Joseph Weldon Gibbs

Joseph Weldon Gibbs, b January 24, 1909 on a farm in Bell County, Texas, d January 8, 1965 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. Weldon married Bess Allen Donaldson of Rosebud, Texas. Both Weldon and Bess attended Rosebud High School with Weldon graduating in 1928 and Bess graduating in 1927.

Weldon was the first of five children born to William Robert Kendrick Gibbs (called "Rob" and "R. K.") and Willie Laurine Lucas. R.K., b November 12, 1885 in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas, d December 24, 1967 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in the Stranger Cemetery. Willie Laurine Lucas, b September 20, 1888 in Milam County, d May, 5 1971 in Marlin, Texas.

Weldon and Bess had three children. Annyce, b February 5, 1938 in Corsicana, Texas. Joseph Allen, b September 20, 1942 in Rosebud, Texas. Katherine Elaine, b June 1, 1947 in Greenville, Texas.

Weldon finished Rosebud High school in 1928 and graduated from Texas A. and M. College in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He owned and operated a filling station in Rosebud, Texas until 1936, then entered soil conservation work with the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Kaufman, Texas. He was transferred to Corsicana, Texas where he was residing when he joined the United States Army as a Captain January 6, 1941. He trained at Fort Riley, Kansas and in April, 1942, he was sent to Camp Hood. He was promoted to the grade of Major on 4 July 1942 and to Lieutenant Colonel on 25 January 1944. He stayed at Fort Hood, Texas for two years, first performing adjutant duty, and then later taking a line command and activating the 672nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion serving as it’s first Commanding Officer. The battalion left for the Pacific area in September, 1944. He took that unit into combat in the Philippines and performed outstanding service in the Luzon Campaign where his unit freed 2147 prisoners from the Los Banos prison camp. Lieutenant Colonel Gibbs was released from active service on 18 December 1945 and promoted to Colonel.

After WWII, Weldon returned to civilian life and continued to enjoy his work as a Civil Engineer with the Soil Conservation Service in Greenville, Texas. His primary work with the Soil Conservation Service was the overseeing of construction of earth dams across North Texas to prevent soil erosion. Those dams continue to serve the intended function, plus provide good fishing even today. In 1954, Weldon was promoted to district engineer and moved to Fort Worth, Texas to continue his Soil Conservation Service on an even broader scale.

While living in Greenville, Texas, Weldon continued to serve his nation and the state of Texas by joining the 49th Armored Division Texas National Guard. He accepted appointment as Lieutenant Colonel on 11 May 1949 and was assigned to Headquarters, 147th Armored Infantry Battalion located in Greenville. On 28 January 1952, he was promoted to Colonel and assumed command of Combat Command B, 49th Armored Division located in Dallas, Texas. October, 1961, his unit was activated as a result of the Cuban missile crisis and sent to Fort Polk, LA where it remained until 15 August 1962. He served with distinction while on active duty at Fort Polk and when the 49th Armored Division was released from active duty in 1962, Colonel Gibbs retired from the Army.

Weldon continued his work with the Soil Conservation Service until his death in 1965.