Oklahoma Farm Bureau honored Billy Gibson, Ada, Feb. 18, for his more than 36 years of service as a volunteer leader for the farm organization.
“Billy is a very special person who has dedicated many years to serving Oklahoma Farm Bureau, including two separate tenures on the OFB Board of Directors, representing District 8,” said Mike Spradling, OFB president.
Gibson was raised on a ranch near Ada in Pontotoc County. He served his country as an Air Force pilot, flying combat missions over Vietnam and later serving in the Pentagon.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, the Oklahoma farm boy felt the pull from the Oklahoma prairie and returned to the family ranch where he has spent the last 38 years.
During that time, Gibson believed it was important to work as a volunteer Farm Bureau leader at the county, state and national levels.
“This honor means a lot to me and my family, especially my children and grandchildren,” Gibson said. “I have always believed in the Farm Bureau mission to improve the lives of rural Oklahomans.”
In January at the AFBF convention in Nashville, Billy and his wife Janet were interviewed by Story Corps, affiliated with National Public Radio and the national archives in the Library of Congress. They were just one of a handful of farm families from around the country chosen to have their life story preserved for eternity.
“This is only way to get the whole story told. Reach out there and give it to the world like it is,” Gibson said.
Billy and Janet have two children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
