Robert L. GIBBINS

GIBBINS, Robert L. (Bob)

Bob Gibbins was a pre-eminent trial attorney with an international reputation as a master in the courtroom. Bob Gibbins was also a man of intense kindness and goodwill. Those two qualities were not always simultaneously in evidence.



Robert L. Gibbins was born on February 27, 1936 in Seminole, Oklahoma to Robert L. and La Ceile Shackelford Gibbins. He died peacefully and gracefully at his home in Vermont on November 19, 2013 at the age of 77.



He attended high school in Oklahoma until he left to serve in the Army. After finishing his tour in Korea, he, his first wife, Suzanne Karnes Platt, and their children made Texas their home. He entered the University of Texas, received his completion certificate (to complete his high school work), earned his undergraduate degree and then attended the University of Texas School of Law-all of this accomplished in a mere four years.



After obtaining his law degree, Bob, his wife and four children relocated to Plainview, Texas where he began his stellar career. His courtroom skill was quickly recognized. A bailiff named Wit contended that Bob never lost a trial in his life. That may be a slight overstatement, but not much. Bob was one of those rare courtroom talents who mesmerized juries with his good looks, deep voice, wry humor, lightning-quick intelligence and his ability to communicate with them, not talk at them.



Bob bravely decided to practice law in Austin in the early 1970's. Moving his family and practice to Austin was a difficult decision, but a fortuitous one. Here he was able to become a truly extraordinary trial lawyer. Years after moving to Austin, Bob met the love of his life, a successful attorney named Pam Reed. Theirs was a pairing of two powerful, ambitious, larger than life personalities.



Bob continued his highly successful, distinguished career for many years. During that time he served as President of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Director Emeritus of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and President of the Travis County Trial Lawyers Association. He was a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Texas Bar Foundation. He founded the Travis County chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates. His many honors included The Annual War Horse Award from the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Champion of Justice Award from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.



The best of trial attorneys are champions for the 'little people'-warriors for the vulnerable and downtrodden. This side of Bob showed not only in his care for his clients but also in the kindnesses he showed even total strangers. One day he happened upon a woman waiting at a bus stop who had blacked out from dehydration in her wheelchair under the blazing Texas sun. Bob was late for an important meeting but refused to leave until medical help arrived.



This side of Bob became even more evident when his life changed forever, beginning in 1996. He began an incredibly difficult yet amazingly graceful 17-year battle with temporal frontal lobe dementia. Gradually, the tough attorney facade gave way to the gentle man. He spent those years as the sweetest possible person, loving completely his partner and patient care-giver, Pam Reed. Theirs has been a love story both tragic and grand. Through it all, he remained the jewel of her life. So now she's having his ashes made into diamonds-really. Bob would love that.



In addition to Pam, Bob is survived by the other true loves of his life, his four children and their families. Bob Gibbins and wife Kelli, their children Lexi and Garrett Gibbins and Jenna Harmon from Bob's previous marriage; Steve Gibbins and wife Kris, their children Conrad and Colby Gibbins; Jenny Durbin and husband Jamie, their children Preston, Luke and Ford Durbin; Kyndal Gibbins Krebs and her children Lauren McCalla and her partner Amber Marshall and Lauren's children Isaiah, Alyssa and Jayden Davilla; Kristen McCalla Click and husband Thomas Click and their child Kemba; and Kimberly Krebs. Bob is also survived and loved by his sister, Jeanne Martinelli and her daughter, Lyric Lynn; mother- and father-in-law, Janet and Dr. Lester Reed; his sister-in-law, Dr. Sharon Reed, her husband Norman Hannay and her children Jessica Dittrich and husband Ryan McCabe, Mark Dittrich; and brother-in-law Robert Reed.



The family would like to thank all those who so ably helped Pam care for Bob. In Austin, Dr. Cynthia Brinson, Jim Buchheim, Alice Cain, John Lopez, La Tasha Johnson, Robert Reed and Dr. Chris Fabre. In Vermont, Dr. Keith Michl and a host of truly devoted care-givers.



A gathering of his family, friends and colleagues is scheduled for December 2, 2013. Please contact Kathy Lincoln at 512-656-6896 for details. Contributions to the Bob Gibbins Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law will be welcome at University Development Office, The University of Texas at Austin, P.O. Box 7458, Austin, Texas 78713-7458.