SRI International Senior Director Emeritus Dr. Weldon B. Gibson Passes Away in Stanford

SRI Remembers Dr. Gibson as a Founding Executive Who Brought the Institute to Worldwide Prominence
 
MENLO PARK, Calif.—May 9, 2001—SRI International, a leading research institute based in Silicon Valley, today announced that Dr. Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson—one of its founding executives—passed away on May 6 in his home on the Stanford University campus. He was 84 years old and is survived by his wife Helen, son David and grandson Ruben.Dr. Gibson was a key person at SRI for fifty-four of the Institute's fifty-five years, joining SRI in 1947 as Chairman, Department of Business and Economics, when SRI was known as "Stanford Research Institute." For more than half a century, his tireless work on behalf of the Institute and his continued presence at SRI earned him the affectionate moniker "Mr. SRI."

He attained the position of Executive Vice President in 1960 and retired from full-time status at SRI in 1988. He continued as Senior Director Emeritus until his passing.

Dr. Gibson Put the "International" in SRI International
Throughout his remarkable career, Dr. Gibson was the leader who brought SRI to worldwide prominence. Beginning in the early 1950s, Dr. Gibson extended the scope of SRI's operations to include research projects around the world. He organized and directed more than 80 major international conferences for senior executives in 25 countries and created the SRI International Associates Program, which included more than 800 companies in 63 countries. Dr. Gibson's extensive traveling on behalf of SRI took him throughout Europe, South America, Africa, the South Pacific, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East.

Decades of Achievement Inspired Awards Both Given and Received in His Name
In recognition of his contributions and achievements, SRI International founded the Weldon B. Gibson Achievement Award in 1996 on the occasion of SRI's 50th anniversary. This award—among the Institute's most prestigious awards given to its staff members—recognizes outstanding contributions that have had a noteworthy impact on the standard of living and on the peace and prosperity of society, and have added special luster to the reputation of SRI.

In March 2000, Dr. Gibson himself was honored as a lifetime member by the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), which he co-founded in 1967. Dr. Gibson had been a member of the governing boards of several civic, educational and business associations in the United States and other countries.

"We are honored that SRI International had both the benefit and privilege of knowing Dr. Gibson, who made incredible contributions during the many decades he worked to make SRI a world-class Institute serving the global community," said Dr. Curt Carlson, President and CEO of SRI International. "His presence and participation at the Institute, which even included the weeks just before his passing, will be sorely missed."

Dr. Gibson's Early Years
Dr. Gibson was the son of an Eldorado, Texas farming family hit hard by the Depression. His uncle, Buck Bailey, made it possible for him to attend Washington State University. After graduating in 1938, Dr. Gibson attended Stanford University, where he met his wife Helen Mears, and earned both an M.B.A. and Ph.D. He spent four years between these degrees as Director of Material Requirements with the Air Force. He received the U.S. Medal of the Legion of Merit and the Order of the Commander of the British Empire for his efforts.

Dedicated to Washington State University and Stanford University
Dr. Gibson has long been committed to the support and future of Washington State University (WSU) and Stanford University, which both gave him so much as a struggling student. He received the WSU Regents Distinguished Alumni Award for recognition of his leadership in building the WSU Foundation. His dedication to Stanford University is well known.

Memorial Service
A memorial service will be held on July 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Stanford University Memorial Church. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the "Dr. Weldon B. Gibson Memorial Fund," Peninsula Community Foundation, 1700 South El Camino Real, Suite 300, San Mateo, California 94402-3049.

About SRI International
Silicon Valley-based SRI International (www.sri.com) is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded in 1946 as Stanford Research Institute, SRI has been meeting the strategic needs of global markets for more than 50 years. As part of its strategy to bring its technologies to the marketplace, SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships and creates spin-off companies.