Robert Joshua GillVeteran

A veteran of both world wars and a long-time supporter of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), Robert J. Gill was born on June 22nd, 1889 in Baltimore. In 1906, Gill entered Western Maryland College where he was captain of the basketball and football teams. Gill graduated as class valedictorian and summa cum laude in 1910 with a Bachelor of Arts. Following his graduation, Gill attended the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1913.

Gill’s military career began when he joined the Maryland National Guard as a private. When the United States entered World War I, he was commissioned as a captain commanding the 117th Trench Mortar Battery, attached to the 42nd Rainbow Division. On July 14, 1918, Gill and his men encountered a heavy artillery attack and eventually turned back a German tank and infantry attack at Chalons. Gill earned the Croix de Guerre with palms from the French government for his participation in this action. By the end of the war, Gill had caught the attention of the division’s commander, Douglas MacArthur, and was attached to his staff. He left the service as a lieutenant colonel and returned to practicing law in Baltimore.

In 1942, Gill returned to active duty supervising prisoner-of-war camps throughout France and Germany. Before his discharge, Gill was selected as the executive officer to Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Trials. Gill was promoted to Brigadier General and awarded both the Distinguished Service Medal from the United States and the Third Order of the White Lion from Czechoslovakia for his service at Nuremberg.

Gill was also a long-time supporter of his alma mater, serving on the Board of Trustees for Western Maryland College for forty-three years and as chairman from 1963-1978. He was instrumental in building up the athletic programs on campus, particularly the football team. The Gill Gymnasium (still on campus) is named in his honor. Ever interested in athletics, Gill served on the board of directors for the Baltimore Orioles from shortly after the franchise’s move from St. Louis until the 1980s.

Gill passed away on his 94th birthday in 1983 following a brief illness.