SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. -- Raphael Sandford (Rafe) Gibbs, an author and former University of Idaho director of information and publications, died Dec. 14 of causes related to age. He was 86.
He was born April 29, 1912, to Sandford Oliver (S.O.) and Anna Sandmeyer Gibbs in Yakima. The family later moved to Moscow to begin farming shortly before the stock market crash in October 1929. The farm produce and profits put Gibbs and his five siblings through college. He paid his fraternity bills in eggs.
He graduated from the UI in 1934 and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa. He began working in 1934 as the UI sports publicity director. He served as the editor of publications from 1946 to 1949. He was a professor and taught Magazine Article Writing at UI in 1950. From 1949 until his retirement June 30, 1970, he was the director of information and publications.
He worked from 1936 to 1941 at the Milwaukee Journal as a copy desk editor, reporter, daily news writer for the newspaper's radio station, WTMJ, and assistant picture editor.
He married Elizabeth F. (Biddie) Egeland Oct. 3, 1940, in Milwaukee.
In 1941 he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and worked as the base executive officer at Rapid City, S.D., and inspector of all air bases in nine Western and Midwestern states. He attained the rank of colonel and was discharged in 1946.
His writing career began at the age of 13 with the sale of his first story, a Western, for $35. He wrote articles, short stories and histories for such magazines as The Saturday Evening Post, Popular Mechanics and Sports Afield. Throughout his career, his wife, a former editor at the Milwaukee Journal, edited and critiqued his work. She survives him at their home in Sun City Center.
He wrote several histories, including "Beacon for Mountain and Plain," a history of the UI, and "Visibility Unlimited," a history of the Florida International University, of which he was a founding staff member and assistant dean of university relations and development.
He wrote "Beckoning the Bold," a history of Idaho, as well as children's stories and encyclopedia entries on Idaho. He also worked as a consultant in public relations.
He was a member of the University of Idaho Alumni Hall of Fame and was honored in 1989 as one of the most distinguished graduates during the university's centennial celebration.
He was a Catholic and a member of the Toastmasters, Sigma Chi and the Elks. During his military years he enjoyed playing poker.
He and his wife enjoyed traveling together. He also liked swimming, fishing, hiking, photography and historical research.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Grayson Gibbs of Auburn, Calif.; three daughters, Ginny Malby of Waldorf, Md., Linda Snodgrass of Long Boat Key, Fla., and Connie Johnsen of Harker Heights, Texas; four sisters, Cecilia Davis and Bede Bartholet, both of Yakima, Loretta O'Shea of Kennewick, and Ethelyn Gibbs of Spokane; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Gibbs, and a brother, Harold Gibbs.
Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday in Sun City Center. Burial will be at the Moscow Cemetery and a memorial service will be held in Moscow in the spring.
