; Page 10
THE COMPASS
Tuesday, December 10,7^
Roll em!
Photo by Sheila Jok/aon
Travis Gibson: a shining stai
who will not be forgotten
The Commuter Center drew a large crowd on opening day, as student leaders and the Chancellor
demonstrated their bowling prowess. Pictured from left are Miguel Purvis, SGA President; Dr. Jimmy
Jenkins, Chancellor; Tonya DeVaughn, Miss ECSU,and (far right) Eukita Barco. Inthe background students
wait in anticipation for the first balls to strike the pins.
Shooting Williams
w
ifmn
continued from p.l
require that all requests for parttime
security come through their office first
and that all officers employed to work
atadancesign contracts. He predicted
that the N.C. Department of Correc
tions may put an end to the practice.
Basnight said some of the officers
have griped because they realize that
their risks are higher if the University
will not assume any kind of liability
for them.
“1 know they want to continue
making that extra eight dollars an
hour but they are trying to do a job that
they have no jurisdiction over,”
Basnight said.
Mountain was unavailable to
comment on the Correctional Cen
ter’s new requirements.
continued from p.l
important African-American role
mc^els.”
The pageant, which also showcased
Alisa Robinson, Miss ECSU 1990-
91, was broadcast by 75 television
stations.
Williams, a senior at Grambling
State University, has maintained a 4.0
grade point average throughout her
college career. She is a computer sci
ence major and is president of her
chapter of Delta Sigma Theta soror
ity.
William s said she would work tire
lessly to promote the educational val
ues of the 350,000 students who at
tend historically black colleges and
universities and strengthen the rela
tionship between Americans and
Africans. “It’s important that students
know that our most prominent leaders
are graduates of these schools,” she
said. “They should also know that
black colleges provide challenging
academics coupled with a nurturing
environment.”
Williams, 22, grew up in a family
of four children in Abbeville, Louisi
ana and traces her quest for sucess to
her youth. “I remember when I was
very littlemy sister received all A’son
her report card from school,” she said.
“My parents were always so happy
and proud of her. At the time, I was in
kindergarten and receiving S’s for
Satisfactory. I remember saying to
myself then, T want to make all A’s
too.’”
Williams has set her goals for the
future. “Ten years from now, 1 hope to
have recieved my Ph.D. and will be
thinking about marriage.”
By Renee Knight
ECSU alumnus Travis L.Gibson
(DDS) would have been 27 years old
on December 31,1991.
But theElizabeth City native didn’t
live to see his birthday.
Travis’s body was found in the
Yadkin River in Lexington, N.C. in
October. The coroner ruled the cause
of death as “drowning/pending.”
Travis had left Tennessee for Fay-
ettville, but he ran into car trouble,
according to the Lexington Police
Department.
“We didn’t hear from him for a
couple of days,” says his cousin, Juan
Langford, an ECSU senior, “even
though he is always in close contact
with his family.”
Then the family learned that hunt
ers had found Travis’ body in the
Yadkin River, near Lexinton in
Davidson County. Police say they
can’t tell how long the body had been
in the water. A spokesman for the
Davidson County Sheriff’s Depart
ment told The Compass, “We are not
investigating it (the Gibson case) as a
homicide.”
Travis, a 1986 graduate of ECSU,
anda 1991 graduate of Meharry Dental
School in Nashville, Tennessee, was a
young man on the way up, determined
to be a success in his chosen field. His
friends say they can’t forget this quiet,
determined young man whose di^eam
in life was to be a successful dental
surgeon.
“When I think about Tray, I can
only remember fun times, but it doesn ’t
feel like he’sgone forever,” saidECSU
senior Juan Langford.”We were cous
ins but shared the bond of brothers
because neither of us had brothers.”
Juan said Travis had a warm, car
ing personality.
“He was very easy going, friendly,
determined and most of all he was an
achiever. And that’s why it’s so hard
to say goodbye to yesterday. Travis
connected very well with people and
his boyish smile made people com
fortable immediately.”
Gibson also had a sense of humor,
his friends recall.
“When I first met him we had a
Travis Gibson.
pleasantconversation, then hechecked
my teeth,” said ECSU senior, Tonya
DeVaughn. He seemed a bit quiet but
I was very comfortable around him.
The conversation started off very
calmly but it ended with a lot of laugh
ter.”
Travis attended grade school and
junior high in Pasquotank County and
graduated from Northeastern High
School. At ECSU, he was a member
of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Chi
Chapter, Health Careers Organization;
Society of Physics; Beta, Beta, Beta
Biological Honor Society and the
Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. At
Meharry Medical School, he was a
member of several dental associations
and the Meharry Alumni Association.
At the time of his death Travis was
practising dentistry in Fayetteville,
N.C., but he planned to return to school
to become a surgeon.
Travis’ mother, Sandra Gibson, of
Elizabeth City, was very much aware
of his intention. She knew in her heart
that her son possessed the ability and
drive to accomplish his life’s goals.
“His motto was, ‘Regardless of who
you are or how much money you
have, with a strong will and determi
nation, you will always make it,’ she
recalls.
Travis’ willingness to work hard
earned him praise from his instructors
at ECSU.
“Travis was a very good student;
well disciplined, willing to help and
dependable,” said Dr. Bobby Lewis.
“He was a well-rounded role model.
He always had a natural smile on his
face. I never saw him angry.”
“Travis was goal-oriented andj
demically gifted,” said Dr. c,,
Tumage. “He will be profom
missed by the faculty, strand,
dents in the Biology Depart
because he represented thatrolemu
student profile that we took prid.
He was a shining star in Northeaa
N.C.”
“Travis cared a great deal foro*
people,” said Ms. Izalia MoulJ
Director of the Health Career Ceni
He knew that one day he wouW
able to help them.” |
Mouring remembers the ni
Travis felt after he graduated J
dental school. |
‘ ’He came by to see me and sa,
made it,’” she recalled.
Travis wasn ’t always a youngn
with focus and direction. Juan renn
bers that in high school playing
ball was Travis’ most importanin
suit, and academically he only
enough to get by.
But his uncle and his mother,li
ECSU graduates, had a long talklj
him, telling him about the importj
of education, and afterwards Tij
began take his work more serious
“It was like he had a whole n
outlook on life and education,” sj
Juan. “He began to dedicate him
to his classwork, he gave up spoi
and he graduated from ECSU n
honors.”
Travis, who graduated eighi
his class at medical school, receil
the prestigious American Col)
Prosthodontics Award at Mek^
Dental School. He graduated alii
of time, finishing the five-year ](
gram in four years.
Travis attended the the Centem
Fall Honors Convocation rap sesst
with Dr. Alex Haley. At the endol:
convocation, Travis was fonjij
recognized by Chancellor Ji(
Jenkins. '
“Travis is out of sight but mi
will be out of mind,” said one oil
friends at ECSU. “He touched}
heart of everyone who knew himj
therefore he will never 1
(Kimberly Whitaker contribuW
this story.)
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