Swanger T. Gibson Jr. passed away at the age of 82 on August 10, 2024, in Dayton, Ohio.
Born on June 19, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama, he lived a life marked by innovation, style, and a giving spirit. A renowned figure as a graduate of Roosevelt High School class of 1962, he excelled in football ranked as the #2 Quarterback in the state of Indiana. Swanger joined the Air Force for a brief period not long after high school.
Swanger married the love of his life Jannett Hall and had a son. Swanger later channeled his passion into achieving an associate degree from the Chicago Institute of Technology in Drafting, showing his enduring love for drawing and artistry. He designed buildings, bridges, and community complexes as a Draftsman.
He later worked for Chevron Oil in New Orleans as a draftsperson. His professional journey was as diverse as it was impressive, reflected in his entrepreneurial ventures in the realms of fashion design and cosmetology. He designed clothes worn by Nate Evans of the Temptations.
He was the Pageant Coordinator for the Ms. Black Gary Beauty Pageant in the 1970’s. One of his most memorable contributions was orchestrating as the Pageant Coordinator for the 1970 Ms.
Black Indiana Beauty Pageant, leaving a distinguished mark on the cultural fabric of the time. Swanger loved being around children. He worked for the Boy Scouts, teaching boys how to build and race soapbox cars, as he did as a child, with his older brother Alfonza.
His last endeavor, which he.