Gipson remembered for grand jury service, military career
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Reports revealed Gipson, who was known as an avid fisherman, had just pulled his boat from the water and was hooking it to his vehicle when he collapsed from an apparent heart attack. He was taken to Southern Tennessee Medical Center in Franklin County, near where he collapsed, and was pronounced dead at the facility.
“He went out like he wanted to,” said one of his sons, Corey Gipson. “He always said when he died, he wanted to be fishing.”
Most recently, Gipson had served as grand jury foreman under former Circuit Court Judge Charles Haston. Gipson stepped down from the position he had held for the better part of the decade when Haston retired from office two years ago. Haston was traveling in Europe at the time of Gipson’s death and could not be reached for comment.
Friend and professional colleague Mark Gwyn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, expressed sorrow in the passing of Gipson. Gwyn served as TBI field agent here while Gipson was foreman.
“He was a good friend and colleague,” Gwyn said upon learning of Gipson’s death. “I’m saddened by his death and my condolences go out to his wife.”
Gipson enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard in the late 1950s and served one year in Vietnam as a Huey gunship helicopter pilot from 1965-66. After Vietnam, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and eventually attained the rank of colonel. He retired after 30 years.
“He was always military,” said his sister Sandra Pedigo. “Whatever has gone on military wise, the Gipsons have always been involved in it.”
It was also after Vietnam when Gipson joined Gipson Insurance, a business started by his father, Felix. He ran the insurance business until retiring in 2000.