David Gilger, a standout football player at Brownwood High School, enrolled in 1956 at Howard Payne, where his father, L.L. “Toots” Gilger, also played football. As a freshman he was an offensive guard but moved to linebacker and center for the rest of his career. Known for his leadership, he was named co-captain his senior year in 1960. The Yellow Jackets went 6-4 that year, and Gilger was named to the All-Lone Star Conference and Dallas Morning News All-Texas College teams as a center. After graduating from Howard Payne in 1960 with a double major in business and education, Gilger became a successful businessman in the ranching industry in San Saba. Gilger, who died in 2020, was a former member of the San Saba ISD board and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of San Saba.