yesterday's tennessee

Jimmy Gibson

Newspaper Carrier Family Always Delivers The Goods

PARSONS, Tenn. — The J. W. Gibsons, who live here on the Old Decaturville Road, are a newspaper carrier family.

Mr. Gibson set the example back in 1958. I wanted to give my boys a job and carrying papers is excellent training for them," he says. "If they had just broken even and had only enough to pay for their papers, we'd still have been ahead. Boys are going to do something and I wanted mine to do the right things."

"There's nothing any better than delivering THE JACKSON SUN to the awaiting customers in Parsons," says Jimmy Gibson, 15. "I started delivering THE SUN five years ago. Our circulation has increased 25 per cent within the past year in Parsons."

Jimmy's first delivery was on bicycle, but as the money flowed in he was able to buy a motor scooter which is much more convenient and faster. His salary enables him to maintain his vehicle and have his own spending money.

His father said, "I never have to give Jimmy spending money anymore." He earns from $50 to $60 a month.

He is an excellent young businessman. He has no problems with his collecting and is always careful to give his customers a receipt when they pay for the Sun.

"It keeps me on the run," the brown-eyed, slender youngster said. "I start on my route right after school is out at 3 p.m. First I roll my papers and then start delivering. With two other boys delivering THE SUN in Parsons, it takes Jimmy about 1½ hours to complete his route.

"I enjoy delivering an evening paper, during the summer vacation it gives me a chance to sleep later," he said.

Jimmy's brother, Johnnie Wayne, 18, who is serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, was the first son to start as a paper carrier. Another brother, Jerry, 17, also has a paper route. The two boys help each other, especially on Sunday when the load is much heavier.

They have to get on the ball on Sunday to get their papers delivered before Sunday School.

"Few customers call up with complaints." Jimmy said. "The route is very pleasant." Amid snow, rain, sleet or hail, Jimmy has never failed to deliver THE SUN. Sometimes during the snowy evenings it gets mighty slick, but the roar of the motor scooter is always a sign the paper has arrived.

"It took him a while to build the route," his father said, "but now he has it almost complete; however, he is always looking for new subscribers. His territory includes north Parsons and the Decatur County General Hospital. Two other carriers have south Parsons.

His father was paper carrier from 1958 until 1964, when be turned it all over to his three sons.

There is no one more popular person in Parsons around 4 p.m. than Jimmy Gibson. Every subscriber is on the lookout for their coveted JACKSON SUN. One woman said it meant so much to her she hated to see it on the ground, it should be on a "silver platter."

Jimmy received his Eagle Boy Scout award in June and has his Bronze Palm. He is a member of Parsons Boy Scout Troop No. 9. His father is Scoutmaster. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and belongs to the 4-H club, F.F.A. He attends Riverside High School where he is a sophomore.

Other members of his family are his mother and two sisters, Sharon, 7, and Melinda Gail, 6 months.