Gallagher had a high profile as president, and was featured in a June 18, 1953 special edition of the Pittsburgh Press as one of 100 "outstanding leaders of the future-young men most likely to write exciting new chapters in our city's progress".
Although Gallagher initially thought that Duquesne should move from its downtown location to the suburbs-Bethel Park in particular was considered-that opinion put him in the minority in the university's administration.