Lemerand Athletics Center

Honoree

L. Gale Lemerand

A native of Michigan, L. Gale Lemerand grew up in a working class family. After serving in the Korean War, he returned stateside and began a career at Williams Insulation in Chicago in 1968. Lemerand bought out his partner and renamed the business Gale Industries at the age of 40.

Lemerand was introduced to the Gators by his friend, Bill Lloyd. Shortly after, Lemerand became a Bull Gator and, like so many of the Florida faithful, began calling The Swamp his second home.

In 1997, Lemerand was kind enough to provide financial support for renovations to the football coaches' offices, the first in a long line of gifts Lemerand would bestow upon the University of Florida. Lemerand has also given generously to both Embry-Riddle College in Daytona Beach as well as Daytona Community College and Bethune-Cookman College, in addition to other community agencies such as the March of Dimes, United Way, and Boys and Girls Clubs.

In honor of Lemerand's many generous contributions to the University as a whole, North-South Drive was renamed Gale Lemerand Drive in 2005. Lemerand was awarded an honorary degree as well.

Facility History

The Lemerand Athletic Center is a 46,000 square-foot facility that opened in 1995 and houses multiple Florida athletic teams.

The building possesses three full-sized volleyball courts and has equipment, training and locker room areas for Florida's baseball, volleyball, soccer, track and field and softball teams. Additionally, the staffs of each sport have offices in the facility, while the sports medicine department enjoys its own state-of-the-art area that gives Gator athletes the finest medical care available.

Lemerand followed with a generous donation to aid in the construction of Florida's basketball complex. The 47,505 square-foot building is among the finest in collegiate sports.

Click here to visit the Lemerand Athletics Center virtually through UF's campus map