Gordie Gillespie: Portrait of a Leader

“With a winning combination of substance and style, Gordie was leadership personified. He was a man endowed with qualities that brought out the best in others, to rise above higher than they envisioned possible, and to achieve a common goal.”

In light of the current atmosphere locally, nationally, and internationally, it might be worthwhile to reflect on the attributes Coach Gillespie exhibited during his coaching career. What do we seek in our leaders? We eagerly search for ways to quantify, to separate, and categorize elements of leadership, that made him who he was. But it was Gordie in the aggregate, the man who was an unmatched leader.

Personally, Gordie set the leadership bar so high that every subsequent leader that I worked for became a disappointment despite their high qualifications. That is not to say that I found many of them to be incompetent and ineffective, but it was really unfair to judge anyone in comparison with Coach Gillespie.

What was it about Gordie? Unlike many of my supervisors, he…

• never talked about himself. His main concern and focus was about others. The most humble man ever.
• always told the truth. 
• was mission driven. Whether at Lewis, Joliet Catholic, Ripon, or St. Francis, everything evolved around the school’s mission to educate students. 
• respected his players, his opponents, and himself. Demanded that he and his players never denigrate others through trash talk and name calling.
• maintained a healthy sense of humor.
• made those around him feel good about themselves.
• was a superior communicator with each individual and to groups. He was a great speaker.
• carried a demeanor that exuded a true leader. Even in a sweatsuit, he seemed well dressed and groomed.

Whether you played for him, coached by his side, were his student, or merely an observer, Gordie was the epitome of leadership. We all tried to emulate him, even down to his unique verbal expressions or smallest idiosyncrasies. But we all failed to a greater or lesser degree. 

Most of these attributes are within reach of every human being regardless of age, gender, or nationality. No PhD required. Follow the instructions. Batteries are included. Isn’t this what we look for in a leader? Or in ourselves and fellow humans? This isn’t really complicated, but few of us even come close.

I did not know Coach Gordie Gillespie as a political person. If he had a political leaning one way or the other, that information was privately held despite the social crises and turmoil that surrounded him throughout his lifetime. We do know that a main source of inspiration and guidance emanated from his belief and faith in God.

I am including a poem written in 1974 after Lewis won the NAIA National Championship (the first national championship for Lewis) in order to underscore his grit and perseverance and to highlight his leadership abilities. There were many other titles that were achieved by his teams, but this was particularly momentous.

Only Gordie Knows….
June 1974
 
(Lewis wins its first national baseball championship)
 
Back in ’52 Gordie planned for the moment.
A master craftsman doesn’t build a foundation,
Without envisioning the magnitude of the structure.
 
Only he knows what it was:
To give birth to a baseball team where there
Was little except some airplanes;
To smile while converting hefty football players
Into infielders;
To hold his head high even when fielding scraggly-
Uniformed, unlikely looking athletes;
To lasso a Spiezio and challenge all comers
With line drives;
To spread the Lewis name from coast to coast,
From local bar to city hall;
To remember the hundreds of Lewis players, teachers,
Parents, wives, and friends who are now part
Of an awesome and inspiring tradition.
 
With a sense of Pride that would make Mantle and Berra,
Gasp with envy,
The Flyers went to the well one more time,
This time the sun sliced the clouds and melted Fickle Fate’s
Icy grip on the trophy that had been denied too many times.
And through the determination, skill, and dedication so
Beautifully honed by the Master,
The Flyers clutched the elusive prize!
 
Former players swear that Gordie could go into the mountains
With a broken bat and a water-logged ball –
And come up with a winner.
They will also swear that he could have been president of
The country if he wanted to.
 
Greatness is denied to those without visions of greatness.
Back in ’52 Gordie had the vision of Flyer supremacy,
And it has come to pass.
 
Drink long and deep the sweet, cool waters of accomplishment.
Only God and Gordie know how thirsty we’ve been.