William “Bill” Gilmore

Bill Gilmore was a powerful force in California polo in the days after WW II, when polo was only a vision of the past and a hope for the future. There were no fields, few players and fewer horses, but Gilmore wouldn’t let the sport die and set about to rebuild its foundation. He encouraged players to return to the game and is credited with mentoring many polo stars of the era.

He helped revive the San Mateo and Menlo Park Clubs and further south he helped Santa Barbara to regain its place in the sun and became a charter member of the Eldorado Polo Club. American polo and California polo in particular owe Bill Gilmore a great deal for his unwavering commitment to the game.