Athlete, dentist.
Born at Moncton, New Brunswick on 23 June 1884, a dentist by profession, he excelled in athletics as a shortstop and golfer. Educated at the University of St. Joseph, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, he enrolled at Tuft’s College, Boston, in 1904. In Boston, he played baseball and graduated as a dentist in 1907. Before returning to Moncton to practice dentistry, he received offers to play for the Boston Braves and the New York Giants. On his return to Canada, he played semi-professional baseball throughout the Maritimes until 1911 when he came west on the suggestion of a friend.
Gallagher chose Winnipeg as his new home in 1911 and remained there until his death. Once rated as one of Canada’s finest billiard players, he began to play golf seriously in 1922 and was a life member of the St. Charles Country Club where he won several championships.
Active in the region’s sports circle, he was a member and past chairman of the Manitoba Athletic Commission, former member and secretary of the Manitoba Boxing and Wrestling Commission. Involved with the Manitoba Golf Association, he was elected to its council and later served as Secretary, Honorary Secretary, Vice-President, President (1936-1937), and Chairman of the Association’s tournament committee. In 1945, he was awarded a life membership. He also served on the board of governors of the Royal Canadian Golf Association. The Manitoba and the Royal Canadian Golf Associations paid tribute by holding dinners in his honour.
He was a member of the Fellowship Club as well as past president of the Winnipeg Dental society and the Maritime Provinces Association. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus where he was a grand knight. He had his wife Marie Cecilia Driscoll, whom he married on 26 June 1917, shared five children: George, Louis, Richard, Mrs. Gerald McKay and Mrs. G. Rayner.
He died at his Winnipeg home, 423 Borebank Street, on 16 March 1954.
Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Golf governor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 October 1948, [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 58]
“Long ill, sportsman, dentist dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 March 1954, page 1.
We thank Rick Mutton for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Sarah Ramsden.
Page revised: 15 October 2024
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