Walker Gillette was born in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Southampton High School. He went on to become a football All-American at the University of Richmond, being named first team All-American as a split-end by the Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Associates, Time Magazine, Look Magazine and The Sporting News.
Gillette was drafted in the first round by the San Diego Chargers in 1970 and went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl with 20 receptions for 242 yards. Gillette also played in the College All-Star game, the North-South Shrine Bowl and the Hula Bowl in Hawaii.
As a junior in 1968, Gillette was named to the Walter Camp. Walker holds six separate University of Richmond pass receiving records, including receiving yardage in one game (264) and in one season 1090 yards. He also holds the University of Richmond record for touchdown receptions in a game with 3, season with 11, and career with 22. Gillette was named to the All-Southern Conference team as a member of the Spiders for 1967-1969. He was also selected as Southern Conference Player of the Year in 1969. He played with the San Diego Chargers from 1969-70, and with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972-73, before ending his professional career with the New York Giants in 1976. Gillette’s outstanding professional career included 153 receptions for a total of 2,291 yards, an average of 15.2 yards per catch with 12 touchdowns. While at the University of Richmond, Gillette also captained the track team in 1969.
Gillette was inducted in the University of Richmond Hall of Fame in 1976. He was also inducted into the Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame in 1984 and elected to the University of Richmond All-Time team in 1990.