Don L Gibson

Don L. Gibson, 76 of Springdale, AR passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, May 4,2024.
He was born July 3, 1947, in Fayetteville, AR the son of Lee and Imogene Gibson.
Don (Donnie) spent his youth in Springdale around the rodeo circuit, horse showing and roping calves for 10 years. He attended Springdale High School and after graduation he attended the University of Arkansas majoring in Business Administration. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity where he served as president. He joined the ROTC program and entered the Army as a 2nd Lt. after graduation where he served 2 years active duty at Ft. Knox, Ky. In 1969 he married his high school sweetheart, Carol Lynn Camfield. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage. Don got his Masters of Business Administration at the U of A and immediately went to work for Willis Shaw Express trucking company where he worked as VP of Human Resources for 8 years.
In 1981 he went to work for First State Bank where he endured 4 buy outs in 24 years and served as Market Exec Private Bank Midwest and Arkansas State President for Bank of America. In 2005, he became a founding stockholder of Legacy National Bank serving on the Board of Directors and CEO for 19 years. He was currently serving part time as CEO Emeritus.
Don was very involved in charitable activities around his community and the state. He was a board member for Winthrop Rockefeller Research Center and executive committee chairman for University of Arkansas Foundation. He was a member of the Springdale Rotary Club where he served as President, the Springdale Public Facilities Board, the Springdale Water & Sewer, the Community Care Foundation and past president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. He was currently serving on the NWTI Foundation Board of Directors, the UAMS Foundation Board, and President of the Springdale Country Club Board of Directors.
Don was also co-founder of the Ryan Gibson Foundation, a charitable organization in memory of his oldest son, Ryan. He spent 10 years actively fundraising for leukemia research. The foundation was able to give over $3 million dollars to hospital research grants as well as a contribution to Arkansas Children's Hospital Precision Medicine Leukemia Research Program.
Don was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Springdale. He served on the Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee, and the Church Council. He also enjoyed teaching Sunday School. Don received the Springdale Civic Service Person of the Year Award and the Springdale Education Foundation Person of the Year Award.
Donnie was an avid golfer and scuba diver and loved watching his granddaughter dance and his grandson play baseball. He also loved traveling with his family and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his son, Ryan Gibson and his parents, Lee and Imogene Gibson. He is survived by his wife, Carol Lynn Gibson and his son Derek Gibson and wife Jennifer of Springdale, two grandchildren, Dylan and Brookelyn Gibson, one sister, Pam Barrett and husband, Jerry of Overland Park, KS.,one niece, Brittney Henderson, husband David and their 2 children, and one nephew, Bo Barrett, wife Kimberly and their 4 children.
A memorial service will be Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Springdale.
A memorial visitation will be Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 5-7pm at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation, 206 West Johnson Ave. Springdale, AR 72764,or Arkansas Children's Hospital Northwest, 2601 Gene George Blvd., Springdale, AR 72762.
The family would like to offer a special thanks for the outpouring of love, support and prayers they have received during this time of sadness and grief. We have so much appreciation and love for all of you.
Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com