TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Douglas A. Gibson 1923-2025 Educator, Activist, U.S. Navy
sheriff with the Muncie, IN Police Department. He later earned in 1969 a masters degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, a J.D, and Ph.D from George Washington University. Brother Williams firmly believed in the transfor- mative power of education and dedicated his career to public education. Greg supported everyone he met in their educational aspirations and was a valued mentor to students, colleagues, relatives, and friends in achieving their goals and dreams, always encouraging them to “Think Big!” During law school, he worked as a government teacher at George Mason Junior-Senior High School (and he would stay close with his students for the following five decades). He later worked as a legislative assistant to Indiana Sena- tor Vance Harkte and as a coordinator for the National Law Center at the George Washington University. In July of 1977, he drove his family across country to the University of Iowa to become a law professor (fulfilling a long-time dream and beginning the founda- tional years of his career as an academic). At Iowa, Greg
became a Full Professor and also served as Dean of Admissions during which time he increased minority enrollment from 2% to 18%, one of his proudest accomplishments. In 1993, Brother Wil- liams was named Dean of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. After setting fund raising records and leading OSU law to a top ten public school ranking, He was named President of the City College of New York, where he led a renaissance of the College. In 2009, Brother Williams was named President of the University of Cincinnati and enjoyed the pinnacle of his career by leading a $1 Billion giving campaign and serving on the Executive Committee of the Big East Conference. Above all else, Brother Williams’ greatest joy in life was spending time with his family. When his family needed him, the rest of his life stopped. He was devoted to Sara, his wife of 56 years, and he was honored and blessed to be able to care for her in the later years of their marriage. His children, grandchildren, his siblings, and his many cousins, nieces and nephews brought him tremendous happiness. ♦
D ouglas Abraham Chapter Invisible on September 18, 2025, at the age of 102. Gibson, the ninth of ten children, was born February 28, 1923, in Trappe, Mary- land. He graduated from Robert Russa Moton High School (formerly the Gibson (Beta Sigma 1947) entered the Easton Colored School) in Talbot County, Maryland. Following graduation from high school, Gibson attended Princess Anne Academy (now the Univer- sity of Maryland Eastern Shore) for a year before his lifelong affinity for boating led him to enlist in the United States Navy in 1941. He completed his basic training at Great Lakes, Michigan. He was sub- sequently stationed to serve at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he spent his entire mili- tary tenure and faithfully served during World War II. While at Pearl Harbor, Gibson oversaw the
cafeteria for four years, supervised 25 sailors, and concluded his military career as a Petty Officer Second Class. After military service, Gibson’s passion for educa- tion led him to resume his studies at Delaware State College (now University), where he met his future wife of 51 years, Dorothy. On campus, Gibson was respected and well known for standing up for what was just and righteous. His “never back down” nature helped navigate very challenging circum- stances to exist on campus. As a charter initiate of the Fraternity’s Beta Sigma Chapter, he served as Strategus in the chapter’s infancy. The presence of Gibson and several other
98 THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2025
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