John L. Gibson DDS

John Liddle Gibson was born in Berlin in the late 1870s and during his early years lived in the Spring Valley area.

His illustrious hockey career started about 1897 as a player on the Berlin team, the first to win the OHA. Intermediate championship. He later played in the Senior Series. Being then considered one of the game’s best players, he was invited to organize a professional league in Northern Michigan. He moved to Houghton to do so and play for that city. Teams were formed in other area cities. Other prominent players were imported from Canada. The area was “hockey mad,” the quality of hockey was good and exciting. Gibson proved to be a capable organizer and again a star player in his new environment. He graduated from the Detroit Dental College and opened an office in Houghton where he practiced until moving to Calgary in 1909.

Gibson excelled in other sports. For several years he starred on the famous Berlin Ranger Football (soccer) team, also on the Berlin Baseball team. Amongst the many fine athletes native to this area, he undoubtedly was one of the greatest.

He served in the Canadian Forces during World War I and was wounded in 1916. He died in Calgary in 1954.