His sister, Ginny McLeod, said her brother was always quick-witted and the source of fun, though often embellished, stories. She said he cherished every second he had with his children, Jesse Galloway and Kaitlin Kennedy, and genuinely cared for all of his friends, regardless of if he’d known them since birth or had met them last week. His legacy lies in the many deep and lasting relationships he established throughout the community, Lisa Galloway said. He loved his family and I know 25 years from now people will know who he was. “All the qualities in a human being we all hope to have he exemplified. “He was one of those guys that did a lot of things people will know about,” Lisa Galloway said. Helping people was his life’s calling and she said he was always happiest when he was aiding someone else. He found delight in many things, but she said one of his greatest joys was undoubtedly his career. The two bonded over their love of grammar and for years would edit the newspaper and see how many errors they could find. Without turning around he handed a stick back to a 16-year-old girl named Lisa, who he thought was “way out of his league.” Little did he know the stranger from Vero Beach sitting behind him would one day be his wife. He was sitting in an auditorium when he heard a voice behind him say, “I wish I had a piece of Juicy Fruit gum.” When he was in high school he attended a week-long conference sponsored by UF’s College of Journalism. The University of Florida was more than simply an alma mater for Galloway. In fact, his wife, Lisa Galloway, said she made sure his service was held on a bye week for the Gators because he hated when people scheduled things during football games. Galloway’s love for Gators football is legendary. As an adult, he took every opportunity to fish and play golf and never missed a Gators game. In his youth he was a Little Leaguer, a Boy Scout and a member of the Plant City swim team. Knew in town, the guy that always brought a smile to your face. Across the board, friends and family members said you never had a conversation with Galloway without breaking into laughter at least once. His comedic nature and jovial personality followed him his entire life. “Some people who know me said the part fits me because I’m always clowning around anyway,” Galloway told the Alligator. When the band spelled out Florida on the field Galloway was given the honor of dotting the ‘i.’ Galloway’s hat repeatedly fell off and he missed two cues, causing him to fall behind schedule when the final signal came for him to dot the ‘i.’ Rather than risk being late, he dove for the UF center mark, a memory attendees still talk about to this day. His costume was made from a red coat and a red paper hat. He created a lasting legacy at the 1971 Homecoming game when he comically brought Nebels to life for the entire Gator Nation. During his sophomore year, Galloway won the hearts of the entire university at the annual Gator Growl, a student-run pep rally that has been a staple since 1932.Ī member of Phi Delta Theta, Galloway was chosen to play the part of Hobart Nebels, a “one man drill team from Micanopy” in the pep rally. “He’s the guy that everyone Hobart NebelsĪt UF, David Galloway is more than simply a “bull gator” and alumni. “David was a pillar in the community,” Billy Keel, a family friend, said. Galloway was a former city commissioner, a prominent lawyer and a member of committees ranging from the Kiwanis Club to the United Food Bank. The roots he spread have reached nearly every family in town. He was born in Jamestown, New York to Bruce and Miriam Galloway and has lived in Plant City since 1959. 11, but his legacy will live on for decades to come. Don’t approach to take selfies don’t approach to check if it’s alive and if you’re headed into any of Florida’s many fresh water streams, lakes or springs, take great care – alligators are often around even if you can’t see them.David Galloway spent his life fighting for the disenfranchised and telling the stories of those he loved. If one bites you, the advice is to make the most noise possible and work hard to get away. When it comes to encounters with alligators, the best possible advice is to try your best not to have those encounters by staying a safe distance of at least 50 feet away. The state of Florida presently has over 20 million people and over one million alligators. As the population increases, the swamplands, once patrolled mostly by reptiles and nature’s creatures, become less and less and the possibility of animal encounters increases. As locals and tourists continue to flock to the region to live, retire and vacation, more and more homes and resorts spring into action. Florida, the 27th state, is the most southeasterly state in the entire United States.
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