Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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Randall Lee Gibson Rom tSj2 — Died i8g2. Of all the brilliant statesmen that have served Louisiana in the Senate of the United States, the one whose work will probably have the most lasting effect upon the welfare of his constituents was he to whom this volume is dedicated. Tobias Gibson, father of Randall Gibson, was the owner of a large Louisiana estate, and among his other possessions was numbered a delightful summer home near Lexington, Kj ' . It was in this latter community, the home of Henry Clay, that his distinguished son was born and reared. Randall Gibson graduated from Yale in ' 53 and was valedictorian of that class. There is an incident of his career there which may Ije of no small interest to college men, and which may also serve as an illustration of his youthful temperament. It is related by one of his cla.ss-mates that while delivering the oration which was part of the Class Da} ' programme, although enjoying the closest attention of his audience, Gib.son was so overcome by the idea that his performance of the part was not equal to the occasion that he stopped short in the midst of his speech, bowed to his audience and class-mates, and descended from the platform. It is added by the same authority that to him alone, of all those present, had the semblance of such a thought occurred. After graduation he travelled in Europe, and upon his return studied law and received his diploma from the Law Department of the University of Lou- isiana. He served throughout the civil war in the army of the Confederate States, and in the official reports of his superior officers he is frequently men- tioned as having displayed exceptional bravery and judgment. In the United States Senate, after the war, he rendered valuable services to Louisiana both by his powerful defense of her rights and through his influence with the heads of the general government. He was the pioneer advocate of the Government ' s improvement of the Mississippi River and of the construction of the Eads jetties, foreseeing clearly the national advantage to be deri -ed from the former, as well as the engineering merits of the latter. These improvements, together with Tulane University, both of which are in a large measure the products of his labor, will forever remain

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Fraternities — Coiitiiiiti ' d, Photo, Tail Upsilon Chapter of Si,a;ma Alpha Epsilon, Members, Tan Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Chapter Roll of Sigma Alpha Bpsiloii Fraternitj ' , Theta Nu Epsilon, Delta Kappa Kpsilon, Psi Upsilon, Chi Psi, Phi Gamma Delta, Beta Theta Pi, . Boar ' s Head, Law Department, Photo, Ot-ticers of Law Class of 1S97, Statistics, Class of 1896-97, Newcomb College, .... Sketch, The Newcomb Type, History, Class of 1897, Statistics, Class of 1S97, Statistics, Class of 1897 (Specials), History, Class of 1898, Statistics, Class of 1S98, Statistics, Class of 1898 (Specials), History, Class of 1899, Statistics, Class of 1899, Statistics, Class of 1899 (Specials), History, Class of 1900, Statistics, Class of 1900, Statistics, Class of 1900 (Specials) H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, Newcomb Theatricals, Literary, ...... New Literary vSociety (Sketch), . Glendy Burke Literary ' Society, The Glend) ' Burke; an Historical Sketch, Publications, ..... Photo, Jambalaya Editorial Board, Editors and Committees Jambalaya Annual, Journalism at Tulane, Tulane Topics, . Photo, the Tulane Collegian Editorial Board, Board of Editors, The Tulane Collegian, Photo, Weekly Spirit Board of Editors, Weekly Spirit, an Historical Sketch, Photo, Olive and Blue Staff, Editorial Staff and Sketch of Olive and Blue, Photo, Daily College Spirit Editorial Board, Board of Editors, Daily College Spirit, Tulane Athletic Association, Map of Tulane Campus, Photo, Football Team of 1896, Football Statistics, Gulf States Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Associatio Clubs Tulane Tennis Club, Tulane German Club, Chemical Society, Natural History Society, Arbor Society, The Lilliputians, Blots, T. P. C Osteology Club, Bimetallic Club, Sketch Club, Dramatic Club, Tulane Banjo Club, Ye Misceleny, Major Ralston ' s Reminiscence — Illustrated, I Never can Forget You (Poem), Ready (Sketch!, As Seen by Chaucer (Poem), Post Prcelium (Poem), Postprandial, Ode to Bacchus (Poem), The End Adverti.sements, .... 85 86 87 88 89 89 89 89 89 90 91 92 93 97 98 99 loi loi 102 104 104 105 107 107 108 no no I II 112 3 114 115 116 119 120 121 122 124 126 127 128 129 I3t 132 134 135 137 13S 139 140 141 14;! 145 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156, 157 158, 159 160 161 163 169 170 171 173 174 176 177 179 146,

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monuments to his memory. As long as the river flows, as long as education remains the torch of the world, so long will his far-sightedness shine and his name be revered by generation after generation. When Paul Tulane, then a resident of New Jersey, conceived the idea of endowing an institution of learning in the State wherein he had laid the founda- tion of his fortune, his eye fell upon Gibson as a man not only prominent in public affairs, but as one so deeplj ' interested in the welfare of that State as to be eminently fitted for the trust which he had to bestow. To Gibson, then, although up to that time personalh- unknown to him, Tulane disclosed his project and entrusted the upbuilding of the University whose benign influence and deserved fame are even now spreading throughout the country. During the remainder of his life, to promote the prosperity of that institution was his con- stant aim ; its advancement and development into a true and perfect University which would cast the characters of its scholars in the loftiest moulds of man- hood, was the subject of his incessant solicitude. He was trusted by his State for his purity of motive, endeared to the South by his service in her army, honored by the Nation for his service in its Senate, respected by humanity for his work for education ; his life will forever remain a young man ' s example and incentive to become that of which this country is so much in need, a true American statesman.