George E. Gibbs succumbs;
strong supporter of college
Winners of Contest
Roommates Nancy Elizabeth Davenport, left,
and Christine O'Hora Allen, both Hampton
High School graduates, recently received
recognition from Dean of Students Clayton
Levtfis as winners of the best decorated room
contest among residents in Belk Hall. Awards
were also given to the residents of the best
decorated rooms in other residence halls.
Davenport is studying in the pre-law cur
riculum. She is the daughter of Mrs. Nancy D.
Ennis of Hampton. Allen is studying in the pre
education curriculum and is the daughter of
Mrs. Lindy A. Leake of Hampton.
George Elbert Gibbs, 79, who
served Chowan College for over
four decades as a volunteer leader
and supporter, died July 20,1987, in
a Greenville hospital.
Gibbs was a native of Polk Coun
ty. He attended Mars Hill College
and graduated from Western
Carolina University, where he was
a member of the Board of Visitors.
He did post graduate studies at
Wofford College.
Long Education Career
Gibbs began his career in
education in 1933, the year he
married the former Norma Bur
nette of CuUowhee. He served as
teacher and coach at Dana Dan
High School, Henderson County,
until 1936, when he became prin
cipal of Sunny View High School,
Mill Spring. In 1940, he became
principal of Murfreesboro High
School, serving until 1947. He
operated a Western Auto store in
Murfreesboro until he retired in
1971,
Gibbs was active in community
affairs. He served as a member of
the Hertford County Board of
Education for 23 years including
ten years as chairman. He was a
deacon of Murfreesboro Baptist
Church. He was a charter member
of Roanoke-Chowan Technical
Graduate of photography finds aviation niche
Although he is a photography
graduate of Chowan and has won
awards for his photographs, David
Asher Richards, Class of 1977, has
found his niche in the field of avia
tion.
Richards is senior contract ad
ministrator for McDonnell
Douglas Helicopter Company, in
Mesa, Arizona. Previously, he
served for almost five years with
Hughes Helicopters, Inc., and
Hughes Aircraft Company, pro
gressing from buyer with the
helicopter company to contract ad
ministrator and senior contract ad
ministrator with the aircraft com
pany.
In his position with McDonnell
Douglas Helicopter Company, he
secures contracts in the hundreds
of millions of dollars.
Worked as Photographer
After graduating from Chowan,
Richards worked for two years as
a photographer with Olan Mills
Inc., of Virginia. He left to return
to college, and received his B.S.
degree from Arizona State Univer
sity.
After graduating from Arizona
State, Richards began his employ
ment with Hughes Helicopter, Inc.,
THE CHOWANIAN
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AT MURFREESBORO N. C. 2785S
DAVID ASHER RICHARDS
where he received a number of
Dedicated to Excellence awards
for helping the company achieve
cost, schedule and quality goals.
He, and one other employee, were
featured in a prominent first page
picture in the Sept. 20,1982, issue of
the Hughes company magazine.
The Observer.
Richards began his employment
with the Hughes Aircraft Company
in August, 1983. He won awards for
both his black and white and color
photographs in competition spon
sored by the company magazine,
Hughesnews. He received first
place and third place in black and
white in the portrait/people com
petition. In color action/drama, he
placed fourth. All of these pictures
were taken while he was a student
at Chowan.
Contiiiues Education
Richards continued his profes
sional education by completion of
the eight required courses for the
Professional Designation in
Government Contract Manage
ment offered by the University of
California, Los Angeles, Universi
ty Extension in cooperation with
the National Contract Manage
ment Association (NCMA).
He was also designated by the
NCMA as a Certified Professional
Contracts Manager after suc
cessfully completing the Certified
Professional Contracts Manager
(CPCM) Examination. “You
should feel justly prouid for pass
ing a very difficult and comprehen
sive examination of your profes
sional knowledge,” wrote David V.
Lamm, chairman of the CPCM Ex
amination Board.
While at Hughes Aircraft Com
pany, Richards received the praise
in writing of a company executive
who applauded him for his
“outstanding” service to the com
pany to include his dedication, in
itiative, and contractual and
business expertise.”
In a letter to Dean of Students
Clayton Lewis, Richards wrote of
his appreciation for Chowan Col
lege. “With most students you
have two years to change their
lives; the Chowan experience does
do that and it lasts forever,” he
stated. “I’m proud that I went to
Chowan!” he added.
Chowan Classmates
Continued Richards, “I’ve lost
touch with so many of my
classmates. Please list their
names so that I may correspond
with them.”
Candidates for Degrees,
Associate in Photography, Class of
1977: Barry Alan Bowe, Garry
Randall Boyter, Donna Faye
Campbell, John Kemper Cline, Ed
win Thomas Conner, Melanie
Dawn Deitsch, Robert Bruce
Edwards, Steve John Faccenda,
Colleen Ann Ferguson, Richard
James Green, Jr., John Barry
Hawkins, David Lee Hodges, Jr.,
Brian Keith Marr, John Wayne
Parker, David Asher Richards,
Kent Lamar Roberts, David
Eugene Shuford, Joel Rand Stokes,
Rex Clifton Stone. The following is
David Richard’s address:
265 North Gilbert Road
No. 214
Mesco, Arizona 85205
Students provided
free admission to
community concerts
The Chowan Mutual Concert
Association is offering three at
tractions in Turner Auditorium for
the 1987-88 school year, and admis
sion is free to all Chowan students.
Scheduled for December is
Fascination’ Rhythm. In
February, recitalist and soloist
Linda Maxey will perform live in
concert. She is one of the few con
cert marimba virtuosos left in the
music world.
In April, John Gary will per
form. His captivating voice has
captured the attention of many and
he has record 24 best selling
albums.
GEORGE E. GIBBS
College and a past president of the
Murfreesboro Rotary Club.
Community Leadership
He was one of the organizers and
first presidents of the Mur
freesboro Chamber of Commerce.
He was also president of the Mur
freesboro Industrial Development
Corporation. Gibbs was on the
board of directors of the Tarheel
Bank.
Gibbs was a member of the
General Board of the Baptist State
Convention of North Carolina.
His leadership and influence ex
tended to regional and state-wide
interests. He served as governor of
Rotary District 771. He was ap
pointed to a five-year term on the
North Carolina State Commission
for the Blind by Gov. Dan K.
Moore. He was also a member of
the Board of Trustees of the Gover
nor Moorehead School for the
Blind.
He received a number of awards
in appreciation for his service. He
was chosen Outstanding Citizen of
the Year by the Murfreesboro Ex
change Club in 1963. He received
Western Carolina University’s
Alumni Distinguished Service
Award.
“George Gibbs was a faithful
and dedicated leader in behalf of
the program, progress and service
of Chowan College,” noted
President Bruce E. Whitaker, a
close friend of Gibbs.
He served as a member of the
Board of Trustees and chairman of
the Executive Committee.
Key Leader
Gibbs was a “key volunteer
leader,” according to Whitaker, in
campaigns that provided Chowan
with a new library, fine arts cen
ter, men’s dormitory (Parker
Hall), science-engineering facility,
and gymnasium-physical
education center. Noted Whitaker,
“In many different ways, in civic,
educational and religious en
deavors, he made his mark for the
betterment of mankind and ad
vancement of many worthwhile
causes. For many reasons and on
many levels George Gibbs will be
missed.”
PAGE 2—The Chowonian, December, 1987