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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of James 1
"Jimmie" Payton Gipson. 2
WHEREAS, James "Jimmie" Payton Gipson was a native of Edmonson County 3
who was born on April 7, 1941, to the late Lawrence and Ruth Gipson; and 4
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson gave his life to Jesus at the young age of 11, when he 5
was baptized at Chalybeate United Baptist Church in Edmonson County; and 6
WHEREAS, as he grew up, Jimmie Gipson was a proud country boy. He knew the 7
importance of hard work from an early age. He applied this to athletics when he played 8
for the Brownsville Bulldogs basketball team; and 9
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson graduated from Bowling Green Business University in 10
1963 and began working for Houchens Industries after answering a newspaper 11
advertisement for an account manager in 1965; and 12
WHEREAS, on August 18, 1984, Jimmie Gipson married Ann Baskett Gipson. 13
With each of them having 3 children, the union created a household of 6 children ranging 14
from ages 4 to 20; and 15
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson became a successful businessman over his long and 16
distinguished career at Houchens Industries, rising through the company to be promoted 17
to Vice President of Finance in 1986; and 18
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson joined the company’s Board of Directors in 1988, and 19
was named CEO in 1993, a position in which he served the company for 26 years. During 20
that time, he was instrumental in acquiring the naming rights to Houchens LT Smith 21
Stadium at Western Kentucky University and the Houchens Industries Center for 22
Business/Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce building; and 23
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson won an extensive list of awards and accolades over the 24
course of his life for his contributions to Houchens Industries and the communities served 25
by the company. These accomplishments included being awarded the keys to the city of 26
Bowling Green, being named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 by Ernst and Young, and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1233
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his induction into the Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1
2008; and 2
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson retired in March 2020, after 55 years of service to 3
Houchens Industries, leaving a lasting legacy of success and security for the 17,000 4
employee-owners of Houchens and their families, for whom he cared so much; and 5
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson was a member of Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling 6
Green and an avid Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers supporter; and 7
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson was devoted to his beloved family, was a proud 8
husband, father to 6, and grandfather to 17. He was a calm, kind, and humble man of few 9
words, but was fierce and funny at times; and 10
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2023, Jimmie Gipson traversed these earthly bounds 11
and is now at peace with the Lord in Heaven; and 12
WHEREAS, Jimmie Gipson is survived by his wife, Ann Gipson; children Allen 13
Gipson, Clark Gipson, Candy Peay, Joe Reeves, Eric Reeves, and Angela Reeves; 14
grandchildren Lauren Brown, Ally Henning, Payton Gipson, Katherine Gipson, Rhett 15
Gipson, Luke Gipson, Rory Gipson, Zayne Peay, Cassidy Peay, Ally Reeves, Lainey 16
Reeves, Maggie Reeves, Haven Reeves, and Damarius Reeves; great-grandchildren 17
Emmy Brown, Baylor Brown, and Chloe Henning; siblings Judy Gipson and Steve 18
Gipson; nieces and nephews Shannon Lowe, Haley Garmon, and Chad Stice; and many 19
dear friends; 20
NOW, THEREFORE, 21
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 22
Kentucky: 23
Section 1. The Senate hereby expresses its most profound sympathy upon the 24
passing of James "Jimmie" Payton Gipson. 25
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 26
memory of James "Jimmie" Payton Gipson. 27