Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Papers, 1938-2001
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Gibson, Weldon B., 1917-2001
- Title
- Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Papers
- Dates
- 1938-2001 (inclusive)19382001
- Quantity
- 1 Linear feet of shelf space, (2 Boxes)
- Collection Number
- Cage 978 (collection)
- Summary
- Materials written as memoirs includes Weldon B. Gibson’s life in Schleicher County, Texas, as a student, and photos on his air force mission to Europe. Materials also document Arthur “Buck” Bailey, longtime Washington State College baseball coach, gathered during work on a book.
- Repository
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Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
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This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson (1917-2001) was raised in El Dorado, Texas. He was encouraged to attend Washington State College (today Washington State University) by his uncle, WSU baseball coach Arthur "Buck" Bailey. While at WSC, Gibson played on the university football team, was in the ROTC, as well as a member of the Crimson Circle and Beta Theta Pi. He received his B.A. in Business Administration in 1938 before going on to Stanford University, earning an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in International Economics, in 1940 and 1950 respectively. During World War II, Gibson served in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Colonel, also becoming the Assistant Director of the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio.
Returning to WSU to serve as the founding chairman of the WSU Foundation, Gibson then dedicated himself to fundraising endeavors for WSU and encouraged the advancement of the institution on an international level. The WSU Foundation annually awards the Weldon B. Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award in honor of Dr. Gibson and his wife Helen Mears Gibson's service to the university.
Arthur Buckner “Buck” Bailey was born in San Saba, TX in 1896, and played college baseball at Texas A&M from 1916-1921.Interrupted by service in World War I, and then at Bethany College, WV, Buck Bailey he coached high school sports and played semi-pro ball in California after college where he met “Babe” Hollingbery. When Hollingbery was offered the lead football coach position at the State College of Washington (WSC) in 1926, Bailey accompanied him as an assistant coach, and was offered the head baseball position in spring 1927. He remained in that positon through the end of 1961 season, excepting three years during World War II when WSC did not play baseball.
Content Description
The collection includes Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson’s memoirs on his coming to WSC/WSU through his uncle Buck Bailey, including the social life on WSC/WSU campus in 1934. Other folders center around the emergence of “party line” – a shared telephone circuit connecting multiple subscribers, and correspondence on Gibson family history in Schleicher County, Texas, later featured in a book by the Schleicher County Historical Society. The collection also includes photos and documentation of Hoot on his Air Force time in Europe. Also present is correspondence on Gibson’s Tai Ping carpet donation to the WSU Foundation.
Materials include correspondence to and from several individuals involved in the Buck Bailey book, Buck Bailey: The Making of a Legend, including Fred Bohm, Dick Fry, Bob Smawley, Keith Lincoln, and others. Included are working outline, a chronology, and proposed book cover image. There also photos of Buck in his baseball uniform, either coaching or playing, as well as a list of WSC baseball lettermen from Buck’s era. The box also includes photo documentation of “Send a Hat to Bailey” campaign organized by the Spokane Athletic Roundtable, and images from the memorial Buck Bailey Day held in May 1961, honoring his contributions to WSC/WSU athletics. Additionally, there are condolence letters and cards sent to Weldon B. Gibson after the death of Buck and his wife, and a folder with information about the Buck Bailey Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Series 1 contains six folders, most chapters from his unpublished autobiography, as titled by Gibson. Folder 3, “Schleicher County History”, is material for family histories from that county, published by that county. Folder 6, “What’s in a Name?” contains cartoons and similar materials related to his nickname, “Hoot”.
Series 2 contains several folders of personal materials, including art by Hoot’s wife Helen, and 8mm films from an Australia / New Zealand vacation. The 8mm films have been digitized and are in MASC’s digital archives.
Series 3 consists of materials relating to Hoot’s book, Buck Bailey: The Making of a Legend.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
The 8mm films from Series 2 have been digitized and are in MASC’s digital archives.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Papers, 1938-2001 (Cage 978)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
This material is broken into three series. Within each series, folders are ordered alphabetically. Series 1 by chapter title; the other two by subject.
Acquisition Information
The materials were received by the Washington State University Libraries from the Washington State University Foundation in 2006 (transfer, MS.2006.19) and from the Gibson estate in 2007 (MS.2007.07).
Processing Note
Graduate student Uwakmfon John processed this collection in June 2025.
Separated Materials
A folder of WSU Foundation materials was removed to the Washington State University Publications: WSU Foundation (WSU 223) collection.
Related Materials
Buck Bailey Retirement Letters, 1961 (Cage 972)
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series 1: Memoirs, 1945-1989
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Description: Alma Mater.Dates: 1986Container: Box 1, Item 1
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Description: Pumpkin Vine.Dates: 1986 July-1987 JanuaryContainer: Box 1, Item 2
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Description: Schleicher County History, Texas.Dates: 1977 August-1988 MayContainer: Box 1, Item 3
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Description: Way Back Yonder.Dates: 1987Container: Box 1, Item 4
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Description: What’s in a Name.Dates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Item 5
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Description: Wild Blue Yonder.Dates: 1945-1989Container: Box 1, Item 6
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Series 2: Personal material., 1938-2001
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Description: Family history.Dates: 1992Container: Box 1, Item 7
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Description: Memorial.Dates: 2001Container: Box 1, Item 8
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Description: Photographs and slides.Dates: 1938-1990Container: Box 1, Item 9-10
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Description: Tai Ping Carpet donation.Dates: 1992 November-1994 JulyContainer: Box 1, Item 11
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Description: Vacation films. 5 8 mm. reels.Dates: circa 1968Container: Box 1, Item 12
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Description: Water color sketches by Helen Gibson.Dates: circa 1973Container: Box 1, Item 13
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Series 3: Buck Bailey book materials., 1951-1989
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Description: Bailey biography correspondence.Dates: 1951-1961Container: Box 2, Item 1
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Description: Bailey book correspondence.Dates: 1985Container: Box 2, Item 2
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Description: Bailey book correspondence.Dates: 1988Container: Box 2, Item 3
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Description: Bailey book correspondence.Dates: 1989Container: Box 2, Item 4
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Description: Bailey condolences.Dates: 1964Container: Box 2, Item 5
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Description: Bailey Memorial Scholarship Fund.Dates: 1964Container: Box 2, Item 6
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Description: Gibson – Bailey correspondence.Dates: 1956-1964Container: Box 2, Item 7
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Description: Photographs: Baseball and sports.Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Item 8
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Description: Photographs: Bailey and others.Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Item 9
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Description: Photographs: retirement.Dates: May 1961Container: Box 2, Item 10
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Description: WSC/WSU athletic honor rolls.Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Item 11
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Coaches (Athletics) -- Washington (State)
- College sports -- Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Bailey, Arthur Buckner, 1896-1964
- Gibson, Weldon B., 1917-2001 -- Archives
Corporate Names
- State College of Washington -- Employees
- State College of Washington -- Sports
- State College of Washington -- Students
- Washington State University -- Employees
Family Names
- Gibson family
Titles within the Collection
- Buck Bailey : The Making of a Legend. 1989
