Gibson, Francis P. "Frank"

Born and died in Chicago; deafened at age 8 from "paralysis"; attended one of the Chicago Day Schools for the Deaf. Worked as a clerk and a bookkeeper. Held several top executive positions with the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, including Great Secretary, 1909-27, and President, 1903-05, 1927-29. Was responsible for cleaning out graft and corruption from the NFSD; presided over the Society's growth from 73 to 6849 members and from $271 to over $1 million in cash assets. Died from a failed operation that may have been put off too long.