Photo credit: Seymour Tribune 1977

Gil Speer played football for my dad at Brownstown Central High School from 1974-1977. Each time I think about Gil, two things are thrown from my memory, before I can refocus and manage whatever real thought at hand may be in play. I think about the picture above of Gil with a Snoopy towel hanging out the back of his pants to give Clark Kidwell, the quarterback, an opportunity to wipe off his hands before the next play. I think this was the Corydon game. The other thing I always think about is how I wore the number 56 when I played in high school. Gil played center on offense. I played center on offense. This is probably a wonderful coincidence. In real life, we wore the number of the jersey we were thrown and told to wear. Most of us keep our number for however many years we play. Gil wore 50 as a freshman. Then 56 was his for the next three years.

Below is a photo of the seniors on the 1977 Brownstown Central Football team. Gil Speer is wearing #56 on the second row.

My Dad coached football for more than twenty years. He ran into his share of teams. He ran into his share of characters. I can tell you that my dad enjoyed this team more than any other team he ever coached. And when I think about it, my apologies to the guys I played with, this is my favorite team too. Whenever I run into one of these guys, the time just melts away. They are still my heroes. I keep up with #71 Barry Hall about as closely as I keep up with anyone these days.

My appreciation for Gil Speer has multiple layers. He played football for my dad. We went to church together as long as my family was in Brownstown. That is a great many dinners in the church basement. Gil was a youngster of many talents. In March of 1977, Gil was in the school production of Fiddler on the Roof as a suitor of one of Tevye’s daughters. At least 8 of his football teammates were a part of the production. That would be a tough ask these days.

I am sitting here thinking about Gil right now because I wish I could be in his presence this evening.

This evening Gil Speer is going to be inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. I couldn’t be prouder. Over the years Gil has given a great deal of himself to the game of football in the state of Indiana. More importantly, he has given a great deal of himself to the players he has worked with and the coaches he has been associated with. Be it as a high school player, a high school coach or a college coach, Gil Speer has been very good for the game of football.

Photo Credit: IFCA

I will appreciate this guy as long as I can remember my own name. In my memory, I will always see something like this 1976 photo taken by my friend Jim Plump for the Seymour Tribune…

With apologies to Mrs. Englehart, my senior English teacher, I will say to Gil what I said about myself after I gave a letter-perfect speech about the poet Dylan Thomas. When I had finished my speech, Mrs. E was beaming with a smile on her face and holding up a speech critique sheet that had a large A on it. I sat down next to her and exhaled. “I done good, didn’t I!” Mrs. E grabbed the paper out of my hand and put a minus- mark next to my A.

Today though, this sentiment comes out with ease. I think it is what my dad would say tonight.

“Ya done good, Gil.”