Hall of Fame
"I have permanent goose bumps," said Paula Gills, long-time staff member at Norwich, about being ducted into the Hall of Fame. "Who thought I'd be honored for something that was just part of me and my natural existence at Norwich?"
"Coach" Gills, as she has been known to countless students over her 30-year career at Norwich, started as a part-time staff member in 1978. After growing up in Detroit and receiving both a Bachelor and Master's degree in English with a concentration in education from Michigan State University, Gills moved to Vermont to be a "hippie folk singer." After working for a few years as a professional musician and part-time tutor at the Study Skills center on campus, she decided to commit to working at Norwich full-time. She was appointed the Director of the Learning Support Center in 1989 and served in that position for 20 years, counseling students and teaching part-time in the English department.
Gills has always loved sports of all kinds, so coaching and advising athletes academically came naturally for her.
Mike Yesalonia '82, Norwich's football coach from 1997-2004, officially made her a member of his staff. "She was mother, mentor and supporter of our players," Yesalonia recalled. "She would write weekly letters to the team called 'Gill Grams' and we all remember her in the reviewing place as the team headed onto the field each Saturday."
"It was easy for me to chase the players around at lunch or practice to check up on them," Gills said. "I'd go to football practice and they would come ask me for advice."
Gills is also recognized in the Norwich and Northfield community for singing the national anthem of both the U.S. and Canada before sports games, most famously at the men's hockey games. The tradition started in 1991 when the new women's basketball coach was looking for a singer and called Gills. Despite her professional singing experience, Gills had never sung the anthem before, but offered to try. That first experience was one of the biggest thrills of her life.
"I was tingling after it was over," she said. Gills has been singing the national anthem at numerous sporting events since and loves being asked. "It's an honor every time I get to sing it."
