“James H. (Jim) Gibbs, Owner/Operator

KIVY/KIVY-FM, Crockett TX

James H. (Jim) Gibbs came to Texas from his native Ohio to begin his radio career at age 19. He knew early on that he wanted to own his own station, and he and business partner H.H. Callen built and signed on KIVY in Crockett Texas in 1949. Mr. Callen passed away not long after the station opened, and Jim purchased full ownership of the station. Jim and his wife Bettye operated KIVY as a community-oriented station for over 50 years. In addition to the original AM station, Jim started KIVY-FM, KIVY-LP TV, and The Viewfinder, a local newspaper. He was also active in his church and many local community-service organizations.

During his ownership of KIVY, Jim also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and as a news reporter/photographer at WFAA-TV in Dallas. At Channel 8, Jim and his news crew filmed the catastrophic Oak Cliff tornado on April 2, 1957. The award-winning coverage of that event was combined into "Disaster-Dallas", which received the national award for excellence from RTNDA.

Jim and Bettye returned to Crockett to raise their family and operate KIVY as a local radio station. Not only did he provide local news, public service, and entertainment, Jim Gibbs was credited by many as having promoted life and business in Crockett and Houston County as much as anybody, through KIVY and other business ventures that helped make the county successful.

NOTE: Jim Gibbs passed away in 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bettye and son Chuck. His daughter, Tammy Gibbs, lives in Crockett. He sold KIVY AM/FM in 2003 to Leon Hunt, who operates the stations today.”

- Post from Ed Driskill for Texas Radio Hall of Fame on Facebook