Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Gibbs
Bob Gibbs pictured on the far left with the HPTC Board
If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Bob Gibbs was 40 years old—not someone born in the 1940s.
“I guess this sport keeps you young,” laughs Gibbs, now 83.
Regardless of age, the longtime volunteer at Highland Park Tennis Club (HPTC) in Pittsburgh remains as active as ever, both on and off the court. He plays with multiple groups, organizes events, and has dedicated decades to making tennis accessible to anyone and everyone in the Pittsburgh community.
A founding member of HPTC, Gibbs helped shape the club into a thriving organization with more than 150 members. Since its start 22 years ago, the club has been committed to promoting education, health, and wellness through tennis. From free clinics to scholarship programs to charity partnerships, HPTC serves the greater Pittsburgh area in countless ways—and Gibbs has had a hand in nearly all of them.
Most mornings you can find Gibbs at the courts working on general maintenance, even shoveling snow in the winter to make sure play can continue.
“He's the first one here in the mornings, shoveling snow and cleaning things up,” says longtime HPTC volunteer Fred Crawford. “Without him, we probably wouldn’t exist.”
Beyond general volunteering and organizing, Gibbs handles much of HPTC’s marketing and publicity efforts, writing newsletters, taking photos, and promoting the club across media platforms. He also helps organize major community initiatives, including food drives and CPR training sessions.
Thanks in large part to Gibbs’ efforts, HPTC has become a true community hub, offering programming for players of all ages and abilities. His dedication to growing the sport has even led to city-wide improvements, with Highland Park’s nine courts recently resurfaced and equipped with new lighting to allow for extended play.
When asked what he’s most proud of, Gibbs doesn’t hesitate.
“The staying power of our organization,” he said. “What we’ve done for all these years, and continue to do.”
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