Weber State University Athletics
Hall of Fame - Dale Gardner
3/17/2015 7:30:00 PM | Wildcat Club
Dale Gardner
Football, Baseball, Men's Basketball (1949-51)
Administrator (1968-1977)
Inducted October 2008
Dale Gardner began his college athletic career as a three-sport athlete at Weber Junior College, and concluded his career as the school's athletic director and a key figure in building the Dee Events Center.
Gardner -- originally from Deweyville, Utah, where he enjoyed a stellar prep career at Bear River High School -- lettered in football, basketball and baseball during his playing career at Weber, He was the Gold Watch recipient as the outstanding male athlete at Weber Junior College for the 1950-51 school year.
Gardner continued his athletic career at Utah State, where he lettered in basketball and football, and was captain of the 1952 Aggies football squad.
He coached and taught at Teton (Driggs, Idaho) High School, then returned to coach football at USU. He spent 13 years working in athletic administration at Utah State.
Gardner returned to Weber State in 1968 to serve as the school's director of intercollegiate athletics through 1977. During that time, the Wildcats won five Big Sky Conference men's basketball championships and made five NCAA Tournament appearances. Also during that time, Weber State's football and basketball schedules were upgraded to include games with BYU, Utah and Utah State.
Gardner was a driving force behind the construction of the Dee Events Center. After retiring as athletic director, Gardner served as the director of the Dee Events Center from 1977 to 1987.
Gardner was married to JoAnne for 64 years before he passed away in 2011. They were the parents of six children and 34 grandchildren.
Gardner was also a South Ogden city councilman for many years, and served with his wife as an LDS Church mission president in Louisville, Kentucky. He also served for many years at president of the Ogden LDS Temple.