Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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John A. Gibson For forty-six years the Builder, Philosopher, Critic and Defender of the Butler Public Schools. A Builder who built the intangible things of the Spirit, an Architect whose blue-prints guided human careers, a Contractor who was faithful to the children given him in trust. His philosophy was an inner flame, constant and never extinguished, by the light of which two generations struggled upward. His teachers, when wearied by the thrusts of conflicting theories, found in him the stone that trans- muted many .theories into one harmonious whole. Those who had decisions to make or problems to solve profited by unbiased, logical, constructive analysis. He was the School's severest critic and staunchest defender. No attitude of self-praise or satisfaction ever dulled his perception of faults of structure. His mind ever penetrated smoke-screens of fallacy and mazes of unrelated ideas to the basic flaw. Difficulties were subjected to relentless analysis and synthesis. He was consistent and predictable. His integrity was fundamental and unquestioned. The Schools relied on him and found in him an able defender who fought for them as he would not have fought for himself. Forty-six years ago Butler met Mr. Gibson. He was a young man, a recent graduate of Allegheny College, unknown to most of the citizens. He took up his work quietly, teaching from eight o’clock until four, supervising, organizing, studying and thinking. He absorbed the theories of his supervisor, Mr. Mackey, and made them his own. When Mr. Mackey left in 1896, the young Principal was chosen to assume the leadership of the schools. The town grew, the schools and their Superintendent met ever-increasing problems of administration. He might have chosen the course of opportunism. Instead, he advanced into positive leadership, attacking obstacles and striving vigorously for a better school. Now, he is leaving us at the summit of his career, having given us a lifetime of service. We cannot easily express our appreciation. There are no words for those who deal with intangibles. Yet, we know that deeds die and ideas live. John Gibson's philosophy conceived an idea, his conception of service enabled it to live, his spirit is inspiring others to carry it on — a monument without granite, the Butler Public Schools.

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John A. Gibson Superintendent of Butler Public Schools, 1896 - 1937

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Roy W. Wiley Newly Elected Superintendent