Touching Hall of Fame Induction
Two new members were inducted into the Barnesville Area Education Foundation Hall of Fame Saturday, July 11 during the Barnesville Alumni Banquet. Tony Householder and Richard Dale “Dick” Gibson joined over 80 other individuals associated with the school and community who have impacted the community, nation and world.
Tony Householder, class of 1970, was honored for his ingenuity, dedication and support of the Barnesville Shamrock Athletic program. He initiated the popular weekly Barnesville Boosters Club Bingo that has resulted in countless improvements to the facilities and program.
Introduced by his lifelong friend Tim McKelvey, Householder’s daughter Jamie Householder Beierle accepted the award on behalf of her father and family. Her heartfelt, touching acceptance speech follows:
On behalf of my dad Tony Householder (Class of 1970), my mom and his wife, Debbie (also Class of 1970) and our entire family, we would like to begin by extending the sincerest gratitude to the Barnesville Area Education Foundation and all of its members for this amazing honor of being inducted into the Education Hall of Fame. To Tim McKelvey for his friendship and nomination for this honor, we are eternally grateful for your kindness, your many selfless volunteer roles and partnership through the Booster organization. It has been my dad’s honor to work along side you throughout the years.
Also thank you to the banquet committee and the Alumni Association for hosting this amazing banquet. Your hard work and love of community do not go unnoticed.
When Tony first heard that he would be receiving this honor, his initial reaction was to be extremely humble and had a “why me” perspective. But contributing to the education of students can be far more than what we see in the classroom. While that is the most important aspect of education, a well-rounded student makes a happy student and often that is through extra-curricular activities. Tony was excited to join the Boosters club right after graduating High School. He wanted to be a part of an organization that would give back to the athletes of Barnesville like they had done while he was in school. My mom recalled an example where he remembers that Booster members would wait outside the locker room so that kids who lived in rural parts of town, did not have to walk home in unsafe environments. Giving back – in that kind of way- is what he wanted to do immediately.
He spent every single week of his life volunteering for the Boosters and raising money so that the different athletic programs could flourish. The Boosters was a constant in our family’s life. Wednesday night was pizza night in our house because dad would always be at Booster Bingo and it was not a cooking night because mom would be getting my brothers and I to our many activities. His life and therefore ours, revolved around volunteering for this community on a weekly and sometimes daily basis. And it was not just the Boosters where my dad spent his time, it was coaching my brothers and their peers in various youth sports, working with the 200 club, donating items to the school from the furniture store and anything he could do to make things better for the youth of Barnesville. The town he loves so much and the people that live here. As a lifelong resident, this is where his service heart lies and where he is most comfortable, among all of you.
The first thing he said when he asked me to give this speech for him was to make sure we thanked the many many volunteers that were an integral part of volunteering with him throughout the years. The names are numerous, plentiful and important but we would be remiss if we did not mention the many coaches that he had the privilege to work with, the administration and athletic directors Dave Johnson, Mark Cook and Brad Hannahs. I wish I could name every volunteer and tell you their story, I wanted to mention two names that come up over and over again, Tim McKelvey and the late Jay Mayberry. These men put in hours and hours into making Barnesville a better place for all who live here and my dad’s life has been enriched by having them by his side. It truly takes a village!
He would like to thank his wife of 54 years, Debbie for supporting him then and now. His children Matt, Eric and Jamie, her husband Eben and Tony’s beloved grandchildren Maddox and Quinn. His Brother Tom, Valerie and his in-laws here tonight for their years of support.
And once again, thank you to the Education Foundation for this amazing and extremely humbling honor for my dad. You have made his year with honoring him in this way and we will be grateful forever.
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Richard Dale “Dick” Gibson, class of 1958, who grew up on a farm west of town, spent decades serving our nation, first in the Navy, and later in a career with United State diplomatic and intelligence agencies in our nation’s capital and around the world.
Unfortunately, Gibson was unable to attend the induction ceremony program. Jay Phillips of the foundation shared information on Gibson’s life and storied career:
Dick Gibson was part of a very successful basketball program in high school. He played the sport for four years and his team was the highest scoring team in the OVAC his senior year. He also participated in football for two years, was on the Hi-Y cabinet, a FFA member, office assistant, senior scholarship awardee and a Student Council officer.
After graduation, he played with a very successful amateur basketball team that won many tournaments throughout the Ohio Valley. The team consisted of some of the most significant high school and amateur players from the 1950’s.
Gibson served in the U.S. Navy from 1958-1962 including one year on Midway Island and two years on the USS Chickasaw. During that time, he and his All-Star Basketball Team members were Navy Champions.
After his Navy service, he submitted an USG application and was accepted into the Washington D. C. Communications/Electronics School.
From 1963-1995, he had a distinguished career with various U.S. Government management teams of diplomatic and intelligence agencies around the world.
His responsibilities involved maintaining operations and/or working within 89 countries during his tenure. His assignments were important and sometimes in dangerous locations.
From 1963-1965, Dick was sent to Cyprus. Because of the war in Cyprus, he was transferred to Tehran and finishing that assignment in 1965. A move to Islamabad was cancelled when the State Department decided not to move the embassy. From 1966-68 he served at Clark Air Force base in the Philippines with support for Far East destinations.
He also completed assignments in Kabul, Afghanistan (68-70), Nicosia, Cyprus (71-73), and Tripoli, Libya (74-76). He was an instructor in Washington D.C. (76-77) and assigned to London, England (77-80) with responsibilities for North Africa and Europe.
He received the outstanding recruiter designation for various agencies in the U.S. (81-83), served in Monrovia, Liberia (83-85) as COO in charge of Asian Embassies and was assigned as Deputy Chief of Personnel Administration Division at three locations in Washington D. C. (86-88).
Gibson was chosen and appointed to the prestigious Foreign Service Seminar, Washington D.C. (89). Thereafter, he was appointed as Chief Operations Worldwide with supervision for all overseas facilities. He was then assigned as the Chief of Asian activity from India thru Fiji (92-95) before returning to Washington where he retired in 1995.
He retired as a SIS3 (GS17) equivalent to a military rank of a three-star general.
Gibson was manager of his area tennis club in his Fairfax, Virginia, neighborhood. He was an excellent tennis player and has played many sets with former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci and other well-known, distinguished political/diplomatic and government personnel. He coached little league baseball teams for six years and also taught youth basketball.
Gibson’s time in Barnesville was extremely important in his growth and development as a person. Coach Schoeppner was an important influence as basketball coach and business class instructor. Winifred Deaver taught English, and he loved and respected the support she provided. Denver Kaiser was recognized as a positive influence in vocational agriculture.
Gibson’s classmates, along with friends from his government service, recognize his intelligence and leadership skills developed through many years of service. They also acknowledge his contributions as a person, as an athlete, and they recognize his love for our country.
His father was Howard Gibson, owner/manager of Gibson Feed and Supply. His mother was Rosalie Gibson, a floor manager at the G C Murphy store. They were also owners of a 207-acre farm located west of town. His parents are both deceased. A sister, Sylvia, a 1953 BHS graduate and former resident of Massillon, is also deceased.
Gibson currently resides in Charlotte, N.C. Sadly, his wife, Julie, recently passed away. He has two daughters, Lori A. Gibson of Warrenton, VA, and Kimberly B. Pollock of Waxhaw, N.C. A son, Richard D. Gibson, Jr. lives in Northern VA.
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In addition to honoring the two Education Foundation Hall of Fame Induction, information on the alumni banquet is published in a separate article. Read it here.
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