Roll Call Tribute

Obituary sent by nephew, John O. Gibson, M.D. '76

Name of deceased: Mr. William Fullilove Gibson, Class of 1943. Agriculture & Animal Husbandry (Bachelor's '43)

Age: 89
Hometown: the World. Bill Gibson literally lived all over the world through his many years of service with USAID and other development agencies.
Date of death: March 26, 2012
Date of birth: Oct 21, 1922
Birthplace: Shreveport, LA
Occupation: Agronomist and Agricultural Engineer
Clubs/Organizations: Lions Club, Elks Club, United Nations, Texas A&M Lifelong Alumni Member
Church Affiliation: Catholic Church

Survivors:
Wife: none
Children: Theresa Bernadette Gibson, William and Jeanie Gibson, Suzanne and Howard Kunitz, Brenda and Bruce Lambert, Robert and Jie Young Gibson, Sherry and Dalton Lucas, Donna and Randy Wiens, Buddy and Leslie Driskill, David Lambert.
Parents: John and Sue Moore Fullilove Gibson (Deceased)
Grandchildren: Amanda Schulties, Brandon Kennard, Maria Kennard, Michelle Gibson, Arielle Fullilove Kunitz, Naomi Tatiana Kunitz, Summer Jean Heinz, Leona Jordan, Jenny Gibson, Brittany Lambert, Jake Lambert, James Lambert, Matt Lucas, Jessie Beth Wiens, Dalton Lucas
Great Grandchildren: Sierra and Carlee Schulties, Hunter Alexander Kennard
AggieLegacy: Nephew: John O. Gibson, MD ; Aggie Class of 77
Brother (deceased) John O. Gibson, Jr Class 1941

Date of Memorial service: Sunday, 27 May 2012
Time: 3pm
Place: 8435 Masters Rd, Manvel, TX 77578

Memorail contributions to: William Gibson, 8435 Masters Rd, TX 77578

Bill began college at A&M at age 16, joining his big brother “Buddy” who was a junior in 1939. Bill graduated 4 years later with a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences and Animal Husbandry. He worked as a civilian for the Army Airforce during WWII and then worked for several years on a family owned ranch west of San Antonio near the border of Mexico. After marrying a lovely lady from Peru, Sandra, Bill changed his focus to development work in foreign lands. In 1957, he was employed bo the Rockefeller Foundation in development projects in Northern Ghana where he helped transform the Northern Territories from an impoverished wasteland to an area that exported surplus food materials. Over the next 30 years he went on to work in and visit more than 50 nations throughout 5 continents. His adventures allowed him to meet chiefs, kings, presidents and ministers of government. He helped build dams, set up demonstration farms, supervised feasibility studies and advocated soil conservation and land-use programs. However, it was his dealings with poor people and his dedication to improving their lives that have etched his legacy of compassion and hard work in the hearts of those who have known and loved him.

Throughout his career in agricultural development, he worked for numerous government and private agencies including USAID, The United Nations Development Program, The World Bank and it’s various agencies. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN and other governmental agencies related to the UN. He retired from professional activities in 1985 following his wife Sandra’s death, and moved to Mexico.

In 1992, he met and married Beth, a beautiful lady from Houston, and moved back to his beloved Texas. Bill lived in the Houston area near Beth’s family even after her tragic death in 2002. Bill passed away at his home in Manvel Texas. He never failed to root for his beloved Aggies and was very proud of his Aggie education and legacy.
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(Published in) Alvin Sun-Advertiser (on) April 11, 2012

William Fullilove Gibson

Oct. 21, 1922 - March 26, 2012

William Fullilove Gibson, 89, of the world, passed away March 26, 2012 at his home in Manvel. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He worked as an agronomist and was a member of the Lions Club, Elks Club and United Nations and was a Texas A&M lifelong alumni member. He was of the Catholic faith.

He is survived by his children: Theresa Bernadette Gibson, William and Jeanie Gibson, Suzanne and Howard Kunitz, Robert and Jie Young Gibson, Brenda and Bruce Lambert, Sherry and Dalton Lucas, Donna and Randy Wiens, Buddy and Leslie Driskill and David Lambert; parents: John and Sue Moore Fullilove Gibson; grandchildren: Amanda Schulties, Brandon Kennard, Maria Kennard, Michelle Gibson, Arielle Fullilove Kunitz, Naomi Tatiana Kunitz, Summer Jean Heinz, Leona Jordan, Jenny Gibson, Brittany Lambert, Jake Lambert, James Lambert, Matt Lucas, Jessie Beth Wiens and Dalton Lucas; and great-grandchildren: Sierra and Carlee Schulties, Hunter Alexander Kennard and Darren Lambert.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 8435 Masters Road, Manvel, TX 77578.

Memorial contributions can be made to William Gibson, 8435 Masters Road, Manvel, TX 77578.