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Simon Peter Gillis (April 6, 1875 – January 14, 1964) was an American track and field athlete, a member of the New York Athletic Club, and the New York City Police Department. He was one of a group of athletes known as the Irish Whales and frequently kept company with members of the Irish American Athletic Club.
Jul 26, 2012 · July 26, 2012. On Park Avenue, in an empty lot between East 134th and 135th Streets, a 29-year-old hammer thrower was practicing one autumn day in 1904. His name was Simon P. Gillis. He had...
Standing six feet four inches tall and weighing 240 lbs., Gillis had all of the attributes of a champion. Soon after settling in New York, and while working in his civil engineering trade, Gillis joined the New York Athletic Club.
The poor waiter is said to have lost 20 pounds in weight by the end of voyage, due to the vast amount of food he was having to bring to them. Some of the Whales most famous members included: John Flanagan, Simon Gillis, James Mitchell, Pat McDonald, Paddy Ryan, Martin Sheridan, Matt McGrath, Con Walsh and honorary member Pat O’Callaghan.
Biographical information. Biography. Simon Gillis grew up on Cape Breton Island but moved to New York as a teenager to join his brother. Representing CCNY and the NYAC, he was later runner-up in the 1906 AAU hammer throw.
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Simon Gillis of Gillisdale, Cape Breton, threw the hammer and discus in early 20th century Highland Games. At the St. F.X university field in 1905 he set a world record in the 12 lb. hammer throw. He competed in three Olympic Games for the USA. Read More: Track and Field.
