Remembering Legendary FAMU Football Player Willie Galimore | St. Augustine, FL

BIO

Willie Galimore had four brilliant years at Florida A&M. He was all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference choice four times and was named Black College All-America by the Pittsburgh Courier three times. He played for Hall of Fame coach Jake Gaither, and the team records were 10-1, 8-1, 7-1-1, and 8-1 totaling 33-4-1. The Rattlers won four conference championships and one black college national championship. In Galimore's biggest game he rushed for 295 yards and four touchdowns against Tennessee State in 1956. He had rushing totals of 187 yards against Morris Brown and 159 against Xavier (Louisiana) in 1955. He scored 16 touchdowns in 1956. His longest run was 98 yards against Allen in 1956. In four years he gained 3, 596 yards rushing. In 1956, he averaged 9.5 yards on every rushing attempt. Galimore played for the Chicago Bears 1957-63. At the age of 29 he died in an auto accident in Rensselaer, Indiana, July 27, 1964.  

Willie Galimore was inducted into the college football hall of fame in the class of 1999, joining Rattler Tyrone McGriff – Inducted in 1996 (offensive guard, played 1976–1979). joining galimore and mcgriff in the College football hall of fame are famu head coaches:

Coach Jake Gaither – Inducted in 1975 (coached FAMU from 1945 to 1969).

Coach Billy Joe – Inducted in 2007 (coached FAMU from 1994 to 2004).

Coach Joe Taylor – Inducted in 2019 (coached FAMU from 2008 to 2012).

Coach Rudy Hubbard – Inducted in 2021 (coached FAMU from 1974 to 1985)

Height6'1

Weight187

Career Highlights

• 1956 All-Conference
• 1956 First-Team All-America (NAIA, HBCU)
• 1955 All-Conference
• 1955 First Team All-America (HBCU)
• 1954 All-Conference
• 1954 First-team All-America (NAIA, HBCU)
• 1953 Second Team All-America (HBCU)

Courtesy College Football Hall of Fame