At a time when cattle outnumbered residents in San Benito
County, Gordon Tibbs directed the agriculture program at San Benito
High School.
At a time when cattle outnumbered residents in San Benito County, Gordon Tibbs directed the agriculture program at San Benito High School.
Now, 28 years later, Tibbs was recently honored for his achievements that spanned more than two decades teaching students the rural way of life and more.
Tibbs, 77, was inducted into the California Agricultural Teachers Association Hall of Fame last week, one of seven inductees at this year’s CATA convention in San Luis Obispo.
“In this county, at that time, it was a sheer joy to teach agriculture because of the tremendous support you had from parents, local businesses, the school administration and the quality of kids you had,” Tibbs said.
Tibbs taught vocational agriculture at the high school and also led the local Future Farmers of America organization from 1954-75, when heart troubles forced him to retire at the age of 49.
A CATA committee made up of nine past presidents and Hall of Fame members judged the candidates and selected this year’s inductees.
Former secretary of the agriculture program and current Hollister resident, Geraldine O’Neill, heralded Tibbs’ achievements and said he “certainly deserves” the honor. She was the program’s secretary from 1959-86.
“He (seemingly) worked 24 hours a day on his ag program,” O’Neill said.
Tibbs moved to San Benito County after graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1952 and working at Tracy High School for 18 months.
While teaching locally, he earned a master’s degree from CPSLO in agriculture education in 1958.
One of his most prideful accomplishments during his tenure came in 1959 when he guided the students in building the high school’s five-acre agriculture barn and laboratory, which still exists.
“We tried to duplicate agriculture in the county on that little acreage we had there,” he said.
But the barn was just one of many accomplishments for Tibbs. Above all, he said students and their many triumphs drove his impetus and, ultimately, his success.
“I’m proud of the kids and the way they behaved and represented our county and school,” he said.
During the 21 years under Tibbs, SBHS students earned numerous awards and distinguished degrees, including 79 State Farmer degrees, one Star State Farmer degree, six American Farmer degrees and one regional Star American Farmer degree.
Tibbs was awarded the Star Teacher Award from the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association in 1967 and was given the FFA’s honorary American Farmer degree in 1968.
According to O’Neill, the program’s enrollment remained strong throughout Tibbs’ tenure, averaging between 60 and 100 students.
In 1974, Tibbs’ last year before taking sick leave and eventually retiring, the program reached a record enrollment of 130, according to a Free Lance report from that year.
“We were the strongest group on campus,” he said.
One of Tibbs’ former students, John Barrett, now owns McKinnon Lumber in Hollister.
“I probably had more respect for him than any other teacher at the time,” Barrett said.
Tibbs said he gained a reputation through the years for embracing a strict teaching style. Barrett agreed.
“Discipline was high on his list,” Barrett said. “He had that wooden paddle on the wall.”
Tibbs said he called the paddle the “board of education.”
“I used the board of education when it was needed,” Tibbs said. “I have a letter in a file to this day giving me permission to use it.”
Tibbs left today with his wife Maxine for a trip across the country in their motor home. They plan to return in October, he said. The Tibbs’ usually travel about four to six months a year.
He takes wood carving classes throughout the journeys, which he called a “tremendous way of life.”
Tibbs, now the student, said he had a “terrible time retiring” 28 years ago, and still loves the kids, and he loved teaching agriculture.
“The quality of kids, the parents, it was a joy to do,” he said.
