FOTL Has Lost a Friend:
Robert William Gibson, Jr.
GIBSON, ROBERT WILLIAM, JR. - age 86 of Knoxville,
TN died June 9, 2009. A lifelong advocate for libraries, literacy
and the arts, he retired as the Head Librarian at GM's Tech
Center. He was active in the Special Libraries Association
and served as the President '69-'70. He understood the power
of knowledge and literacy and championed both. He was very
active in literacy while in Michigan. On moving to Tennessee,
he became involved with the Friends of the Tennessee Libraries
and served as their president in 1997-1999. When a resident
of Loudon County, he was a member of the county library board
and served as the Chairman in 1999-2003 during which time
he over saw the building of the new library in Lenoir City.
His church was also important to him having studied to become
a Deacon of the Episcopal Church. He was a past chairman of
the board of the Whitaker School of Theology. He had a passion
for the arts and how they could enrich our lives. He contributed
many hours of his time volunteering at numerous arts organizations
and serving on boards. He was the President of the Knoxville
Opera Guild in 2003-2004 as well as board member of the Knoxville
Opera. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name
to the Knoxville Opera, Box 16, Knoxville, TN 37901. Memorial
services will be held on Monday, June 15 at 10 a.m. at the
Church of the Ascension. (Knoxville News Sentinel, June 12,
2009).
