Inspire, Spring 2012

It’s just a coincidence that I share my name with a main character in Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town . But my life in New Haven, West Virginia, is similar to the quiet, family-centered world of Wilder’s play. I know this place and its people. And in my role as mayor, I’ve grown to love my hometown even more. “I’d better show you how our town lies.” New Haven is a community of 2,000 souls nestled along the bank of the Ohio River, the highest point between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Although it’s always been a small town built on an economy of coal, salt, and pottery, things have changed over the years, with coal-burning power production becoming the sustaining business to keep us on the map. Like many other small towns, we have all of the staple establishments, including the bank, grade school, gas station, Dollar General, local dentist, friendly beauticians, and the barber who doubles as self-appointed local historian. We are a small town with a good family feel, voted runner-up as best place to raise children in the state of West Virginia. Born and raised here in New Haven, I remember walking to school, riding my bike with my buddy while pretending to be Ponch and John from the 1970’s police drama CHiPS . Later, I rode that bike pulling a lawn mower and gas can behind it on my way to cut one of the 13 yards that I mowed for years. In those days, the highest-paying customer offered $6 for the works. In my town, there was the added accountability of “extended family,” who made sure any reports of wrongdoing made it back to my house before I did. I graduated from high school in 1985 and set off to another small town — not much different from New Haven — to attend Cedarville College. My time there taught me the importance of faith, the value of friends and family, and the necessity for being prepared. I still take to heart Dr. Dixon’s emphasis that everything we do should have “quality stamped all over it.” Those were truly some of the best years of my life, and I remain deeply grateful. After graduating with a degree in organizational communication, I came back to New Haven to work for American Electric Power (AEP). And 19 years later, I’m now a unit operator for one of AEP’s 1,300-MW coal-fired units. “Here’s the town hall.” About two years ago, things started to get interesting for me. The former mayor stepped down to take a job in another state, and I was approached by several town council members who asked if I’d be interested in the position. I thought long and hard and then decided it wouldn’t hurt me to give back to the town where I was born and raised. The council submitted my name and then voted me in to finish the term. Balancing 12-hour rotating shifts at AEP with my mayoral responsibilities has proven more challenging than I thought it would. A wonderful staff, a hardworking police chief, and dedicated council members have proven to be invaluable resources in making this work. Each member of my administration brings a unique perspective, and it takes all of us working together (as well as my laptop computer and iPhone) to accomplish our goals. Mayor George Gibbs ‘89 holds the keys to the city in New Haven, West Virginia. In addition to his full-time job with AEP, George Gibbs ‘89 is mayor of his hometown, New Haven, West Virginia. CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY 21