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Monday, January 19, 2009 9:51 AM Wilson family has link to Obama by Janelle Clevinger | Times Staff Writer Local banker Milo Gibbs Jr. always knew his cousin Bobby would go places. He just never expected it would be the White House. "Bobby" is 37-year-old Robert Lane Gibbs, President-elect Barack Obama's White House press secretary-designate and Milo's first cousin. Milo is senior vice president of business development for Heritage Bank and his wife, Joan, is organist and choir director at Wilson's First Presbyterian Church. Milo's father, Milo Sr., and Bobby's father, Robert Coleman Gibbs, are brothers. The two brothers grew up in Bath, and Robert built up quite a career in library science, working at Florida State, Penn State and spending 25 years at Auburn University. "Bobby and his brother, John, grew up on the Auburn campus, but Bobby had such fond memories of spending time with our family in Bath that he wanted to go to college in eastern North Carolina," Milo said. Bobby attended North Carolina State University on a soccer scholarship and was the goalie for a the school's Atlantic Coast Conference championship soccer team. He graduated cum laude with a degree in political science. He moved back to Alabama after graduation and immediately began working in the political arena. He took positions with former Rep. Glenn Browder, Rep. Bob Etheridge and Sen. Fritz Hollings. Two other Senate campaigns followed before he became communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In 2004, Bobby took the position of press secretary for John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid. After the Kerry campaign ended, Bobby went to work with Obama as his communications director. On Nov. 22, it was announced that Bobby (who is known as Robert in professional circles) would serve as in the incoming administration's press secretary. "Bobby has been with Obama for some time, even before he became a senator," Milo said. "On plane trips they would sit together and talk about their families. They have a lot in common, and over time they became close allies." So close, in fact, that during a recent trip to Hawaii to visit his ailing grandmother, Obama and his wife, Michelle, insisted on babysitting Bobby's 5-year-old son, Ethan, while Bobby and his wife, Mary Catherine, an attorney, went out to dinner. Milo credits Bobby's parents with much of his cousin's success. "Bobby has gotten a lot from his parents, both in wit and academics," he said. "He and his brother are very outgoing and did very well academically so his success in the last 15 years or so has not surprised me. "He has a great sense of humor, is very intelligent, is a very engaging person and is very passionate about Obama's plans," Milo said. "He will make a great press secretary." Bobby's parents, Robert and Nancy, moved to Apex after Robert retired from Auburn and Nancy took a job as the acquisitions director for the libraries at Duke University. "My aunt and uncle are very excited about Bobby's appointment," said Milo, "and they realize this is going to be a very demanding position." Milo last saw Bobby during the presidential campaign while attending a funeral for a friend of the family's. "He was on his Blackberry a lot," Milo said. But even though Bobby stays extremely busy, he still visits Bath every so often to see his uncle (Milo's father), who is now 88. "My dad is very excited about Bobby's appointment and thinks it's quite a thing," he added. "My father has lost his eyesight now, but he still listens to the television and keeps up with political goings on." Milo will not be attending Tuesday's inauguration festivities, but he'll be watching television coverage and keeping his eyes open for his cousin. "We won't be going to Washington," Milo said, "but we will certainly be thinking about him and wishing him well." ON THE MAP runs on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. If you have a story that you want to share, e-mail jclevinger@wilsontimes.com or call 265-7811. If you have an event that you would like to enter on our community calendar, go to www.wilsontimes.com and click on the link for submitting information to the calendar. |
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