Harry Gallatin, Northeast Missouri State University alumnus and men’s basketball hall of famer, died in Edwardsville, Illinois, Oct. 7 at the age of 88.
Gallatin was inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame during 1984, entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during 1991 and had his jersey number retired during 2001.
Nicknamed “The Horse” for his work ethic, the 6-foot-6-inch forward received several awards for his work as a player, coach and administrator. After a two-year career at then-Northeast Missouri State from 1946-48, where he finished with 816 points and a 59-4 record, Gallatin went on to play nine seasons in the NBA for the New York Knicks and one for the Detroit Pistons. He was a 7-time NBA All-Star for the Knicks, previously holding the NBA record for consecutive games played —740 — and led the league with 15 rebounds per game during 1954.
After a stellar collegiate and professional career, Gallatin became the head men’s basketball coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for four seasons. He then moved to the NBA as the head coach of the St. Louis Hawks, where he was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 1962-63 season.
Gallatin returned to the collegiate level as the dean of students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he helped start the Cougar athletics department. He coached basketball and golf while at SIUE and led the Cougars to 17 NCAA Div. II Golf Championship tournaments. He was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame during 2005. He also served as the SIUE athletic director.
Gallatin frequently returned to Kirksville during Homecoming and is the only Bulldog to date to play in the NBA.