Gibbons, Fred: - Fred Gibbons is a polio survivor from the Polio Epidemic of the 1930-1950's. Having contracted polio in the fall of 1953 at 5 years of age Fred was paralyzed below the waist. After extensive surgeries over 4 summers, he regained 60% of the function in his right leg and wore a full length brace on his left leg. Fred credits his Physical Therapists with teaching him life lessons over those 4-5 years like setting goals and how to get up off the ground after falling (by himself), he became the essence of resilience and determination. He never lost his love and passion for athletics becoming a manager for the football team in junior high school and a student trainer in high school at Southwest Miami High School. While Athletic Training opened doors to Valdosta State, it was Fred's infectious positive attitude, along with his resilience and 'never give in' spirit that Coach Jim Melvin wanted. A testament to his spirit and influence the Valdosta State players elected him co-captain his last season at VSC ('71), and he won the Rebel Spirit Award 3 times. Fred moved from Valdosta State to Pepperdine to serve as a graduate assistant helping former Valdosta State Coach Gary Colson rebuild the Pepperdine Athletic Program. At Pepperdine he entered the Clinical Psych graduate program. In addition, Fred spent time learning from Dodger Trainer Dr. Bill Buehler and served as an Assistant in the Southern Cal Professional Basketball Summer League. Fred married Leslie Hale in the spring of '74. Fred's passion for coaching, teaching, and counseling early adolescents led to a successful stint at Audubon Junior High (south central LA) where his teams became a powerhouse, that included winning a Men's Industrial League Championship. Leslie and Fred jumped head long into the Youth and Family Ministry in 1978 where they were able to utilize their skills and gifts to connect with young people and parents across the country. Fred was a volunteer coach wherever they lived and served, serving on the Artesia HS staff in 1978 that won a New Mexico State Championship in Football, assisting Odessa Permian High School basketball team that reached the Regional Finals in 1980, and served the Dunwoody Wildcats varsity football team from 1983-88 as a volunteer in charge of culture development. When Fred came aboard Dunwoody had suffered through a winless season, after a spring and summer with Fred the Wildcats stormed into the playoffs, eventually winning a State Championship b