Rochester school honors civil rights activist

by Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — This weekend, residents of Rochester, Minn., will dedicate a new elementary school which is named in honor of George Gibbs, a civil rights activist, a military veteran, an entrepreneur -- and the first African-American to set foot on Antarctica.

The honor represents quite a change for Rochester. When Gibbs moved to the city in 1963, it was not a welcoming place for African-Americans like him.

Gibbs was a civil rights activist, a military veteran, an entrepreneur and he was the first African-American to set foot on Antarctica.

Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with his widow, Joyce Gibbs, who still lives in Rochester.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, 10/09/2009, 7:25 a.m.