Marshall University Athletics
2023-24 Champions Advisory Board Roster
Roster
Verna Gibson
Verna LeMasters Gibson is a nationally recognized leader in the specialty retailing industry. Starting at the Smart Shop in Huntington, she fell in love with the specialty business and changed her major to Marketing/Retailing from finance prior to starting at Marshall in the fall. Within a year she met her soulmate James ‘Jim’ Gibson, and they soon started a journey that would span a lifetime. Verna and Jim have two daughters, Kelly Winbigler and Beth Allen, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Moving to Columbus Ohio in 1971, she joined The Limited Stores, a four million dollar company with a vision for aggressive growth. Her career advanced, earning a reputation internationally with a special acumen for creating a series of highly demanded private brands. A visionary leader with a strong coaching style, she was promoted to C.E.O. of The Limited Stores in 1985 Time, Business Week, and Newsweek quickly lauded Verna as the “First female C.E.O. of a Fortune 500 company”.
Setting sights higher, she grew The Limited to become the first billion-dollar specialty store chain and launched a new division for children clothing named Limited Too and a lingerie business named Cacique.
Verna launched her own consulting business in the early nineties and by 1994 joined a New York consulting business called R.O.I. Verna maintained retail clients both nationally and internationally but ultimately decided to devote the majority of her time to an exciting Florida company, Chicos F.A.S. In 1997 she chose to focus on consulting for them and joined Chico’s Board of Directors. In 1998, Jim and Verna chose Sarasota Florida as their primary residence. Working closely with Chicos leadership as Merchandising Chair of the Board, in 2006 she launched Soma a now recognized leader in intimate apparel. From 2009-2012 she actively ran the Chico’s and Soma brands engineering a rapid turnaround from a difficult time in their growth.
Jim and Verna maintained their Marshall ties and close friendships through the years and never failed to attend a Homecoming regardless of a rigorous work and travel schedule. Verna showed early support for the H.E.L.P. Program and the Society for Yeager scholars, later becoming major supporters of Marshall Athletics simultaneously supporting The Marshall Foundation with academic scholarships. Marshall inducted Jim and Verna into the Pathway to Prominence 2004 and named a new residence hall on the Commons, Gibson Hall. Appointed to the Marshall Board of Governors in 2004 Verna served as Chair in 2010-2012. Following in Jim’s footsteps, she currently serves on the Marshall University Foundation Board.
Verna’s many awards at Marshall include an Honorary PHD awarded at graduation in 2001. Prior she was given The Distinguished Alumni Award and inducted into the Business School Hall of Fame in 1986 National services include: member of the Federal Reserve Board 1985-1991, The United States Coast Guard Foundation Trustee 2001- 2017. National Awards include: Apparel Merchandiser of the year 1996, American Marketing Associations Marketer of the Year 1990, and The New York Intimate Apparel club Retailer of the year 1996. Alpha Xi Delta Distinguished Woman of Year in 2006. W.V. State awards include: Distinguished West Virginia Award 2007 by W.VA. Public broadcasting in 2011 W.VA. Public radio featured Verna as an Inspiring West Virginian.
Jim and Verna have maintained a home in Huntington since 2001 and assisted in the rebirth of downtown Huntington. Their support included Hospice of Huntington, The Boys and Girls Club and The United Way. Verna was given the community impact award by the Herald Dispatch in 2011 and she was inducted into The Huntington Wall of Fame in 2012.
In a eulogy on Jim’s passing in 2021 his family shared “He loved family and friends and all things Marshall.” Verna remains committed to Marshall and she and her daughter, Kelly, spend many hours in Huntington supporting the Herd. Verna continues to serve on The Marshall Foundation and Is excited to be a member of the Champions Advisory Board. Often quoted about Marshall she says “My family bleeds green.
