University of North Texas Athletics
No. 55: Richard Gill, NT's First Retired No.
7/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
No. 55 - Richard Gill, NT's First Retired Jersey
An all-conference linebacker for North Texas in 1968 and 1969, Richard Gill was a popular and outspoken team leader on some of the best squads in school history. Playing alongside Hall of Fame teammate Joe Greene, Gill was part of the original "Mean Green" defense as it was nicknamed in the late 1960's.
With his leadership, the Mean Green recorded seasons of 8-2 and 7-3 and are still the school record holders for interceptions in a season (32) and yards allowed in a game (180 vs. Drake).
Scheduled to return for his senior season in 1970, Gill met an untimely death when a blood clot reached his lungs following a routine surgery for a knee injury he suffered on the practice field.
Gill, who wore the No. 55 jersey for the Mean Green, was survived by his wife and son and a daughter, who was born after his death.
In 1971, Gill was the first North Texas player to have his number retired.
| 100 | 100-yd fumble return for TD | 75- | "Mean Joe" Greene | 50- | Friday, July 22 | 25- | Tuesday, August 16 |
| 99 | Fitzgerald Goes The Distance | 74- | NT Downs No. 20 SDSU | 49- | Saturday, July 23 | 24- | Wednesday, August 17 |
| 98 | Sears Woods' Stuns Knoxville | 73- | Fry & the new Mean Green | 48- | Sunday, July 24 | 23- | Thursday, August 18 |
| 97- | NT Blows Out Decatur Baptist | 72- | Yaege's Stellar Season | 47- | Monday, July 25 | 22- | Friday, August 19 |
| 96- | 96 Years Of Football | 71- | Steve Ramsey's TDs | 46- | Tuesday, July 26 | 21- | Saturday, August 20 |
| 95- | The Jump To Division I-A | 70- | Little's 1970 Season | 45- | Wednesday, July 27 | 20- | Sunday, August 21 |
| 94- | Optimist Bowl Offense | 69- | 7 All-Conference in '69 | 44- | Thursday, July 28 | 19- | Monday, August 22 |
| 93- | Michael High KR Yards | 68- | A Consensus All-American | 43- | Friday, July 29 | 18- | Tuesday, August 23 |
| 92- | Gowin 92-Yard Punt | 67- | Armour Anchors NT Offense | 42- | Saturday, July 30 | 17- | Wednesday, August 24 |
| 91- | Chancellor Saves The MGRN | 66- | Love Tops 1,000 Yds | 41- | Sunday, July 31 | 16- | Thursday, August 25 |
| 90- | Renfro/Haynes Tally 90 pts. | 65- | St. Clair's Win Pct | 40- | Monday, August 1 | 15- | Friday, August 26 |
| 89- | Redwine Bursts Onto Scene | 64- | Spider's Special Season | 39- | Tuesday, August 2 | 14- | Saturday, August 27 |
| 88- | Mean Green Robbed | 63- | NT & Navy Light Up The Scoreboard | 38- | Wednesday, August 3 | 13- | Sunday, August 28 |
| 87- | Fitzgerald Fries Competition | 62- | Khoury's 62-yd FG | 37- | Thursday, August 4 | 12- | Monday, August 29 |
| 86- | Mean Green 86 The Toads | 61- | Kennedy's 61 TFL | 36- | Friday, August 5 | 11- | Tuesday, August 30 |
| 85- | Adrian Awasom | 60- | Fouts Field | 35- | Saturday, August 6 | 10- | Wednesday, August 31 |
| 84- | Brown Delivers For NT | 59- | The '59 Sun Bowl Squad | 34- | Sunday, August 7 | 9- | Thursday, September 1 |
| 83- | 83 All-Conference Selections | 58- | Mitchell Claims COY | 33- | Monday, August 8 | 8- | Friday, September 2 |
| 82- | Corky Nelson | 57- | Thomas Scampers For 57 | 32- | Tuesday, August 9 | 7- | Saturday, September 3 |
| 81- | One Of The Greats | 56- | Scott Davis Completion Pct | 31- | Wednesday, August 10 | 6- | Sunday, September 4 |
| 80- | Cedric The Sack- Getter | 55- | Gill, NT's First Retired Number | 30- | Thursday, August 11 | 5- | Monday, September 5 |
| 79- | "Blow George, Blow!" | 54- | Monday, July 18 | 29- | Friday, August 12 | 4 | Tuesday, September 6 |
| 78- | J.T. Smith Joins the NFL | 53- | Tuesday, July 19 | 28- | Saturday, August 13 | 3- | Wednesday, September 7 |
| 77- | North Texas Goes 10- 1 | 52- | Wednesday, July 20 | 27- | Sunday, August 14 | 2- | Thursday, September 8 |
| 76- | Blizzard Battle With FSU | 51- | Thursday, July 21 | 26- | Monday, August 15 | 1- | Friday, September 9 |
