Dr. Hugo Vivier Gibson of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at 6:25 pm on Sunday, December 7th.

Hugo was born in Bellville, South Africa on November 3, 1942 to Hugo Kenlock Gibson and Philipina Martina Gibson (nee: Vivier).  

In his early adulthood he sang in the South African Opera and had a very successful career with a company called Plascon Paint until he was called by God to be a chiropractor.  He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa where he was a Phi Kappa Chi fraternity member.  Hugo worked as a bell-hop for the Holiday Inn Hotel where one fateful night he met the love of his life, Judith Ellen Risser, and broke the law when he went up to her room, while he was still working, to see if she wanted to go out for her birthday.  They were married 6 months after they met, and 4 months after their wedding they were in Grahamstown, South Africa where he practiced for 14 years and had four children, Michael, Donald, Ellen and Richard.   He immigrated with his family back to America in December of 1985.  

After immigrating to America, Hugo taught at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Missouri for approximately 22 years, after which he went from part time practice, to full time practice until he was forced to retire in April of 2022, a total of 50.5 years.  

Hugo was a board member of the International Chiropractors Association for approximately 18 years, which he has said was one of the highlights of his career.  

He was the recipient of too many chiropractic awards to list, all of which he was extremely proud of.  A few of the most prestigious being the Dr. Herbert Ross Reaver Lifetime Achievement Award which he was honored with in 2016, and the International Chiropractors Association ‘Doctor of the year’ in 2019.  He was also inducted into the Phi Kappa Chi Hall of Fame in recognition for his dedicated service to chiropractic.  Not bad for someone who “allegedly” did not graduate high school.

Hugo is survived by His wife, Judith Ellen Gibson (nee: Risser), his four children; Hugo Michael Gibson, Donald Joshua Gibson, Ellen Margaret Landry (nee: Gibson), and Richard Bartlett Gibson, his grandsons Kaleb Christopher Landry, Hugo Cynnloch Gibson and his grandaughter, Abigail Ellen Landry, His son-in-law Kenneth Edward Landry and his two daughter-in-laws, Danelle Susan Gibson (nee: Tangen) and Emily Morgan Gibson (nee: Botts).  He is also survived by several beloved family  members in South Africa.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents and his beloved brother, George Ebden Gibson.

Matthew 25:23

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I give you great responsibilities.  Come, share your master’s joy.’

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family would appreciate donations to the Hugo V. Gibson Memorial Fund at Cleveland University-Kansas City (nee: Cleveland Chiropractic College).

Donation Information:

Hugo V. Gibson Memorial Fund

Donation Link:  https://give.cleveland.edu/donate-now/

Please make checks payable to CUKC and send donations to the following address:

CUKC Memorials, Advancement Department
10850 Lowell Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66210

For those who know Dad's passion and experience with the ICA, please use this link to make a donation in his name.

Hugo V. Gibson ICA Donation Link