[New post] Family and friends remember Woodland native Kyle Gallagher
Carlos Guerrero posted: "After news came out late last week on the tragic death of former Utah State University football player and 2007 Woodland High School graduate Kyle Gallagher, messages filled with love and support are being heard by his closest family and friends. Galla" Daily Democrat
After news came out late last week on the tragic death of former Utah State University football player and 2007 Woodland High School graduate Kyle Gallagher, messages filled with love and support are being heard by his closest family and friends.
Gallagher, 34, died from injuries sustained in a car accident on his way home from work on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
Kyle Gallagher, 34. (Courtesy)
"Kyle was born and raised in Woodland and was a Woodlander through and through," the Gallagher family stated. "He loved growing up here, establishing so many connections and friendships. We as a family, appreciate the overwhelming amount of people who have reached out to the Gallaghers during this time. We would just like to say this about Kyle for those who may have not had the pleasure of knowing him.
"Many people knew Kyle as either a football or baseball player growing up. He was the embodiment of what any coach wanted from an athlete on any field. He was a competitor, but it wasn't just on the field. It didn't matter whether it was tic-tac-toe, ping pong with friends, pictionary with family, or 4th and 1 with the game on the line; he wanted to win. But he was so much more than that. He was always there for family and friends. He was empathetic to everyone around him. He felt what you felt, and you knew it. Kyle was a warrior, a protector to anyone who needed protection. Kyle craved human connection and was the type of person who just called you to talk, not for a favor, but genuinely because he wanted to hear your voice and know how you were. He loved deeply and loyally and you never had to second guess what he was thinking because he told you with brutal honesty at times. He was the type of person you didn't have to ask to be there for you, he just showed up and helped, however he could.
"Our family will always remember him not as the athlete with all the accolades; but the boy who refused to leave Donner Lake as a kid because he didn't want the day to end, the brother who wouldn't stop fishing until he caught his limit (or more than us), the father who just wanted to make his daughter laugh and smile, the husband who constantly made his wife laugh, and the son who always hugged his Mom and Dad. He was the best of us all, we love him and will miss him always."
Former Utah State University football head coach Gary Andersen, who led the Aggies from 2009-2012, provided a statement on Gallagher's passing via the school's current Assistant Athletic Director Zach Nyborg's Twitter account.
"He was tough, passionate, competitive, caring if you deserved it, and a teammate that forced everyone to bring their 'A' game daily," Anderson's message read. "He also became a loving husband, a wonderful father, and created a life for himself and his family that I am proud of. A great man gone way too early."
Gallagher appeared in 49 games for Utah State from 2007-2011, recording 291 total tackles, 133 of them solo. During his junior and senior years in 2010 and 2011, Gallagher finished second only to future NFL star Bobby Wagner in total tackles with 91 and 100, respectively.
In 2011, Gallagher played a vital role for the Aggie's defense and helped them win seven games, ending a 14-year bowl game drought.
The university's Football team also sent out condolences on social media.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of former USU football player Kyle Gallagher," the team's statement read. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kyle and his family in this time."
Gallagher played football and baseball for Woodland High School from 2003 through 2007, earning a laundry list of awards and league recognition.
As a junior, Gallagher was the starting catcher for the 2005 Sac-Joaquin Section champions, the most recent baseball section title for the school.
As a senior in 2006-07, he earned the Jay Sehorn MVP Award for his play during the baseball season by hitting .429, with a home run, 15 RBI and a team-high 19 stolen bases.
"It was a lot better than last year," Gallagher told the Daily Democrat in 2007. "I just grew up. (In 2006) I was making changes between positions (from third base to catcher). This year I got my hitting going. And our team was great."
Months earlier, during the football season, Gallagher also earned the Jay Sehorn MVP Award for the football team. He was also awarded the Tri-County Conference Co-Defensive MVP award. He amassed five and a half sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a team-leading 107 total tackles in 10 games, 72 of those being solo.
Offensively as a part-time running back, he racked up close-range touchdowns finishing with eight on only 30 carries.
While he was a standout in both sports, his play on the football field earned him interest from various other Division I NCAA football programs such as Nebraska, Oregon and Fresno State, before ultimately accepting a full-ride scholarship to Utah State."
"I'm excited for next year," Gallagher told the Daily Democrat in early 2007, right after officially signing on to play for Utah State. "I'm just getting everything set up for what it's going to be like. When I signed, they showed us a statistic that one out of every 5,000 kids who play high school football gets to play at this level, so I find myself pretty fortunate.
"I think I will fit in pretty well with what they want to do with their defense. They started a lot of freshmen last year, so I'm glad about having the opportunity to get some playing time."
On Saturday, May 6, the Gallagher family will hold a celebration of life in his memory at the Yolo County Fliers Club, located at 17980 County Road 94B, in Woodland, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to the Gallagher family, Gallagher was always appreciative of coach Mark Johnson, now a Woodland resident, for recruiting Kyle to Utah State. Gallagher stated that if it wasn't for Johnson, he didn't think he would have gotten the opportunity at a scholarship.
Johnson was the Utah State defensive coordinator during Gallaghers first two seasons at the school.
The Gallagher family wants the community to know that the celebration of life is meant to be a gathering of friends and family to share and tell stories about Kyle and be together to grieve.
According to the family, there will be no official service, and due to the size of the venue, they would recommend anyone attending to come and go in waves.
The family decided that in lieu of flowers, they ask anyone that can donate to please do so at the family's GoFundMe page. Donations will go toward funeral costs and a trust for Kyle's three-year-old daughter Ireland.
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