[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E138-E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO HILDA GIBBS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2002

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Hilda Gibbs on her 87th birthday. Hilda has been a pillar of the Plaza 
Westport community of Kansas City since moving there in 1962. She is 
currently President of the Plaza Westport Neighborhood Association and 
has held this post for over 10 years. Her genuine concern and caring 
for her neighbors have made her tenure as a president a gift that her 
fellow residents will treasure for a long time.
  Hilda Gibbs was born Hilda Lutz in Freiburg, Germany in 1915. After 
growing up in Germany, she emigrated to France where she trained as a 
secretary for two years. Upon leaving France, Hilda emigrated to 
England and served as a nanny. In 1939, she came to New York to join 
her sister, Ida. She underwent training to become a hostess because at 
this time you could not waitress in a restaurant without formal 
training. While in New York, Hilda met and fell in love with her late 
husband, Bob Gibbs. They were married for 42 years. He was the love of 
here life, and she of his.
  In 1962, Hilda moved with Bob to Kansas City where she has lived ever 
since. Since becoming the President of the Plaza Westport

[[Page E139]]

Neighborhood Association, Hilda has been one of the most vocal and 
informed advocates for the citizens of Kansas City. Her determination 
to see things done right has resulted in many memorable victories for 
the residents she loves so dearly. Whatever the task, Hilda is not 
afraid to fight until her community wins. She is so involved in her 
community that she accompanies the codes inspectors as they comb the 
neighborhood in search of full compliance. This activist spirit has 
also extended into politics. Hilda has used her informed status to 
support candidates she feels are the best for Kansas City and the State 
of Missouri.
  Activism is not the only way Hilda is involved in her community. For 
several years, she and her late husband would spend Fridays as 
volunteers at the Truman Medical Center, and Hilda continues this 
ritual today. She is also an avid promoter and proponent of other arts 
community of Kansas City. Rarely does she miss a performance, but she 
also used her nights out in Kansas City to teach young women about the 
arts. Often she invites a young woman to accompany her to various 
artistic productions throughout the city giving the young woman the 
opportunity to broaden her cultural horizons.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in saying ``Happy Birthday'' to 
Hilda Gibbs as she turns 87. Her birth in 1915 has given the Kansas 
City community the gift of a loving, caring individual with commitment 
and dedication to making the community a better place through activism 
and service.

                          ____________________