John T. "Gid" Gildea was elected instructor of physical education and health in the (Tamaqua) Senior and Junior high schools, assistant football coach and head basketball coach at a special meeting of the school board last night.
Gildea, a native of Coaldale, has been employed as a guard at the Bethlehem Steel Company plant but was anxious to get back to teaching and applied for the position.
His election, following close on the election of Ken Millen as head coach of football at Tamaqua High, gives the local high school one of the strongest coaching staffs in the region.
Gildea was graduated from St. Bonaventure’s College in 1933 and received his health and physical education credits at the East Stroudsburg State Teachers College. He played football for a year at Coaldale High School, for one year at preparatory school and for four years at college. He also played basketball and was on the track team at these schools.
Following graduation from college, he played for four years in the National Professional League with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played with the Shenandoah Presidents.
Gildea also served for one season as Frosh coach at St. Bonaventure and for two years at Ashland as coach of football. He is certified in health, physical education, social studies, English and science and taught biology and general sciences at Ashland.
While he played at Coaldale High, he was an outstanding punter and during his pro-days he was a record-breaking drop kicker. These talents are expected to show up strong in the Tamaqua teams which have been in need of good kicking for some time.
Gildea is married to the former Margaret Sharpe of Lansford and they have been living at 50 West Ridge Street, Lansford. His salary has been set at $1950 plus the $200 cost-of-living increase provided by the State Legislature.
