May 30, 1943 - September 23, 2020
My husband, a volunteer youth football coach, and I were fortunate to have met Gale at a football camp for kids in Vermont in 1972. We would eat in the dining hall with the coaches and players and as good fortunate has it, we became good friends with Gale throughout that week and the friendship continued for decades.
The four of us (Gale, Ardie, Dick and I) planned trips together, as well as visiting each other's cities (Boston and Chicago for holiday get togethers and fundraisers, (The Cradle Foundation, one of the many charities Gale and Ardie supported.
Gale was fun, philosophical, pragmatic, and had an inquisitive mind. We would talk about race, religion, politics, and charities in our circles together. One of the highlights was going to Houston for the rodeo (Gale loved this challenging and dangerous sport). Another was picking peppers in a field at the McInney tobasco farm in Lousiana. We each had separate quarters at a plantation. Gale and Ardie chose to stay in a cabin called, 'Slave Quarters'. Gale embraced all people of color. He was a proud black man who knew his history. He and Ardie collected African art and and Afro American art, embracing their heritage to share with others.
Gale loved golf and when golfing in Mexico, Ardie and I came across a family member of one of Gale's quarterbacks. Ardie and I conspired to have Rudy Bukich and Gale to have a "surprise" meeting at a local restaurant. Both had fallen out of touch over the years and perhaps it was quite a coincidence to meet his fellow team, living in Mexico with his wife and family.
Finally, Gale and Ardie visited Maine at our children's camp in 1978. Sadly, there are no photos of the week they spent with us that can be found. Gale played capture the flag with us and relays with the kids and staff. He won the July 4th egg toss. No surprise there, Dick Courtiss (now deceased) was his partner.
Rest in peace Gale. Thanks for the many memories the four of us shared.
I wish, but I never met Gale, but I was very touched just by knowing the type of person he was and the legacy he has left the World. Gale was amazing, kind and generous person, with many successful accomplishments.
The story of Gale and Brian Piccolo was such a true touching story to my Heart, that's true love that two friends had and shared. He inspired me to go the extra mile. Gale was very talented on the field; he will always be remembered by many and by the way he touched so many hearts in so many ways. God Bless you Gale and my Prayers are with your family; the sadness one day will be replaced with all the Great Memories of this wonderful person.
Thanks for the Memories and inspiration for all. I attended almost all the games in Wrigley field in the 60s. My father would lift me up every time you touched the ball and said you ran like a deer cutting through the woods. God Bless and rest in Peace. Below picture rookie year Game 7 ,10.31.1965 May Peace be with all.
IT WAS THE FALL OF 1962 & I WAS BEGINNING MY FRESHMAN YEAR AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY. I WENT TO THE FOOTBALL STADIUM WITH SOME FRIENDS TO SEE MY 1ST COLLEGE GAME. K-STATE WAS PLAYING KANSAS UNIVERSITY. THEY HAD QUITE A RIVALRY GOING ON FOR YEARS. THE OPENING KICK-OFF WAS DONE BY K-STATE. THIS KU GUY CATCHESIT & STARTS RUNNINGDOWN THE FIELD & PASSES EVERY PLAYER & INTO THE END ZONE HE WENT. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. IT WAS GALE SAYERS & THE REST IS HISTORY. HE RAN THAT BALL BACK 98 OR 99 YARDS. THAT IS WHY HE EARNED THE NICKNAME THE KANSAS COMET. I FOLLOWED HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS FOOTBALL CAREER. I REMAIN VERY SAD TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. MY BLESSINGS TO HIS WIFE.
I messed up the tribute I wrote about Gale Sayers the first time and I would like to resubmit my tribute. Below I wrote the following.
I am a life long Bears Fan Especially the players of old that are no longer with us today. I was saddened to hear about the death of Gale Sayers now reunited once again with Brian Piccolo in Death. Had it not been for the movie Brian's song I would never have heard gale Sayers aka Magic and Brian's Piccolo aka Pic's name and friendship and the bond they forged together since they both met at a Chicago Bears training camp for the first time. Because of that movie I learned about their bond and friendship as they helped each other out during Brian's short life of 27 years. Brian would not have fulfilled his short life and dreams the way he did without his team mates help Gale Sayers had they never met by chance. Rest in Peace Magic you are now once again with your old pal Pic and will be greatly missed. Its because of you Pic and wife Joy and their Children through your courage and compassion you showed him with you and your wife Gail made Brian's suffering with lung cancer and dying at a young age of 27 a little easier to deal with when Brian was going you a very hard time in his young life. Thank you magic for every thing you have done on and off the Football Field. I am crying right now as I right this tribute to you not with tears of sadness but with Joy for you because you are now reunited with your pal and team mate Pic. Now get back on the grid iron with pic magic and do what you did best in life which was playing your heart with the one thing you enjoyed which was football. Like thousands of other bears fans who came to know you as the greatist fullback ever you as well as myself will miss you very much. I also send my condolences and sympathy to the Sayers family for their loss. May they have comfort in knowing you were a great football player on and off the field and what a compassionate human being you were in helping out a fellow teammate in his hour of need right up to the end of his short career.
