In Memoriam: Philip Archel Gibbs, Associate Professor of Business Gibbs taught accounting, business and management at Washington and Lee University.
Philip Archel Gibbs, associate professor of business, died on Jan. 16, 2025, in Lexington, Virginia. He was 77.
Gibbs was born on March 13, 1947, as the youngest of four to Russell Killian Gibbs and Bernice Thomas Gibbs in Lake Jackson, Texas. He graduated from Brazosport High School in 1965 and was a proud member of the football team. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Chicago.
Before pursuing his Ph.D. in management studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gibbs held management positions in business planning, marketing and finance at UOP Inc. and FMC Corporation and worked as principal in the strategy practice at Hay Consultants. He later founded and served as principal of Renaissance Management Consulting and acted as CFO for MedSci Technologies, Inc. while also pursuing a career in higher education.
Arriving at Washington and Lee University in 1993, Gibbs spent a few years as a visiting professor of management and adjunct professor in accounting and business administration before becoming a permanent fixture in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. He was named associate professor of management in 2005 and then associate professor of business in 2010. He retired from W&L in 2013. He previously taught business and management at the University of Houston, Boston University, Georgetown University, George Mason University and The College of William & Mary. He also taught online courses at several institutions.
Gibbs held interests in multiple areas of research, such as looking at management in terms of innovation, technology-oriented entrepreneurial businesses, and mergers and acquisitions, and looking into strategic decision-making in regards to both organizational learning and the role of boards of directors. His work was published in MIT Sloan Management Review, Strategy & Leadership, Strategic Management Journal, Organizational Dynamics and Career Development International.
After his retirement, he continued to share his knowledge, but with a younger demographic, as he led the Science Club at a Lexington elementary school. He also enjoyed long walks around the golf course and on the university’s campus with his beloved springer spaniel, Duchess.
He is survived by his two sisters, five children, five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
A celebration of life will be held on March 22, 2025, in Lake Jackson, Texas, at the private residence of one of Gibbs’ lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your local children’s science museum or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Gibbs’ full obituary was published in The News-Gazette.
Related Stories
You must be logged in to post a comment.