Luther Dan Gibson will celebrate 100 years on Dec. 23 with family and friends here in Troy.

Gibson was born in Geneva but his family moved to Brantley where he graduated from Brantley High School in 1929.

“Dad was valedictorian of his class and that was probably because there were only 12 graduates in his class and four were boys and they didn’t give the award to girls,” said Gibson’s daughter, Diane Gibson Head, who lives in Hoover.

Gibson attended Troy Normal College for two years and graduated with an associate degree. He played semi-pro baseball during his college days.

Gibson lived in Auburn before finally moving to Troy where he has lived on College Street since 1955.

“Dad started work in Troy as a butcher for Pete Black’s grocery,” Head said. “During the Depression, he was hired by the United Postal Service as a substitute in Troy’s post office and later became a rural mail carrier.”

Gibson was the rural mail carrier for Troy Route 2 for 38 years.

“Many people counted on Dad to bring them items they needed on their farms,” Head said. “In return they gave him fresh vegetables and other edibles produced on the farm that were in season.”

Gibson’s hobbies included bird hunting and fishing and some farmers allowed him and his friends to hunt and fish on their land.

As a member of the Quarterback Club of Troy, Gibson was instrumental in helping get the football stadium at Troy State.

Gibson retired from the United Postal Service after 38 years as a rural mail carrier.

He is a member of First Baptist Church of Troy.

His wife, Martha Louise Boswell, died in December 1989.

He has a daughter, Head, and a son, Dan Gibson and his wife, Doris, who live in Daphne.

His grandchildren are Colby Gibson, Huntsville; Jennifer Fischer, Alabaster; and Jeff Head, Pelham. Gibson also has three great grandchildren, Brittany Fischer, Helena, and Nicholas Fischer and Lindsey Fischer, Alabaster.