Information submitted in a nomination letter to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame – proposed by Gay E. Whieldon, Director of Athletics, Castleton State College, Castleton, VT.

Mike Gallagher’s skiing career includes three Olympics, 13 years skiing for the U.S. team and six years as head coach before retiring in 1986.

Michael D. Gallagher was born October 3, 1941 in Yonkers, New York.

His father was a member of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. Following the war in 1946, the family moved to Vermont. A graduate of Rutland High School, Mike attended Vermont Academy and the University of Colorado before graduating from Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont.

An outstanding skier, Mike earned the Junior National Cross-Country Ski Championship and the Relay Gold Medal in 1959. Nine times Senior National Champion and seven Relay Gold Medals were among his accomplishments. He also was a member of the U.S. National Cross-Country Skiing Team from 1961 through 1974. Mike was on the U.S. Olympic Ski Teams in 1964, 1969 and 1972 and the World Championship Ski Teams in 1966, 1970 and 1974. He also was a member of the 1978 and 1979 Biathlon Teams.

Mike’s experience includes head coach of the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team from 1980 to 1986 and U.S. Olympics Cross-Country ski coach in 1984. He was the U.S. World Championship Coach of cross-country skiing in 1985.
An avid outdoorsman, Mike and his family live in a log home in Vermont. They enjoy cross-country skiing from their front door and downhill skiing on nearby Killington Mountain. He enjoys many activities with his family including: hiking, running, fishing and biking (he was National 25-Mile Time Trial Champion in 1972).

Mike is also an avid hunter and keeps the freezer full of game; he keeps a few colonies of honey bees and helps with the family garden. When he can’t be outside, he ties flies for fishing and re-loads his hunting ammunition.

Michael D. Gallagher was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1988.