Mr. Gibson entered the U.S. Border Patrol as a member of the 85th Academy Session in January 1966.  He furnished this oral history to the National Border Patrol Museum via e-mail  on May 17, 2009.

Q – Growing up: Date & place of birth, parents’ occupation, etc.

A - I was born 10/10/1935 in Scranton, PA to Alexander and Dorothy Gibson. My father was a butcher but went to work in about 1939 for Crown Can Company as a mechanic. He repaired Closing Machines (put tops on cans) in canning plants. My mother was a housewife except for a brief period during WWII when she worked for Glen L. Martin aircraft company in Essex, MD.

Q – Where did you grow up, schools attended.

A - From age 6 I grew up in Dundalk, MD.  The first few years we were bussed to several different schools till arriving in Dundalk Jr. Sr. High School. I was there from 7th through 12th grades.

Q – Why did you decide to apply for a position in the Border Patrol, when? Where?

A - I was a police officer and I shot in local competitions, including a league in Baltimore that included many state and federal agencies. I was bored with my job and looking for something else when I met two guys on the federal team. Sheldon Coon was with Immigration and the other fellow was with Customs. I applied for both and Immigration called first. This was in 1965 in Baltimore, Md.

Q – What was your starting salary?

A - I have no idea what my starting salary was.

Q – Where did you attend the Border Patrol Academy?

A - Class number 85    at Port Isabel, TX.

Q – Where were you stationed, and what positions did you hold?

A - McAllen, Texas, Patrol Inspector: Sould Ste Marie,  PI and BPA; Miami FL,. BPA Detroit, MI.  Investigator;  Miami, Fl BPA; West Palm Beach Fl.  Patrol Agent in Charge; Miami Fl. Anti Smuggling Agent.

Q – What significant details did you participate in?

A - The poor peoples campaign in Washington DC; ,Operation Intercept Calexico, CA.

Q – During your career, were you detailed to activities outside the Border  Patrol?

A - Designated US marshal for the Poor Peoples Campaign.

Q – Please describe your favorite activities or special expertise in the Border Patrol.

A - I had no special Expertise, I was a  slogger. I guess my best trait was I didn’t let go.

Q – Identify some of the other Border Patrolmen you worked with.  Which ones impressed you the most?

A - I thought Kerry Jacobson was the smartest agent I ever came across. He had the whole case, detail by detail, layed out in his head, and could instantly retrieve and part of the puzzle.

Q – How many Sectors did you work in?  If you wish, please name the Sector Chiefs.

A  - I worked in the Detroit Sector under Warren Long and the Miami Sector under Eugene Chaput and Carl Reidenger,  There was another chief at Miami but I will not name him because he was crook and a disgrace to our uniform.

Q – What supervisory positions did you hold?  Which was your favorite?

A - I was the PAIC  at West Palm Beach Fl. That’s the only one so I guess  its  my favorite.

Q – An example of your most frightening and/or funniest situation?

A - I have used up all of my war stories.

Q – Did you remain in the Patrol until retirement, or did you pursue other Service activities?

A - I stayed till the end of my career.

Q – What changes would you have recommended during your career?

A - Take the guy who made the decisions about the weapons we could carry and put him in charge of a pre school nursery.

Q – What did you do after leaving the Border Patrol?

A - After retiring I bought a Subway franchise and built it in Charlotte, NC. I enjoyed building the store (I was prime contractor) but once I opened I discovered the joys of supervising low pay employees. I spent most of my days and night in the store because the employees just didn’t show up for work, so I had to. After selling the store I did insurance investigations for American International. The pay was good and they treated me fine but I found I was in a hotel room somewhere four nights a week.

Q - Then what did you do?

A - I found a job as a criminal Investigator with the common wealth of Virginia. I investigated odometer rollbacks, counterfeit titles, false drivers  license applications and fuels tax evasion. I finally found something I was genuinely good at. They left me alone and I put a lot of bad guys in jail.  It was fun.  I retired after 9 years and came to Florida. Since 2001 I have been doing background investigations under contracts with the department of defense, Treasury and Homeland Security. My cup runneth over.  End of Oral History Statement.