Jack Giberson, 1919-2007

Jack Giberson (1919- 2007) retired from the General Land Office after 41 years of service. Giberson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised on a ranch near Alice, Texas. After earning a degree in Economics from The University of Texas, Giberson served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was discharged from the service as a first sergeant in 1946. After military service, Giberson returned to the University of Texas to study law and earned his law degree in 1949. In 1953, he joined the General Land Office as a closing attorney for the Veterans Land Board. After a few years he was promoted to Chief Attorney of the Veterans Land Section. In 1960, he became the Chief Clerk and First Deputy Land Commissioner, a position he held until he retired in 1994. He also served as Executive Secretary of the Veterans Land Board. Giberson served under Land Commissioners Giles, Rudder, Allcorn, Sadler, Armstrong and Mauro. Key legal issues Giberson worked on during his career included the Tidelands controversy/submerged lands issue, and the question of Padre Island ownership.