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Administration
From attending a one-room
school in l1linois to
running a major university.
Richard Gibb is
Idaho's number one fan
T
hree
piece suits, elaborate offices
and closed door policies are frequently
associated with most
university presidents. Idaho's Richard
Gibb is no exception.
The "real" Gibb, however, offers many
surprises.
"The real me, as soon as I get home,
gets into blue jeans, tennis shoes and a t­
shirt," said Gibb. "The real me kids a
great deal and jokes a great deal.
"I haven't forgotten my background.
I'm the farm boy who went to a one-room
school who likes to ride a motorcycle, to
tinker with cars and putter in the garden."
Outside the office, Gibb's farm boy
personality emerges. At the end of the
day, he leaves the administrative
problems behind, by indulging in a wide
variety of hobbies.
"Gardening - that's a passion with
me. I'm the best gardner in Latah County,
he said.
"I do all the work in it, the rototilling
and everything."
When not puttering in the garden,
Gibb takes to the skies.
"My airplane gets me away totally
from my problems," he said. In addition
to personal trips, Gibb's plane enables
him to fly to business meetings quickly
and economically.
Maintaining strong family ties is important
to Gibb, but it can be difficult
with his daughter living in Anchorage
and his son in South Dakota. However,
despite being four time zones apart, he
and his wife call them at least once a
week.
"We're very, very strongly family
oriented, with lots of traditions:' he said.
Gibb's mother, 80, still lives on the
family's Illinois farm without running
water.
"I really respect her for her independence
and living at home, alone,
on the farm," he said.
Gibb's close family relationship at
home is also evident in his open door
policy with students.
"If anyone stops by to see me, I will see
them, he said.
"I think it is unlikely that hardly any
other president will spend as much time
with students."
Gibb also stressed that he accepts all
invitations to meet with anyone.
Although Gibb established that firm
policy, many issues are beyond the
presidents control.
"The president doesn't run the university.
You don't realize how many
limitations there are to the authority of
the president, he said.
"It doesn't mean I'm totally without
any kind of authority. I have more
authority than anyone individual. But,
the ultimate power is with the faculty,"
Gibbadded.
Despite the limitations, the president's
job is time consuming.
"You have to be willing to put in an
awful long week - at minimum 60 hours
a week - but most of the time it's not
work, it's fun," he said.
Although Gibb has received many job
offers from other major universities, he
isn't likely to leave Idaho.
"If I were to go on to another presidency
I should do that soon - but I think
probably it's not going to happen ­
there are dam few presidencies I'd be interested
in," he said.
In fact, you could say Gibb is "bullish"
on Idaho.
"I can't imagine liking another institution
more than this one, Gibb said.
"We undersell how good we are
academically. In most areas, we're right
up there with the best of them," Gibb
boasted.
And as his eyes sparkled with pride,
Gibb exclaimed -
"Gosh we're good!"
Gary Lundgren
Julie Reagan 0
The best in the county.
Witb the arrival 01 lall Gibb ..leet, ripe
tomat08ll hom bl.l5 large 72-plaDt patch. ~rm the
b..t gardner I.n Latah County:' be I5Qld. (pboto
by M. LaOrangej
Lile outside the ollice.
On a ,unny October afternoon. Glbb aDd hl.l5
wUe. Betty. paM out,lde their home. The Gibb',
haye two married chlldren: both UI graduat...
Their SOD 11.,... ID South Dakola aDd their
daughler in Alaska. (photo by M. LaOr