By Laura Tenpenny (’11)
When Robert (Bob) W. Gibeling Jr. (’77) began thinking about the legacy he wanted to leave, he looked to the people and experiences that shaped his life.
One influence was the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he earned an MBA that prepared him for a successful career in marketing and advertising with Siemens, The Weather Channel, Georgia-Pacific, and other leading organizations. Another was a family history built around music—one that began with stories about his uncle, Howard W. Gibeling, a gifted trombonist and arranger whose career took him from his own orchestra to some of the most celebrated big bands of his time.
For Bob, those memories were about more than music or professional accomplishments. They represented the people who encouraged and inspired him and the values he wanted to carry forward.
Howard J. Gibeling, Bob’s cousin and Howard W. Gibeling’s son, remembers Bob as down to earth and personable. “My cousin Robert never forgot the people and places that helped shape his life.”
The MBA Excellence Fund for Scholarship in the Haslam College of Business provides valuable financial support for full-time MBA students.
Through an estate gift, Bob created opportunities for future Volunteers in two areas that reflected those defining influences. His gift expanded scholarship support for MBA students through the MBA Excellence Fund for Scholarship in the Haslam College of Business while also establishing the Howard W. Gibeling Memorial Trombone Scholarship Endowment in the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music.
Bob’s path to UT followed his desire to pursue a graduate education focused on marketing. Although he earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech, UT provided the opportunity to advance his career and develop expertise in his area of interest. That education became the foundation for a successful career helping organizations communicate and connect with audiences.
Today, Bob’s generosity is helping full-time MBA students pursue their own professional goals. Since 2011, the MBA Excellence Fund for Scholarship has supported 256 students, providing valuable financial support for graduate students preparing to become leaders across industries.
Amy Cathey, professor of practice and executive director and associate dean of executive and graduate education at the Haslam College of Business, says the impact of such a gift cannot be understated.
“At the master’s level, students rely heavily on departmental and college funding for financial assistance. Private scholarship support is essential to making these programs accessible and allowing us to attract the best and brightest students while fulfilling UT’s land-grant mission.”
Amy Cathey, professor of practice and executive director and associate dean of executive and graduate education at the Haslam College of Business
Scholarships also help the business college recruit exceptional students who strengthen the MBA experience and contribute to the program’s strong career outcomes. Full-time MBA students have an average age of 25, and graduates have gone on to careers in consulting, manufacturing, technology, financial services, and other industries. In 2024–25, graduates earned an average starting salary of $112,560.
Bob’s gift also honors the family member whose musical accomplishments left a lasting impression on generations of Gibelings. Howard W. Gibeling built a distinguished career as a trombonist and arranger, performing with orchestras belonging to Glenn Miller, Hal McIntyre, Tommy Dorsey, and other big band names during the height of the swing era.
“My uncle, Bob Sr., was incredibly proud of his brother and all he accomplished,” recalls Howard J. Gibeling. “The two brothers shared a close bond, and that admiration never faded.”
That legacy now lives on through the Howard W. Gibeling Memorial Trombone Scholarship Endowment. The scholarship helps talented student musicians pursue their education at UT while honoring the artistry and dedication that defined Howard’s career.
Jeffrey Pappas, founding dean of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, says the scholarship impacts the college’s ability to recruit and retain the most talented students.
“Scholarship support can make a transformative difference in a student’s decision to pursue their education at Tennessee. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our students and the opportunities it will create for generations of musicians.”
Jeffrey Pappas, founding dean of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music
The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music enrolls more than 310 undergraduate students and offers more than 150 endowed scholarships that support musicians throughout their academic journeys. Of those scholarships, few are dedicated to aspiring trombonists. The first Gibeling Scholarship will be distributed in fall of 2027.
Through his estate gift, Bob transformed gratitude into opportunity—honoring the people and places that influenced his life while creating possibilities for future generations of Volunteers. His legacy will continue to shape students pursuing excellence in business and music, carrying forward the values of education, passion, and perseverance that defined his own journey.
Learn more about how you can plan your own Volunteer legacy.
