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From The Pensacola News Journal

Published - May, 31, 2006

Champion of city passes
Family man never quit working for Pensacola


Troy Moon
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

Vince Whibbs Sr. was a man of integrity. And it wasn't just a car-business slogan.

Mr. Whibbs, Pensacola's longest-serving mayor and most enthusiastic cheerleader, died Tuesday at Sacred Heart Hospital after collapsing at his home. He was 86.

The loving family man served as Pensacola's mayor from 1978 to 1991 and was forever known afterward as mayor emeritus.

He also was a businessman, establishing Vince Whibbs Pontiac (now Vince Whibbs Pontiac GMC, "The Men and Women of Integrity'') after moving to Pensacola from Valdosta, Ga., in 1958.

He was a former Army Air Corps fighter pilot and instructor, and his support of the military never wavered.

Nor did his service to the community and others.

On Monday, the day before he died, Mr. Whibbs attended a Memorial Day service at Barrancas National Cemetery to honor fallen veterans.

The morning of his death, he was headed to a television appearance to promote the proposed Community Maritime Park. He was named to the park's board of trustees after the March 24 death of former project leader, retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman.

"He was all dressed up and ready to speak on its behalf,'' said son Mark Whibbs, 45, CEO/general manager of Vince Whibbs Pontiac GMC. "He loved this city, and he became a big part of it from the moment he moved here. And he never stopped.''

Others echoed those sentiments.

"He was Pensacola's ambassador to the world,'' said his longtime friend and golfing partner, U.S. District Court Judge Lacey Collier.

"He's so beloved in this community. He's probably everything that all of us wish we were, starting with the consummate family man. He could rattle off the number of kids he had, the number of grandkids and great grandkids.''

Mr. Whibbs is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anna Whibbs, seven children, 26 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

"His cherished wife Anna,'' Collier said. "He always said he made the living, but she made it worthwhile.''

Whibbs' journey

Mr. Whibbs was a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and attended the University of Buffalo -- he wasn't shy about admitting he dropped out -- before becoming an "office boy'' for the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors in 1940.

In 1941, he graduated from the Army Air Force Pilot Training program, eventually becoming a flight instructor for the Army Air Corps.

He left the military as a captain in 1946 and returned to the Pontiac Motor Division, rising to the position of zone manager. Mr. Whibbs moved his family to Pensacola in 1958 to take over a local Pontiac dealership, and Vince Whibbs Pontiac was born in Warrington.

Right away, Mr. Whibbs emerged as a community leader. In 1963 -- only five years after coming to town -- he was elected to the Pensacola City Council. He served on the council for two years.

In 1974, he was selected to head the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. In 1978, he was appointed to a two-year term as mayor of Pensacola but ended up serving through June 1991.

During his tenure, Pensacola experienced tremendous growth.

The current City Hall came about on his watch. Pensacola Regional Airport was expanded and revitalized. The new Pensacola Police Department was built.

As mayor, Mr. Whibbs campaigned endlessly for downtown redevelopment. He lobbied hard as part of a group that worked to bring in an aircraft carrier to replace the USS Lexington, and his efforts were instrumental in bringing the USS Forrestal to Pensacola in 1992.

"What a blow to Pensacola,'' longtime friend Ted Nickinson, 79, said after learning of Mr. Whibbs' death.

"His leadership in the community was unparalleled. And I never heard a negative word about the future from him. He always looked at the bright side, and that's something the whole community will miss. The community is far worse off now that he's not here.''

The loquacious mayor was known as an energetic, robust man, who was always eager to sing Pensacola's praises. He was well-known for his rapid-fire "Western Gate to the Sunshine State'' speech that he always delivered before visiting dignitaries.

And he never stopped working for Pensacola.

Quint Studer, the driving force behind the Community Maritime Park, said Mr. Whibbs' death is a loss for all of Pensacola. Studer, a health-care consultant and owner of the Pensacola Pelicans minor league baseball team, said he hasn't considered how Mr. Whibbs' death will affect the park proposal.

"Right now, that's not in the thought process,'' Studer said. "Right now, all our thoughts are with the family. You feel so terrible for the family. When I got the phone call this morning, well, all I can say is that it knocks the wind right out of you.''

A true love story

Friendly, outgoing, charming and handsome, Whibbs had a love for Pensacola that was overshadowed only by his love of God, country and family.

Friends marveled at the decades-old love affair between Anna and Vince Whibbs.

"I was with Anna (on Monday),'' said longtime family friend, Zee Barnhart, whose late husband, Cliff Barnhart, was a golf partner of Mr. Whibbs. "I'm just shocked. He was always so energetic. When those two were dancing, well, Vince and Anna were the first ones on the dance floor and the last ones off. He had so much energy. We just thought Vince would go on forever.''

Now, we're left with memories. And, Barnhart said, Mr. Whibbs left so many.

"There's going to be a spot in my heart,'' she said. "I'm sure (Mr. Whibbs and her late husband) are having a great game of golf right now.'

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Vince did a lot to promote the Museum Of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, he was a good man.
Robbie

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