each of us is proud to be called 'A Baylor Bear, an American and a Friend.'
"May God Bless You and God Bless America."
GALE GALLOWAY
No. 52
BU Class of '52
CHANGE THAT CALENDAR - Mike Singletary's Baylor Alumni Association appearance in Houston has been moved from March 16 to April 6. The former BU All-American linebacker and National Football League Hall of Fame member will speak at a noon luncheon at the Houston City Club. For more information, contact the BAA (1-800-BAYLOR-U, Ext. 6) . . . Steve Shields, who lettered in golf in the late '80s, just completed his second season as the assistant men's basketball coach at Arkansas at Little Rock. The Trojans finished with an 18-11 record, losing to Louisiana-Lafayette in the semi-final round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Shields, the son of longtime Baylor golf coach Gene Shields, began his coaching career at Reicher High School in Waco and then on to McLennan Community College, where he was named Texas Junior College Coach of the year in 1998. He also coached at Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College and Kilgore Junior College before moving to Arkansas . . .
JACK LOFTIS
Co-chair
Communications Committee
March 13, 2002
