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Published: Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009 / Updated: Monday, Sep. 14, 2009 12:24 PM

Fort Mill leader will not seek another term

FORT MILL -- 

Wyatt Waddell Gibson knows about putting others' plights first and serving a community. The Fort Mill leader has spent more than half his life taking care of the town and its residents.

“I've always loved Fort Mill,” Gibson said. “Fort Mill has been my top thing.”

But his agenda has changed.

Come Election Day, the Fort Mill Town Councilman's name will not be on the ballot. That's because the 75-year-old councilman of nearly a decade and former Fort Mill School Board member is quitting the business known as politics.

Because of his health.

“I've got some bad lungs, and I'm on oxygen at night,” he said. “I can't do like I used to.”

Gibson has served on the town council for nine years. More than two decades ago, he also left his serving footprints on the town's school board. Leaving behind what comes as second nature will be bittersweet for Gibson, but it's a transition that he is looking forward to.

“I will get to spend some time at home,” he said. “I'm looking forward to being with my children, grandchildren and great-grand.”

Then he paused for reflection.

“All the things I've done, I don't regret,” he said of serving on the town council and school board. “I don't regret (serving). I'm walking away with a good feeling. I've done the best I could.”

All with a zest to serve, Mayor Danny Funderburk said.

“He served during a rapid growth period,” Funderburk said of Gibson. “We appreciate the time he's committed. We wish him well with his future endeavors. He will be missed.”

Gibson has nothing to hang his head over: His record for looking after Fort Mill residents speaks for itself. More than four decades ago, Gibson won a seat on the Fort Mill School Board and held that post for 13 years, he said.

Later, he landed a post with the Town of Fort Mill, where he served as the public works director for 28 years before retiring in 1991. Soon after retiring, Gibson sought and won a town council seat.

“I've always wanted to be involved in town and school functions,” he said. “That's why I ran.”

During Gibson's time on the council much as has happened in Fort Mill.

“Change,” he said. “When we first started, we had a police department and an all-volunteer fire department. Now, we are set to hire three [more] full-time firefighters.”

Because of unprecedented growth.

That growth, coupled with the need to expand services to handle it, has town leaders looking at a tax increase – a first in more than a decade.

“We should have done it every year before now, one or two mills at a time,” Gibson said. “Then we wouldn't be caught doing five mills at one time. It will have to be increased more in years to come on the account of the growth.”

Exactly when and at what rate future taxes increase will be the concern of someone else in mere months, after Gibson steps down, but his undying service will continue. Since 1991, Gibson and his family have purchased toys at auctions and later doled them out as Christmas gifts for needy children in Fort Mill, Cheraw, Chesterfield and Ruby.

Just “to see the kids get something for Christmas,” he said. “The only thing I require is that they can't open their things (gifts) until Christmas.”

So while serving Fort Mill is coming to an end, looking after the children won't, he said.

“My kids come first,” he said.

That penchant to serve is woven in Gibson, Councilman Larry Huntley said.

“He brought a lot of perspective to our council meetings,” said Huntley, who joined the council several years after Gibson's arrival. “He had a lot of knowledge, particularity about water and sewer.”

Then Huntley paused to reflect.

“It's time for him to settle down and raise his family,” Huntley quipped about Gibson before turning serious. “We lose something by him leaving.”

Gibson's at-large seat will be filled by former Councilwoman Guynn Savage, the only candidate to file for the seat.