Laurence E. Gale Memorial

“His warm personality, genuine and sympathetic interest in the problems of the faculty and students, and his fair-mindedness commanded the respect and admiration of all those with whom he worked.” These were the words written in memorial to Dr.
Laurence Edward Gale following his death on July 30, 1967. Dr. Gale, Larry to his friends and colleagues, was born in
Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1925. He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He began his army career as an engineering student at Los Angeles City College, later volunteering for the Office of Strategic Service. He served as a staff sergeant in the China-Burma-India Theater, where he recruited and trained a group of over 200 Burmese guerrilla troops and led them in combat 40 to 50 miles behind the enemy lines. He was awarded the silver Star for gallantry in action.
Following World War II, he enrolled at Idaho State University (then the Southern Branch of the University of Idaho) and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in pharmacy. His graduate studies were undertaken at the University of Nebraska and Washington State University, where he graduated in 1954 with a PhD in pharmacology. His research interests were in cardiovascular problems. He returned to Idaho State University to teach in the College of Pharmacy. He was appointed Dean of the College of Pharmacy in 1957, the youngest dean of pharmacy in the nation at that time. He became a Full Professor in 1959 and, in 1960, assumed the additional responsibilities of Chairman of the Division of Medical Arts. In 1962 he became Academic Dean of the University. He and the financial vice president shared the duties of acting president in 1964 pending the appointment of a permanent president. In April, 1966, he was appointed Academic Vice President of the University of Montana. He left Idaho State after over 20 years of association as student, faculty member and administrator. The Life Science Complex was named in his honor to commemorate his dedication to Idaho State University.
In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Gale was active in community, state and national professional affairs. He served as president of the Pocatello Kiwanis Club, was a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Rho Chi, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, the American Pharmaceutical Association, Idaho Pharmaceutical Association and the American Association of University Professors.
Dr. Gale had a life-long interest in sports and played first string half-back during his undergraduate years. He was an expert marksman and shared his love of the outdoors by skiing, hunting and fishing with his wife, Joyce and sons, Dave and Tom. And, fittingly, his death came while he was fishing on a pack trip in his beloved mountains.