Cyrus Gatton, a Gallatin High and Bobcat football star, lost his life in World War I
ALL-TIME BOBCATS, Memorial Day Edition: Cyrus Gatton
5/27/2019 3:00:00 PM | Football
One of Montana State's most popular athletes ever, Cy Gatton lost his life just before the end of World War I
MAY 27: Each day until Montana State's 2019 season opener the staff of Bobcats By The Numbers will offer a look at one of the players to make one of the school's all-time teams. On November 21, 1933, The Exponent announced 37 players selected by a panel of former players and coaches, divided into three teams that comprised Montana State's "mythical" all-time team. In 1969, the Billings Gazette's Norm Clarke conducted a poll to select the school's all-time team, and again in 2000 Bobcat Athletics and the Billings Gazette selected a third all-time team. The BBTN staff added players from the 21st century.
We depart from our normal order on this day, celebrated as Memorial Day, to honor the first real intersection of athletic glory and war on the Montana State campus.
Cy Gatton, FB, 1914-16
5-9, 155, Bozeman, MT
ALL-TIME TEAM: Captain, 1933 Exponent Team
HONORS: 1st Team All-State, 1915-16
A CLOSER LOOK: Cy Gatton didn't travel far in the fall of 1913 to make his mark at Montana State, but his impact was great. The former star at Gallatin County High School in Bozeman and had worked his way to being "probably the best ground gainer on the team" by mid-season of his freshman year. But his fine freshman season ended in practice after the first game against the Varsity that season when he "was caught in a peculiar position which left him unconscious for fifteen minutes. Cy was removed to a doctor's office where it was discovered that the injury affected his back. He is still under the doctor's care and will probably not be in the game for the rest of the season." He had led the team with 73 rushing yards in that 7-0 loss on November 1, then missed the rematch two weeks later. Gatton missed the 1914 season opener with an injury – actually working that game as an official, a common practice in that era – then lined up directly behind star quarterback Ott Romney and scoring a touchdown. One of the most slight players in the Blue and Gold, Gatton was regularly battered and battled injuries throughout his career. He was recognized as all-state following his second and third seasons, and at the conclusion of his junior campaign was elected captain for the 1916 campaign. But his senior season – the first that Montana State played under the banner of 'Bobcats' – never arrived. Instead he transferred to the University of Wisconsin, a move which apparently had nothing to do with athletics (his name didn't appear on any UW rosters). Not long after the turn of the year he enlisted in the military and gravitated to aviation. A decorated flying ace, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerra for bravery in action. Gatton was assigned to the 111th Aero squadron First Day Bombardment group as pilot, and rose to the appointment of flying officer and eventually group leader. He left Montmedy, where his group was stationed, on November 4, 1918, and according to witnesses the plane fell in a mass of flames. The wreckage was located on a farm near Saully Par Carignan, and Gatton's shallow grave was located nearby. His mother, Mrs. M.A. Gatton, was notified on December 4 that he had officially been declared missing. His body was interred at the Romayne Cemetery in France. The young flyer volunteered for the fateful mission, just one week before the armistice was signed, in spite of the fact that he was officially in a rest period. Gatton was so revered on the Bozeman campus that two makeshift football fields on campus bore his name before permanent Gatton Field was named in his honor. Gatton Field and the gate that remains to this day on Grant Street near MSU's recreation center – donated by Mrs. Gatton – was dedicated on October 4, 1930, just before a 26-19 win over Regis.
FROM THE EXPONENT: "One of the best ball carriers ever to grace a Montana eleven. The 1917 edition of the Montanan says of Cy: 'Cy was the backbone of the team, and the entire offense was built around the steller performer. As a receiver of forward passes and a broken field runner, Cy is the best ever produced in Montana. His wonderful dodging and whirling tactics made him the most consistent ground-gainer on the team. Cy was everything that a back should be in the generalship, and as a fitting tribute to his ability he was chosen co-captain for 1915. Gatton was again chosen captain of the 1917 Montana State football team. He was the only unanimous choice of the all-time team. This is enough to make hi Captain of the all Time Team." From In Memoriam: "Cy Gatton was the first choice for team one by all who knew him. Here is the tribute to him framed by his old friends, and inscribed on the tablet of the Gatton Memorial Gateway, at Gatton Field: "To the memory of Cyrus J. Gatton who gave his life for his country. He loved athletes. He was strong, alert, respectful, valiant, loyal to his comrades, honest and generous toward his opponent. Enlisting early in the Great War, he was among the last to to die in air-battle. A student in Montana State College, September, 1913 to June, 1916. Died November 4, 1918. This gateway erected by his mother, 1930." From Exponent announcing his captaincy, November 26, 1915: "At an election by the team last Friday Cy Gatton was chosen captain of next year's football team. He has well-earned this honor, having played stellar ball for the last three years. He is in the game every minute and was Montana's best ground gainer and most spectacular player during all threse three years. This season in particular Cy's ability shone forth. He was the individual star in every contest and was always marked by his opponents as dangerous. As an open-field runner he has no equal in the state. The team certainly made a good choice and found a man who will always have the interests of the team at heart. Next year's team should be a wonder if the spirit of the captain has anything to do with it."
Just 27 days before Gatton perished in France, Paul Dornblaser of the University of Montana – whose senior season at the State University coincided with Gatton's rookie season at the State College – was killed on October 8 near France's Argonne Forest. German machine fire riddled his lower extremities, and he passed away less than 48 hours later. It's easy to imagine that these two football heroes may have crossed paths in France, united by a much greater pursuit.
