George W. Gibbs, Jr.

Who is George W. Gibbs, Jr.?

George Washington Gibbs, Jr., a sailor in the United States Navy, became the first African American to set foot on the continent of Antarctica on the Antarctic Peninsula as a member of Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd's third Antarctic expedition, also known as the United States Antarctic Service Expedition on January 14, 1940. Gibbs served as a gunner in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After 24 years service in the U.S. Navy, Gibbs retired in 1959 as a chief petty officer. Gibbs then attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Gibbs worked in the personnel department of IBM at Rochester, Minnesota from 1963 to 1982. After retiring from IBM, Gibbs founded an employment agency, Technical Career Placement, Inc., which he continued to operate until 1999.

George Gibbs was a civil rights leader who integrated the Elks Club at Rochester and several service clubs. In 1966 Gibbs helped organize the Rochester Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.