55 Richard Gill

[keith]

I'm taking a group to the Army game in a couple weeks and I'm preparing a North Texas/Mean Green primer for the group so they can learn a little about the university and our football history.  I'm listing various famous alumni and football players and get to a point where I'm talking about retired jersey numbers.  At this point I realize that while I've seen the name and number (55 Richard Gill) in the Apogee end zone, I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I don't really know much (if anything) about him.  Doing a little research I found this:   

"An all-conference linebacker for North Texas in 1968 and 1969, Gill was a popular and outspoken team leader. Playing alongside Hall of Fame teammate Joe Greene, Gill was part of the original “Mean Green” defense as it was nicknamed in the late 1960’s. Scheduled to return for his senior season in 1970, Gill met an untimely death when a blood clot reached his lungs following a routine surgery for a knee injury he suffered on the practice field. He was survived by his wife and son and a daughter, who was born after his death. In 1971, Gill was the first North Texas player to have his number retired."   This site refers to Legends of the Mean Green: Richard Gill #33.  https://exhibits.library.unt.edu/legends-mean-green/richard-gill-33

So, here's the confusing stuff.  According to this, his number was 33 (the same a Ray Renfro), not 55 and it says his was the first player to have his number retired.  So if his was the first number retired, why isn't it 33 Richard Gill instead of 55 Richard Gill? Also, the write up says he was an all conference linebacker in '68 and '69, but the 1968 Yucca photo and caption describe him as a running back and number 33.  The Yucca from 1969 shows a picture of a defensive (#55) Richard Gill.  Today, he'd probably get flagged for targeting on that hit!

OK, so after a little more digging, it looks like the #33 photo (1968 Yucca, 1967 football season) was from the freshman football team.  I'm not sure why the exhibits.library.unt.edu site chose to use a freshman team photo of him.  I assume the #55 photo (1969 Yucca, 1968 football season) was when he was a sophomore?  Did he switch from running back to line backer between his freshman and sophomore years?  Are these two Richard Gills the same person?

In the end a tragic story especially since he was married with two children, but I've learned a bit more about #55 Richard Gill on our Apogee end zone wall.

 

    

[drex]

It definitely is the same player.  I assume that he was switched from running back to linebacker later in his career.  Historical note:  To raise money for the family North Texas hosted the Harlem Globetrotters for a charity game in the old pit. 

[Eagleisland]

Richard  Gill was a great linebacker and a good representative of our university. His death was a definite shock and loss.

[GrayEagle]

Richard Gill was a linebacker on the varsity from Woodville.  As I recall, he died on the operating table as they were trying to keep a blood clot from reaching his heart or lungs.  The surgery took place at the old Flow Memorial Hospital on Scripture Street.  I believe that the anesthesia had something to do with making it difficult to save him.  A very tragic loss as the surgery was not presumed to be serious.

Gill was an all-MVC linebacker for two years and an outstanding player.  If I don't have my years mixed up, only sophomores, juniors and seniors played on the varsity at that time so it's possible that Richard might have played running back as a freshman and wore the number 33 because Ray Renfro's number had not been retired at that time.  I agree with drex, there has only been one Richard Gill that played at North Texas so they are the same player.

[Fry Guy]

22 hours ago, GrayEagle said:

If I don't have my years mixed up, only sophomores, juniors and seniors played on the varsity at that time...

I think that's right, @GrayEagle. 1972 was the first season that freshmen were eligible to play varsity football. After the Marshall plane crash that killed 37 players and coaches, the NCAA granted the school special permission to play freshmen in 1971. The rest of the country was permitted to do the same the following year. By then, freshmen athletes in every other sport except basketball had already been playing varsity for four years.

[JesseMartin]

Someone else brought this up a long time ago.  This is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard as it relates to our history.  Does anyone know what happened to his family?  Did his children go to college?

[DT 90]

Was aware of his story several years ago.  DT90 requested to be  #55 since no one was wearing it ( he was looking at the roster). Was filled in on Richard Gills story.  Very sad.    

[SilverEagle]

18 hours ago, JesseMartin said:

Someone else brought this up a long time ago.  This is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard as it relates to our history.  Does anyone know what happened to his family?  Did his children go to college?

I was wondering the same thing. 

I went to HS with a team mate of Richard Gill. His name was Glenn Hachtel and he started at LB for North Texas. Glynn was usually very sparing in his praise for other players, but he surprised me with how much he respected Richard Gill, both as a person and as a great athlete. Glynn was certain that, had he lived, Gill was going to he a high draft choice in the NFL when he graduated.

 

[greenb.o.g.]

First time I'm trying this, so hopefully it works.

 

Denton_Record_Chronicle_Sun__Sep_12__1971_.pdf

[JesseMartin]

1 minute ago, greenb.o.g. said:

First time I'm trying this, so hopefully it works.

 

Denton_Record_Chronicle_Sun__Sep_12__1971_.pdf

Okay, now I'm officially depressed.

[hickoryhouse]

2 hours ago, greenb.o.g. said:

First time I'm trying this, so hopefully it works.

 

Denton_Record_Chronicle_Sun__Sep_12__1971_.pdf

Thank you for that.   I feel a bit closer to the university and saddened at the loss of someone so young with such promise, even so long ago.  What a brilliantly penned letter illustrating amazing respect for what seemed to be an incredible person.  By the end of it i almost felt as though I knew the man myself.