Former
Washington State standout Bill Gaskins, a member of 1965 ‘Cardiac Kids,’ dies
at 76
By Theo
Lawson, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Sun. Nov. 15, 2020 print edition
Bill Gaskins, an ex-Washington State defensive back and
halfback who starred on Bert Clark’s 1965 “Cardiac Kids” team, has died at the
age of 76.
A cause of death for Gaskins is unknown, but The
Spokesman-Review learned he died at his home in Pullman. Gaskins is survived by
his wife, Felicia, and his two children, Helen and William III – both of whom
are also WSU graduates.
Before Gaskins accepted a scholarship at WSU to play
football and run track, he was a standout halfback and defensive back at
Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High.
Gaskins eventually made Pullman a permanent home, but not
before a decorated career with the Cougars. He played from 1962-66 and was an
All-AAWU Conference safety, in addition to being a second-team All-American. As
a defensive back, Gaskins intercepted five passes as a senior, but he also
served as a kick return specialist and occasionally as a running back.
In 1965, Gaskins was a member of the “Cardiac Kids” team
that went 7-3 and earned its nickname because of a penchant for winning games
by tight margins.
Gaskins, who also was a sprinter for WSU’s track and field
team, earned the J. Fred Bohler Inspirational Award for his performance on the
football field and returned to Pullman to complete his pharmacy degree after
two years with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders.
In 1990, Gaskins was inducted into WSU’s Athletics Hall of
Fame.
Following his playing career, Gaskins managed to stay active
in the game, spending 17 years as a Pac-10 football official and also working
as a starter for WSU track and field events.
The Gaskinses moved back to Pullman in 1970 when Bill became the Director of the Pullman Regional Hospital Pharmacy and clinical pharmacy instructor in the College of Pharmacy.
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(Photo found online, not at Spokane S-R)
BILL GASKINS mention in Spokane S-R 11/15/2020 "A Grip on Sports' blog
• A Cougar great – in many, many ways – died recently.
From Vince Grippi's Sunday,
11/15/2020, "A Grip on Sports" blog at the Spokane Spokesman-Review
website.
Bill Gaskins, a Spokane high school star and a member of WSU’s 1965 group nicknamed the Cardiac Kids, passed Thursday.
His name doesn’t appear in all that many spots in the Washington State record book, but if there were a list of top 10 nicest people connected to the university, he would be on it. And quite possibly at the top.
Gaskins made my time (and the time of everyone who came in contact with him) in Pullman better, even though we only interacted at home games. He sat just behind me in the press box for many games, performing his duties as an observer of Pac-12 officials. (Now that’s a thankless job.)
We talked often about subjects as varied as our children and WSU quarterback play. He taught me about officiating – he spent years on the field after his playing days were done – and he was my go-to guy when something untoward happened in that arena.
No matter what, Gaskins was a gentleman. He spoke the truth at all times – he occasionally mentioned something I had written he didn’t agree with, but he was never mean about it – and you always felt uplifted after speaking with him.
If there are a handful of Cougars representing Washington State’s interests in heaven today, Gaskins is among them. And he belongs.
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