Athlete. Omaha Tech Class of 1953. Basketball was the top youth sport for Bob Gibson. He played every year in high school, became a star, played on a state tournament team, received all-state from the Lincoln Journal-Star, received a scholarship from Creighton University, eventually starred in the College All-Star game and then played with the Harlem Globetrotters briefly.

He played high school baseball only his senior year, the sport which ultimately brought him fame. After his playing days were over, he said basketball probably was his first choice for a professional career, but the St. Louis baseball Cardinals stepped forward and got him signed, launching one of the major's greatest career.  Gibson was an eight-time All-Star, won the Cy Young Award twice, was the World Series most valuable player twice and earned nine consecutive Gold Gloves. Won 251 games, leading St. Louis to three pennants and two World Series championships. He had a 1.89 ERA in World Series play and holds the major league record for lowest ERA in a season, 1.12 while posting a 22-9 record in 1968. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1981.

After baseball, he was a restaurateur, part owner of a bank and radio station and did some baseball coaching, broadcasting and consulting.

In 2005, The Omaha World-Herald chose Gibson as the No. 1 athlete in the state's history.