Charles Walker Gibbes

Charles Walker Gibbes, 93, passed away Saturday, November 24, 2012 at Hilton Head Hospital on Hilton Head Island, SC. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island. Charles was born on July 16, 1919 in Hartsville, SC and lived in Elmsford, New York until he moved to Hilton Head Island in 1985. He is the son of the late Ernest Lawrence Gibbes and Nancy Watson Gibbes, and the husband of the late Patricia Ann Gibbes. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in Business Administration, he served in the United States Army during World War II as a Company Commander, and later as a Staff announcer for Army Exhibitions and Productions, Producer of War Manpower and bond shows around the country, Military Liaison between the Hollywood Victory Committee with the movie industry and Director of the Shows and Exhibits Section Research and Development in the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. He achieved the rank of Captain. He attended the University of South Carolina School of Law and was a lifelong member of the SC Bar Association. After Honorable Discharge, he subsequently joined Spencer Marketing Services in New York City. He and his wife lived in New York until they moved to Hilton Head Island. In New York, he became President and CEO of Spencer Marketing Services, Inc., specializing in sports publishing, licensing and ad sales, outdoor advertising displays, digital clocks and timers, information systems, as well as electric and electronic scoreboards. He was also part owner of a company responsible for fixed base operations at a private airfield which included pilot training and aircraft sales in Richmond, Virginia as well as a factory in Wisconsin. He was a member of the Zoning Board of Apeals in Greenburgh, NY; a member for many years of, and served on the Board of Trustees at Union Church in Pocantico Hills, NY. He served on the Board of Advisors of Emerson College, Boston, MA, William Penn College, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Coker College, Hartsville, SC and Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC. Some highlights of his long and illustrious career included: designer and builder of Bill Veeck's (Chicago White Sox) famous "exploding" scoreboard; developed the original game magazine concept for the National Football League; originated the marketing and fundraising program for the US Olympic Committee now featured on national television; developed the first electro-mechanical scoreboard with alphanumeric readout for Yankee Stadium and 80% of major league sports stadiums in the U.S.; designed and installed the first alphanumeric flight information systems for major airlines and metropolitan airports; engineered and built the central information (outdoor) system for the New York World's Fair; served athletic departments of over 300 colleges and Universities for advertsing media sales for over 30 years; brought Olga Korbut and the Russian girls gymnastic team to the USA for a national tour; and was featured by the Wisconsin Development Board for building a major manufacturing company in Pardeeville, Wisconsin. Charles was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head. He devoted his life to his family, friends and charity work. He was an active developer of and fundraiser for the University of South Carolina Visitors' Center as well as the Rose Hill Polo club. He was an avid horseman and loved riding performance horses, with major interests in family, polo, swimming, exercise, billiards, gardening, music, art and spectator sports. Surviving are a son, Brian Gibbes, his wife, Florry Gibbes; a daughter, Pamela Leihbacher, her husband, Robert Leihbacher; five grandchildren, Courtney and Allison Gibbes, Alana, Kaylee and Adam Leihbacher, and a great grand daughter, Sydni Ann Jackson. He was preceeded in death and and is now reunited with his wife of 65 years, Patricia Ann Gibbes, who was his lifelong sweetheart whom he adored always. Arrangements by Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton.