Gibson Rivers McKenzie Gibson at 95 years young, preparing for a Scottish Gathering
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Gibson Rivers McKenzie, Founder of the Clan MacKenzie Society in the Americas, passed away on January 17th, 2010.
In 1975 Gibson McKenzie and his wife, Marjorie, attended the 20th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, North Carolina as “conveners” for the first official outing of the Clan MacKenzie Society in the Americas.
The Clan MacKenzie Society was organized July 12, 1974 at Banner Elk, North Carolina with the blessing of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh acting in Her Majesty’s Service, and the Clan MacKenzie of Scotland.
Gibson was inspired by the other Scottish Clans and Societies in attendance at the Grandfather Mountain Games and took it upon himself to spearhead the organization and enlisted the help of others along the way.
Details in the first Tulach Ard newsletter, October 1975, produced by Gibson, reported on the activities of the MacKenzie’s at the Grandfather Mountain and Stone Mountain Games. Listing some of the other key members of our new society at that time were James Mackenzie-Frye, Gerry Smart, Rev. Charles Stewart McKenzie, Keith and Becky McKenzie, Nancy McKenzie, Saunders McKenzie Bridges, Ralph McKenzie and the McKenzie children, Gibson III, Lynn and Carol.
A Birmingham, Alabama native, Gibson is one of the pioneer members of the Saint Andrews Society of the Middle South. He studied at the University of Alabama and is both a mechanical engineer and an entrepreneur.
His career path covered companies such as Gulf States Steel Corporation, Republic Steel Corporation and F.J. Evans Engineering Corporation. He also served as a manufacturers representative for International Boiler Works, Johnston & Fraser and Space-Ray Corporation. Gibson was recognized at each of these companies for his outstanding performance.
A true Scot, Gibson also founded his own business, Caledonian Imports, Ltd., that provided Scots throughout the southeast region with Scottish attire, weapons, books, bagpipes, recording, flags and other Scottish items for over thirty years.
Scottish Country Dancing was another love of Gibson and Marjorie’s. They founded The Tartan Heirs Scottish Country Dance Ensemble in 1978 and performed many times for television, festivals and other society gatherings.
His ability to organize is evident in his involvement in the founding or growth of many other Scottish Societies including the Alabama Celtic Association, The Clan Smith Society, the Clan Baird Society, The Clan MacArthur Society, The Order of the Tartan in Columbus, Georgia, the Saint Andrews Society of Mississippi, The Alabama Highland Games, North Alabama Scottish Festival, The Scottish Highland Games of Mississippi, the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival, The Heart of Dixie Highland Games and the Oak Mountain Highland Games. He and Marjorie were also instrumental in the founding of Saint Matthew’s Traditional Episcopal Church.
He was married for 65 years to Marjorie Greta Elms of Boston, Massachusetts and they had three children, Gibson III, Lynn and Carol. Gibson has 3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to:
Family of Gibson R. McKenzie
205 East Edgewood Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209-3913
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