In 1942, Gil Gideon walked onto the downtown campus of Union University with a football scholarship in hand ready to play halfback on offense and on defense. However, after only one year, he was called in 1943 to serve with the marines in the South Pacific during World II. In 1946, Gil returned to the Union campus to complete his education, once again on a football scholarship and the GI Bill. He served as co-captain of the team with Jack Brown. Mr. Gideon graduated from Union in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
After graduation Mr. Gideon was hired by Lexington High School to coach football, boys and girls basketball, and baseball. Over a period of 13 years his football teams recorded a 78-28-3 record. His boys’ basketball team advanced to the state tournament three times and his girls’ basketball team advanced once.
In 1952 Mr. Gideon received his Masters Degree from George Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University). In 1962, Mr. Gideon went to Jackson Junior High School, Jackson, Tennessee as football and basketball coach and as assistant principal, later serving as principal of Alexander Elementary School.
Mr. Gideon went with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) in 1966 as Assistant to Director A. F. Bridges and later became Director in 1971. During his 15 year career at the helm of the TSSAA, “Coach” Gideon received numerous accolades from both state and national athletics organizations: President, National Federation, 1982; Award of Merit, National Federation, 1986; Distinguished Service Award, National Interscholastic Administrators’ Association. 1986; National Distinguished Service Award, National High School Coaches’ Association, 1986; TSSAA Hall of Fame, 1986.
In 1986 Mr. Gideon retired from the TSSAA and moved to Florida where he worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers for twenty years at their training and rehabilitation facilities. In 1997, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Mr. Gideon is now retired and returned to Tennessee where he lives in Gallatin with his wife, Sarah. They have two sons, Stephen and Robert.
