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A L oving L egacy
A longtime gay couple aim to bolster future generations through their generosity
t was 1948 when Phillip Gibbons and
Orville Garrison first met as fellow U ni
versity of Portland undergraduates.
by T .K . M antese
Gibbons says he and Garrison thought about
writing a letter to the univeisity. Instead, when
they received the school’s annual request for
alumni fund contributions, they responded that
they were upset with the university’s stance and
Both were psychology majors at the
asked to be taken off the alumni list.
C atholic school, as well as recently
After reading a recent Just Out article about
returned veterans of World War II. Gibbons was
gay and lesbian students currently struggling and
22 and Garrison, 25.
organizing at the University of Portland, Gib
Because students were placed in the curricu
bons sent an e-mail to one of those profiled in
lum alphabetically, the duo shared some of the
the piece, Kari Kruse, a founding member of
same classes. They began exchanging notes and
Friends United to Educate Lives, a pro-diversity
meeting after class.
group at the North Portland school.
Gibbons says he assumed his sexual experi
“I told her, ‘I support what
mentation when he was growing up was typical
you’re doing entirely— don’t give
for boys. He didn’t know if it was
up the effort,’ ” he says.
evidence of homosexuality.
Gibbons says he and Garrison
“Orville wasn’t sure either,
had considered setting up trusts
but I think he was more aware
for two local organizations that
that he was probably homosexu
serve the queer community but
al,” Gibbons says.
“backed down because of the
They continued to date,
instability of both of them.”
sometimes spending evenings
One thing they were sure of,
after work at the Cupboard Back
Gibbons says, was that the U ni
door, a lounge in the former
versity of Portland was “not
Broadway Theatre building at
going to get a penny.”
Yamhill Street and Broadway in
Instead, the Garrison G ib
downtown Portland. It was a
bons Endowed Fellowship was
hangout for gay men, many of
established with Portland State
whom were M eier & Frank
University in March 1996. It
employees, as was Garrison.
became activated upon the death
A bisexual couple they knew
of Garrison two and a half years
would often drag them out to a
later.
club featuring female imperson
The annual fellowship for a
ators, which, quite honestly, did
Graduate School of Social Work
not interest Gibbons much, save
student at PSU will select its first
for that fact that those excursions
recipient in April.
“opened up the gay orientation
A spokeswoman for the social
avenue” to him.
work department says the money
Gibbons left his dorm on
for the scholarship comes from
campus and moved in with Gar
the interest on the trust, which
rison in the spring of 1949.
will allow scholarships to be
For nearly 50 years they lived
awarded in perpetuity.
together, excluding one year dur
T he
Garrison
Gibbons
ing which Gibbons lived in
Endowed Fellowship is currently
Salem while he served as a child
funded at $50,OCX). Though G ib
welfare supervisor for Marion and
bons is reluctant to say what his
Polk counties.
estate will eventually be worth to
D evoted social w orkers, O rville Garrison
T he couple pursued and
the graduate program (he has
earned their master’s degrees in
bequeathed everything to the
an d Phillip Gibbons have ensured that tbeir
social work from the University
school), it is safe to say it will eas
of California at Berkeley.
ily exceed $1 million.
com m itm ent to im proving the lives o f others
“Gay life down there on cam
This year, $1,000 will be
pus was very open compared to
awarded. In 2001, the scholar
w ill live on through the Garrison Gibbons Endow ed
the University of Portland. We
ship increases to $2,500, accord
worked like dogs, sweat blood to
ing to a PSU spokeswoman.
Fellow ship, established with Portland State
get through grad school. If you
Gibbons says the Graduate
got a C , you were on probation,”
School of Social Work will even
University in March 1 996
he recalls.
tually have the money for a guest
Both spent their subsequent
professorship to teach courses
careers helping others, particular
that specifically address queer social issues.
Garrison died Oct. 21, 1998, after 270 days
ly children.
The PSU endowment agreement for the
in the hospital, having never recovered from
Except for a short stint with Multnomah
Garrison Gibbons fellowship sets requirements
complications of surgery for an abdominal
County Juvenile Court, Garrison spent his
for the scholarship, which include “outstanding
aneurysm.
career in the adoption field. He was the director
academic qualifications, demonstrated financial
Several years before Garrison died, he and
of Waverly Children’s Home until poor health
need and an interest in gay and lesbian issues.”
Gibbons talked about setting up a trust at the
prompted him to resign in the early 70s.
Preference will be given to students who have
University of Portland because “that’s where we
From 1968 to 1973, Gibbons also worked at
experience working with sexual minority
met and fell in love,” says Gibbons.
the children’s home, developing a treatment
clients.
“A very dear mutual friend— known her for
Devoted social workers, Garrison and G ib
program for disabled preschool kids.
45 years— had been after us since the early ’90s:
Says Gibbons: “They had no program for
bons have ensured that their commitment to
‘W hat are you going to do with all the money
these kids. They just fed them, held them, kept
improving the lives of others will live on
you’re hoarding?’ ” he recalls.
through their fellowship.
them clean."
It was around the same time, Gibbons
He developed an innovative program that
Meanwhile, Gibbons is adjusting to life
explains, that some University of Portland gay
emphasized psychosocial rehabilitation.
without his longtime companion. He remains
students formed a group and applied for official
“I could see things coming to fruition (at
committed to social work and volunteers at
club recognition. He says the university’s admin
Waverly],” he says. “Educational and develop
Providence Milwaukie Hospital.
istration declined to endorse the club because of
mental programs for the developmentally dis
the Catholic Church’s stand on homosexuality.
abled or severely impaired were unheard of.”
Especially for the pre-school age, he adds.
I
Gibbons says his partner became well
enough to work again, obtaining the ultimate
job of his career— state director of the adoption
program with Catholic Social Services in Port
land.
The last dozen years of Gibbons’ career were
spent auditing nursing homes throughout the
state and investigating elder abuse for Clacka
mas County. He retired in 1987.
A t the age of 73, Gibbons still talks passion
ately about social work— and Orville.
“It’s been a terrible loss. W e’d been together
just short of 50 years,” he says.
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