Charles Walker Gibbes

Charles Walker Gibbes HILTON HEAD ISLAND - 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 2pm 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 Thomas 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 and, after Honorable Discharge, subsequently joined Spencer Marketing Research in New York City. He and his wife lived in New York until they moved to Hilton Head Island in 1983. In New York, he became President and CEO of Spencer Marketing Services, Inc., specializing in sports publishing, licensing and advertising 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 Pardeeville, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Greenbough, NY; a member of the board of Trustees at Union Church in Pocantico Hills, NY, where he was a member for many years. 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 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 advertising 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 and fund fundraiser for the University of South Carolina Visitors' Center as well as the Rose Hill Polo Club of Hilton Head. He was an avid horseman and loved riding performance horses, with major interests in polo, family, swimming, exercise, billiards, gardening, music, art and spectator sports. Surviving are a son, Brian Gibbes, and a daughter, Pamela Leihbacher; five grandchildren, Courtney and Allison Gibbes, Alana, Kaylee and Adam Leihbacher, a great grand daughter, Sydni Ann Jackson, and a brother William Holman of Columbia. He was preceded in death and is now reunited with his wife of 65 years, Patricia Ann, who he adored always, a son Douglas Charles, and a brother, Lawrence Watson of Charlotte, NC. Memorial donations may be made in memory of Charles Gibbes to either the The University of South Carolina Visitor's Center at 945 Bull St., Columbia, SC, or to First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928. Arrangements by Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton.