Moments to remember

Posted Jan 22, 2010 by Tom McEwen

Updated Jan 22, 2010 at 01:17 AM

Tampa Bay History Museum once more took time to thank longtime Congressman Sam Gibbons for his public and military service this week on his 90th birthday, a reminder of his heroics on behalf of us all. Gibbons was humble as ever and grateful as ever to have had the opportunity to serve.

Gibbons not only was a congressman credited with so much success in this area, including the University of South Florida, but he also was a hero prior to D-Day and on D-Day in Europe in World War II. Gibbons parachuted into Normandy, France and was involved in the fighting throughout Europe. He was a decorated officer and was honored on D-Day celebration some years ago.

This week, the Museum saw to it that his Bronze Star and Legion of Merit were featured in presentations there. Gibbons, who had a 90th birthday this week, jumped into France with the 101st Infantry Division just prior to D-Day. His heroics, and those of his fellow Allied soldiers, have been carefully charted and recharted through these years, notably in a book and television special featuring writer and news commentator, Tom Brokaw.

Gibbons, his humor still quick, quipped to Tribune writer Sue Carlton, “Oh to be 75 again.” He accepted the latest honors with the same humility as he has others through the years presented him. It was time again to pay tribute to Sam Gibbons and his compatriots of those harrowing days. Gibbons has always been that way.

I came to know him first in 1940 when I was a freshman who had pledged Alpha Tau Omega, his fraternity at the University of Florida. I can vividly remember that first meeting when I had helped him recover a stolen bicycle someone had stashed in a tree above the ATO House.

He became the president of ATO and later joined a law firm that included my brother, Red, in Tampa. Gibbons was a marvelous Congressman and a powerful one. He was a Democrat and always effective.

He was a good speaker, a star representative from this area. Not so sure USF would be in Tampa without his support. He never considered forsaking his consistency for personal gains.

He has a proud professional record, just like the one he built during his military days that involved such frantic action like in the pre-invasion day in Normandy. He was among those featured in the Band of Brothers when the parachutists used the famous clicker to identify each other in the dark days before D-Day.

Gibbons involves himself still in the business of the veterans, American politics and that which he thinks is right for his beloved University of Florida. His late brother, Myron, died too soon as the result of injuries from World War II. Another brother, Arthur, was a lead attorney in the Gibbons, McEwen law firm.

I have known Sam Gibbons for 70 years and have never known him to advocate propositions for which he was not totally dedicated. Identify the qualities you want in a Congressman and you will get them in Sam Gibbons. We all wish Sam was only 75 again.