Ed Gibbons has been a tireless advocate and supporter of young people throughout the Tri-Cities region for more than 40 years through his service and dedication to this community. For 43 years, he has served the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County impacting a countless number of young people in the region throughout that time. 

     Ed is a native of Church Hill, Tennessee and has resided in Johnson City for the past 52 years. He graduated from Church Hill High School and East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He proudly served in the U. S. Navy aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS INDEPENDENCE from 1967 to 1969. He launched his insurance career at Watauga Insurance in 1976 and still currently serves as CEO for the agency. 

     For nearly the next four decades, Ed went about the business of changing the lives of young people in the upper East Tennessee region. His time as a Director on the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County Board is best characterized by his loyalty to the mission and the youth he served daily.  

     While serving the & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County in Johnson City, Ed has helped in every facet of the organization. From being a T-ball coach in the summer to chairing committees for Board Governance, Programming/Impact Assessment, Finance/Facility, Human Resources and Resource Development, Ed committed himself to the needs of the & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County. He has led the charge for many facility improvements, even personally signing a bank note for the & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County to complete much needed roof repairs in 2010. More recently Ed was a “driving force” to increase and improve our transportation fleet as he spearheaded fundraising. Then, as if that was not enough, he personally flew to Florida and drove back all night to bring one of the Boys & Girls Club’s mini-buses back to Johnson City, Tennessee. This act of service enabled the organization to serve more kids daily with safer and more reliable vehicles. Ed was instrumental in bringing the annual Lions Club Turtle Derby to our Boys & Girls Club and our kids, which is just another way he has positively impacted our youth in the time that he has been involved with our Boys & Girls Club. Robin Crumley stated “I commend Ed’s passion and prior leadership to make the Boys & Girls Club the best possible organization. I want to commend the interest, commitment, sacrifice and “sweat equity” that he consistently gave to our organization. His diligence and commitment to ensuring the proper guidance and leadership required to maintain the value and uniqueness of the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County has been greatly appreciated.”

     His impact on the communities, organizations, and lives he serves is only trumped by his devotion to his family and his faith. Ed serves as a deacon and is currently Board Chair at Central Baptist Church and it is his faith in action that drives his work for those around him. Ed has been involved with the Johnson City Lions Club for almost 50 years and that includes serving as a District Governor, served in all committee chair positions, was named a Melvin Jones Fellow, Lion of the Decade, Lion of the Year, Zone Chairman, served as District Public Relations Chairman, Sight Conservation Chairman, and as a Guiding Lion Mentor. He also served on the Dawn of Hope Foundation, Ties for the Blind Foundation, and on the Johnson City North Camp of Gideons. Along with many other organizations her served throughout the region over his many years of service. Along with his wife of 52 years, Theresa, Ed has one son, Josh, one daughter Mitzi, and six grandchildren, Ashton, Presley, Kendall, Marisa, Grant and Corinne.