Gerald Strickland (portrayed by James Tolkan) is the strict, hard-as-nails principal of Hill Valley High School. He is the grandson of Chief Marshal James Strickland of Hill Valley 1885. Strickland makes a show of being vehemently opposed to underage drinking, but in Part II that he himself is a closet alcoholic.
In the animated series, Mr. Strickland becomes the Dean of Hill Valley College and he is also an Army soldier when Marty travels into the 1940s.