Wayne State University Athletics

Gembis was born in Vicksburg, MI and graduated from Vicksburg High School. He joined his brother Joe, head football coach at the time at WSU, upon graduation and distinguished him as a punter, but also stood out as a quarterback, defensive back and place-kicker. He reportedly had two 80-yard punts in a single high school game. Gembis averaged nearly 40 yards per kick in 1936, ranked 4th in the country in 1937 and averaged more than 44 yards per punt in 1938. He was selected by Grantland Rice on Collier's 1936 All-American Team as an honorable mention pick. An accurate passer, fine runner, and strong defensive player, his forte was an ability to punt for distance and accuracy. His 82-yarder in 1937 and 1938 still stand as the WSU record efforts. In one 3-game stretch in 1936 he punted the ball out of bounds 11 times inside the five-yard line.

He was drafted by the Brooklyn (NFL) Dodgers in 1938, but was injured and could not play. Gembis then returned to complete his degree and later received his M.Ed. at WSU. He had a long coaching and teaching career in the Detroit Public Schools, at schools such as Cass Technical High School.