From “First President” to “First National Champion” Orvil P. Gilleshammer’s name has meant “First Class” to Grafton and North Dakota curlers.

Gilleshammer and his team of Glenn Gilleshammer, Wilmer Collette, Donald LaBonte and, in 1964, Ray Holt, were a power in North Dakota and national curling. They won five state titles from 1958 through 1964, and the national title in 1960. The team was named 1960 Team of the Year by the North Dakota Sports Writers Association. Gilleshammer’s career was cut short by chronic knee problems requiring several surgeries.  

Beyond his exploits on the ice, Gilleshammer was known as a gentleman whose conduct and efforts laid much of the groundwork for the success of curling in North Dakota. His career as a builder of curling included work as the co-founder of the Walsh Curling Club of Park River, ND in 1952. In 1956 he founded and was first president of the Grafton Curling Club.