:Walter Gilbert (American football)

Gilbert grew up in Fairfield, Alabama, and graduated from Darlington School in Rome, Georgia.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-continu/127483514/ |title=Auburn Continues 'Suicide Schedule' on Nashville Field |newspaper=Montgomery Advertiser |page=6 |date=October 15, 1934 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-tigers-name-walt-gi/127483378/ |title=Tigers Name Walt Gilbert |newspaper=The Huntsville Times |page=10 |date=December 19, 1935 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} He earned three varsity letters (1934–1936){{rp|209}} playing football at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, officially renamed Auburn University in 1960. Gilbert was selected to All-America teams in 1935 and 1936,{{efn|Some sources describe Gilbert as a three-time All-American;{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/auburn-football-1999-media-guide-c/page/208/mode/2up?q=lettermen |title=Auburn Tigers Media Guide |date=1999 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=Wayback Machine}}{{rp|224}} however, he is absent from recognized 1934 College Football All-America Team selections.}} and was captain of the 1936 Auburn squad.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-gilbert-named-as/127346671/ |title=Gilbert Named As Captain Of Auburn Eleven |newspaper=Selma Times-Journal |page=7 |date=December 19, 1935 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} He starred at center, and also played linebacker. His final season was somewhat hampered by an appendicitis operation he had in December 1935,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-auburn-cripple/127348815/ |title=Auburn Cripples Show Improvement |newspaper=Montgomery Advertiser |page=6 |date=December 23, 1935 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} but he still was voted the "finest team player"{{efn|The award is now known as the SEC Player of the Year.}} in his conference by coaches of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-walter-gilbert-named/127473014/ |title=Walter Gilbert Named Best Team Player In S.E.C. |agency=AP |newspaper=The Birmingham News |page=12 |date=February 23, 1937 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} Gilbert concluded his college career by playing in the January 1, 1937, edition of the Bacardi Bowl.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-captain-walter/127348053/ |title=Captain Walter Gilbert Closed Out Brilliant Career In Havana Tilt |newspaper=Montgomery Advertiser |page=8 |date=January 6, 1937 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} Contested in Havana, it ended in a 7–7 tie against Villanova.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/intelligencer-journal-villanova-and-aubu/127348343/ |title=Villanova And Auburn In 7 To 7 Deadlock |agency=UP |newspaper=Intelligencer Journal |location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania |page=6 |date=January 2, 1937 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} He received All-SEC football honors in each of his three varsity seasons.

{{further|1934 All-SEC football team|1935 All-SEC football team|1936 All-SEC football team|label1=1934|label2=1935}}

While in college, Gilbert was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1937 NFL draft,{{Cite web |title=1937 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1937/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} but he did not play professionally, opting to pursue a career in the oil industry.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-gilbert-accepts-job/127349177/ |title=Gilbert Accepts Job With Oil Company |newspaper=The Birmingham News |page=8 |date=June 13, 1937 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} Gilbert was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956,{{cite web |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1455 |title=Walter Gilbert (1956) |website=footballfoundation.org |access-date=June 30, 2023}} and to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974.{{cite web |url=https://ashof.org/inductees/walter-gilbert/ |title=Walter B. Gilbert |website=ashof.org |date=20 June 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2023}}

In May 1938, Gilbert married Frances Wright; the couple first lived in Savannah, Georgia, where Gilbert was in business.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-miss-wright-weds-wal/127345655/ |title=Miss Wright Weds Walter Gilbert In Auburn |newspaper=The Birmingham News |page=12 |date=May 12, 1938 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} In March 1940, a daughter was born to the couple in Miami.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-births/127346125/ |title=Births |newspaper=Miami Herald |page=2-C |date=April 9, 1940 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} Gilbert served in the United States Army during World War II; entering in February 1942,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-walter-gilbert-is-en/127479666/ |title=Walter Gilbert Is Entering Army |newspaper=The Birmingham News |page=16 |date=January 27, 1942 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} he attained the rank of major. He worked in management for Texaco for many years, and headed their European operations before his retirement in the late 1970s.

Gilbert died in August 1979; he was survived by two daughters.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-enquirer-former-football-star-die/127346815/ |title=Former Football Star Dies |newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer |location=Columbus, Georgia |page=B-5 |date=August 22, 1979 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} In July 1980, Auburn announced the creation of the Walter Gilbert Award, given annually to an Auburn graduate who was a varsity athlete and has demonstrated at least 20 years of superior performance in their profession.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-auburn-initiates-gilbe/127487179/ |title=Auburn initiates Gilbert Award |newspaper=The Anniston Star |location=Anniston, Alabama |page=6D |date=July 2, 1980 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} The award was first issued in May 1981, to Joseph Lester Stewart (1915–2004),{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-auburns-beauford/127487863/ |title=Auburn's Beauford will be busy on Saturday |newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald |page=C1 |date=April 29, 1982 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} who served as an officer in the United States Marine Corp from 1937 to 1965 and retired at the rank of brigadier general.{{cite web |url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jlstewart.htm |title=Joseph Lester Stewart – Brigadier General, United States Marine Corp |website=arlingtoncemetery.net |date=June 28, 2023 |first=Michael Robert |last=Patterson}} Stewart had served as cadet colonel of Auburn's ROTC brigade and was a fellow 1937 graduate with Gilbert.{{cite book |title=Glomerata |date=1937 |publisher=Alabama Polytechnic Institute |page=33 |url=https://content.lib.auburn.edu/digital/collection/gloms/id/38107/rec/15 |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=Auburn University Digital Library}}

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Category:1915 births

Category:1979 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Fairfield, Alabama

Category:Players of American football from Jefferson County, Alabama

Category:Darlington School alumni

Category:American football centers

Category:Auburn Tigers football players

Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:United States Army personnel of World War II

Category:United States Army officers

Category:Military personnel from Alabama