Innovation Dialog with Garry Gillmor｜From Small Town to Silicon Valley: A Former Santa Clara Mayor’s Story

For the latest edition of Innovation Dialog, Diana Ding (Founder and CEO, Ding Ding TV, Silicon Valley Community Media) spoke with Gary Gillmor, former Mayor of Santa Clara.

After graduating, Gary Gillmor served in the Army, attaining the rank of Captain, and continued to serve in the reserves after completing active duty. Gillmor earned his master’s degree from San Jose State University, and from there he went on to become a teacher at Buchser High School, where he taught history and political science and served as the school’s basketball coach. Gillmor also taught at West Valley College in Saratoga from 1965 to 1967 — teaching in history and political science.

Gary Gillmor got elected to the Santa Clara City Council in 1965, when he was just 29 years old. Gillmor was also Santa Clara’s first elected mayor (previously the position had been a rotating City Council assignment) and served in that role from 1969 to 1977.