Gibson, Chester Allen

Arrived in Odessa, Missouri January 31, 1918 and departed 
Roseville, California on August 9, 2010. ''Chet,'' as his many, 
many, friends and associates called him, was preceded by his 
wife Mary Elizabeth Gibson, and his eldest daughter Kathleen 
Mae Miller. He is survived by his daughter Sharon Iva Leathers; 
son Allen Paul Gibson; grandchildren, Rene, Tobias, Rebecca, 
Tracy, Sharkey, Kristopher, and Aaron; as well as by great-
grandchildren, Megan, Julie and Andrew.

Chet began life from humble origins. After his WWII Army 
service, he worked with his brother in a chicken hatchery. In 
1950, due to his son's health, he made the pilgrimage to 
California where he would work to make his ''American Dream'' 
a reality. He worked hard plowing fields, hauling rice and 
working in another chicken hatchery, all the while 
experimenting with the genetics of poultry. He bought his first 
hatchery and developed the Rose-A-Linda strain of turkeys. 
Rose-A-Linda Turkey Farms and Hatcheries grew and grew, 
with dealers in six states and Canada, and growers nationwide. 
His ''Master Breeder'' status garnered him Grand Champion 
trophies and ribbons several years in a row in Missouri, Kansas, 
Arkansas, California, and national turkey shows. Chet was in no 
small way responsible for the "Broad Breasted" turkey that 
adorns today's Thanksgiving Day table.

With his turkey business flourishing, he turned his knowledge 
and attention to the cattle industry, attaining impressive results. 
''Gibson Angus'' was born. More Grand Champion trophies, 
ribbons and accolades at the California State Fair, The Cow 
Palace, and county and local fairs and shows. He was truly a 
''Master Breeder.'' As an immensely civic-minded individual, The 
Free and Accepted Masons of California raised him to the 
sublime degree of ''Master Mason,'' and he achieved the 50-
year ''Monarch'' award from The Lions Club International. Chet 
was also a director of The Auburn Bank of Commerce, a 
member of the National and California Turkey Federation, a 
lifetime member of the American Angus Association, and gave 
generously to many local charities. So much so in fact, that the 
Placer County Chamber of Commerce voted him Placer County 
Farmer of the Year in 1968.

While he worked very hard, he was also a man who enjoyed life. 
He loved hunting, fishing, camping, water-skiing, bowling, 
poker and playing golf. He loved to fly his plane for business 
and pleasure and loved the outdoors. If it was fun to do, Chet 
was in, and would generally be the life of the party. With a 
sharp mind, a strong work ethic, and the support of his 
extended family, partners, dealers, growers, management 
teams, and his beloved secretary Eleanor, the glue that held it 
all together, Chet built and lived his ''dream.'' Chester Allen 
Gibson had a long and fruitful life that serves as inspiration to 
all those who had the benefit of knowing him. He was 92 years 
young and will be remembered and sorely missed.

A celebration of his life will be held at the McBean Park Pavilion, 
65 McBean Park Dr., Lincoln, California 95648, on August 29 at 
2pm. In lieu of flowers, donation checks can be made in his 
honor to the Alzheimer's Association , the Heart Disease 
Foundation, The Muscular Distrophy Assoc., or the Cerebral 
Palsy Assoc. 

Published in The Sacramento Bee on August 22, 2010