The Basics

Contact me

On the Web:

I published my first web page back in 1994. When it comes to my web publishing skills, I've been accused of being stuck in the '90s. I'm okay with that. I have no desire develop web pages as a living. My goal is to inform and provide substance; not to entertain you with dancing cows.

Most of what I write about is based on years of reading on the topic which make it difficult for me to recall exactly who said what and when. In some cases, such as my old page on the Bermuda Triangle, the page was based on old term paper I wrote in high school. The main reason I did the page was to learn HTML not to debunk the nonsense written about the Bermuda Triangle. When it was written back in 1994, that page as well as the Pirates page were probably the first pages on the WWW on those topics.

While I've thought about entering foot notes for the various information I write about, after much soul searching I decided instead to take the Cornelius Ryan approach to history and tell a story instead of writing a term paper. Still, as a researcher, I find it crucial to provide the most accurate information possible. I also feel that it is important to provide sources for the information provided. I do this on my major web pages by providing you the sources to back up what I've written but I haven't taken the time to note every citation.

My most used page is probably the one on Pirates. It has been used by professors in junior colleges as well as elementary school teachers. The information was also used by the History Channel for the program True Caribbean Pirates. A month has not gone by when I have not been asked by a student if they can use the page or interview me for a school assignment. The answer is yes, just make sure you cite the page, and if I have the time you can interview me.

Employment History:

I've worked for a variety of Medical and Academic Libraries for the last 25 years. I've also had the pleasure of being a school librarian for ten years, delivering newspapers for 20 years, stringing for a newspaper for five years, working at an animal clinic, renting tuxedos, and working at a gas station.

Civilian Education:

  • M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Library and Information Science, 1994
  • B.A., University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, History, 1981
  • H.S. Diploma Tilden High School, Chicago, Il., 1975

Military Service:

I planned on enlisting right after high school but my brother and my father talked me into going to college and becoming an officer. After four years of college ROTC congress decided I was worthy of a gold bar, sent me to Ft. Benning, gave me 22 weeks of training as declared me a platoon leader. I served with the 1st Bn, 54th Infantry Regiment in beautiful Bamberg, Germany. It was part of the 3rd Brigade 1st Armor Division. I was there from 1981-1984. It was most Eastern deployed of all military forces back when we were deterring armed aggression during the Cold War. I was a peace time Platoon Leader in the Mech. Infantry who wanted to be in a light infantry unit. I later became a Company XO and then had the joy of being 3rd Brigade's Asst S-4. The only time I enjoyed the Army was when I was knee deep in mud during training exercises. I soon realized that as an officer my days knee deep in mud with an infantry platoon were a thing of the past. I dreaded the thought of becoming REMF so I got out. After leaving the Regular Army I tried to join the Illinois National Guard but they informed me I was "color blind" and I was unqualified for the Infantry. They suggested a branch transfer to Military Intelligence and my career with the U.S. Army was over.

Military Education:
 Diploma, United States Army Infantry School, United States Army Infantry School, Basic Airborne Course, 1979
Diploma, United States Army Infantry School, United States Army Infantry School, Infantry Officers Basic Course, 1981
Diploma, United States Army, 1st Armor Division, United States Army, 1st Armor Division, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare School, 1982
Diploma, United States Army, United States Army, VII Corp Mortar Platoon Leaders Course, 1982
Diploma, United States Army, United States Army, VII Corp Battalion Motor Officers Course, 1983

Military Awards:

  • 1983, Army Commendation Medal
  • Parachutist Badge
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Also awarded Expert with M16 Rifle, Grenade, M203, M60 Machine Gun, M2HB Machine Gun.
Publications:

  • Gibson, Tobias, Desert Raiders, Model Military International, 55 (Nov) 2010 
  • Gibson, Tobias, Non Vi Sed Arti, Model Military International,  43 (Nov) 2009
  • Gibson, Tobias (2007) A Century of Faith:  St. Florian Parish 1905-2005, Jostens: Topeka, KS. St. Florian Parish, Chgo, IL, St. Florian Parish/ Jostens
  • Diehl, Jennifer, Frank, Christine, Gibson, Toby, Teach on Peach: A librarian-clinician patient education collaboration, Poster Session, Phoenix, Arizona, , 19 May 2006
  • Lorbeer, E.R., J. Dzierba, B. Fleming, C. Frank, T. Gibson, & B. Karnoscak, One work in two places: A 'mixed media' policy for accompanying media dilemmas, Collection Management, 26(1):77-90, 2001
  • Frank C., J. Dzierba, B. Fleming, T. Gibson, B. Karnoscak & E. Lorbeer., From trash can to working plan: How to solve your mixed media blues, Poster presented at MLA/CHLA 2000 in Vancouver, BC, , 8 May 2000
  • Gibson, Toby (1995) The Wide World of Webs, Illinois Libraries,  77(3)
  • Gibson, Toby, M. Koenig (1995) Changes in Latitudes: Distance Learning at the University of Illinois, Illinois Libraires,  77(1)

Other Interests:

  • Cats
  • In-house Publishing
  • Piracy in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th Century
  • History of the Catholic Church
  • Photography
  • Pocket Knives
  • Scale Models