Comments about the retirement of Doug Gibson
I wrote a story today about the retirement of Doug Gibson, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County. Some of his colleagues sent their comments
Barney Semtner, executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma:
The Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County, Inc. was founded in 1995 and the Board hired a person who had been a program director to be our first Executive Director. That worked out great as the board members assumed many of the Director duties and with a very small staff the Director ran the programs. As we grew, it became important that the Director assume more of the traditional roles of an Executive Director. We hired Doug Gibson in the 4th year and it was the smartest move the board could make. He brought past experience and talent as an Executive Director and we were able to grow and mature as a non-profit youth-development organization with his leadership. Doug brought wisdom, credibility and integrity to the Boys & Girls Club. His patience and caring about the club was the main ingredients that saw the club grow to its current status as an anchor in youth development organizations within Oklahoma City. I am very proud of the Club and Doug Gibson is the reason it is where it is today.
Clay Farha, former board member of Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County:
Doug Gibson was instrumental in the development, fund raising and construction of the new Memorial Park Boys & Girls Club. Without Doug’s excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and diligence to get the job done, I don’t believe we could have accomplished all that we did. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with Doug over the past ten years during this very exciting and challenging project. I wish Doug the best with his well deserved retirement and new life chapter.
Rick Nagel, board member for Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County Board and national area council representative for Boys & Girls Club of America:
Doug Gibson was hired specifically to take our organization to the next level, and he did just that. Coming on board early in the Club’s development, Doug helped expand the programming, footprint, membership, and the donor base within the community. Always the consummate ambassador, in a short span Boys and Girls Clubs was transformed for “just another youth service organization” to the model everyone now recognizes as “the one to follow.” He has made Boys & Girls Clubs synonymous with youth services. His efforts paved the way for the young organization’s first capital campaign, which was launched and completed in a tough economy, yet culminated in the successful opening of the Memorial Park Club. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County will be forever indebted to Doug Gibson for his efforts and passion in serving our city’s youth. Although he will be sorely missed, as a devoted father and grandfather who will be spending more time with his family, we couldn’t be happier for him as he turns the first page on this new chapter in his life. Best of luck, Doug.
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