We recognize all Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our liberty, with special thanks for Montanans who have served in the U.S. Military, on this Memorial Day, and it's also a good time to recognize that Bobcats and Grizzlies alike, young men at Montana State, Montana, and all of the colleges in the state, have willingly walked away from their college careers and campuses and toward the dangers of service. This is a day that we remember them, and all who have perished in service of this country, with gratitude.
We depart from our normal order on this day, celebrated as Memorial Day, to honor the first real intersection of athletic glory and war on the Montana State campus.
Cy Gatton, FB, 1914-16
5-9, 155, Bozeman, MT
ALL-TIME TEAM: Captain, 1933 Exponent Team
HONORS: 1st Team All-State, 1915-16
A CLOSER LOOK: Cy Gatton didn't travel far in the fall of 1913 to make his mark at Montana State, but his impact was great. The former star at Gallatin County High School in Bozeman and had worked his way to being "probably the best ground gainer on the team" by mid-season of his freshman year. But his fine freshman season ended in practice after the first game against the Varsity that season when he "was caught in a peculiar position which left him unconscious for fifteen minutes. Cy was removed to a doctor's office where it was discovered that the injury affected his back. He is still under the doctor's care and will probably not be in the game for the rest of the season." He had led the team with 73 rushing yards in that 7-0 loss on November 1, then missed the rematch two weeks later. Gatton missed the 1914 season opener with an injury – actually working that game as an official, a common practice in that era – then lined up directly behind star quarterback Ott Romney and scoring a touchdown. One of the most slight players in the Blue and Gold, Gatton was regularly battered and battled injuries throughout his career. He was recognized as all-state following his second and third seasons, and at the conclusion of his junior campaign was elected captain for the 1916 campaign. But his senior season – the first that Montana State played under the banner of 'Bobcats' – never arrived. Instead he transferred to the University of Wisconsin, a move which apparently had nothing to do with athletics (his name didn't appear on any UW rosters). Not long after the turn of the year he enlisted in the military and gravitated to aviation. A decorated flying ace, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerra for bravery in action. Gatton was assigned to the 111th Aero squadron First Day Bombardment group as pilot, and rose to the appointment of flying officer and eventually group leader. He left Montmedy, where his group was stationed, on November 4, 1918, and according to witnesses the plane fell in a mass of flames. The wreckage was located on a farm near Saully Par Carignan, and Gatton's shallow grave was located nearby. His mother, Mrs. M.A. Gatton, was notified on December 4 that he had officially been declared missing. His body was interred at the Romayne Cemetery in France. The young flyer volunteered for the fateful mission, just one week before the armistice was signed, in spite of the fact that he was officially in a rest period. Gatton was so revered on the Bozeman campus that two makeshift football fields on campus bore his name before permanent Gatton Field was named in his honor. Gatton Field and the gate that remains to this day on Grant Street near MSU's recreation center – donated by Mrs. Gatton – was dedicated on October 4, 1930, just before a 26-19 win over Regis.
FROM THE EXPONENT: "One of the best ball carriers ever to grace a Montana eleven. The 1917 edition of the Montanan says of Cy: 'Cy was the backbone of the team, and the entire offense was built around the steller performer. As a receiver of forward passes and a broken field runner, Cy is the best ever produced in Montana. His wonderful dodging and whirling tactics made him the most consistent ground-gainer on the team. Cy was everything that a back should be in the generalship, and as a fitting tribute to his ability he was chosen co-captain for 1915. Gatton was again chosen captain of the 1917 Montana State football team. He was the only unanimous choice of the all-time team. This is enough to make hi Captain of the all Time Team." From In Memoriam: "Cy Gatton was the first choice for team one by all who knew him. Here is the tribute to him framed by his old friends, and inscribed on the tablet of the Gatton Memorial Gateway, at Gatton Field: "To the memory of Cyrus J. Gatton who gave his life for his country. He loved athletes. He was strong, alert, respectful, valiant, loyal to his comrades, honest and generous toward his opponent. Enlisting early in the Great War, he was among the last to to die in air-battle. A student in Montana State College, September, 1913 to June, 1916. Died November 4, 1918. This gateway erected by his mother, 1930." From Exponent announcing his captaincy, November 26, 1915: "At an election by the team last Friday Cy Gatton was chosen captain of next year's football team. He has well-earned this honor, having played stellar ball for the last three years. He is in the game every minute and was Montana's best ground gainer and most spectacular player during all threse three years. This season in particular Cy's ability shone forth. He was the individual star in every contest and was always marked by his opponents as dangerous. As an open-field runner he has no equal in the state. The team certainly made a good choice and found a man who will always have the interests of the team at heart. Next year's team should be a wonder if the spirit of the captain has anything to do with it."
Just 27 days before Gatton perished in France, Paul Dornblaser of the University of Montana – whose senior season at the State University coincided with Gatton's rookie season at the State College – was killed on October 8 near France's Argonne Forest. German machine fire riddled his lower extremities, and he passed away less than 48 hours later. It's easy to imagine that these two football heroes may have crossed paths in France, united by a much greater pursuit.
We recognize all Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our liberty, with special thanks for Montanans who have served in the U.S. Military, on this Memorial Day, and it's also a good time to recognize that Bobcats and Grizzlies alike, young men at Montana State, Montana, and all of the colleges in the state, have willingly walked away from their college careers and campuses and toward the dangers of service. This is a day that we remember them, and all who have perished in service of this country, with gratitude.
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