Frank Kibbee, a native of Valier, Mont., was a 1956 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a major in industrial arts and minors in mathematics and physical education.
He lettered in basketball, baseball, football and track. He was a two-way player in football as an offensive and defensive end. In basketball, he was the Bulldogs’ sixth-man impressing with his speed and shooting ability. In baseball, he was noted for his timely hitting and great defensive play.
In the 1953 Montana Collegiate Conference (MCC) track championships. Kibbee ran a leg on the winning and record breaking WMC mile relay team. He finished second in the mile and fourth in the 880.
In the 1954 MCC track championships, Kibbee won the 880, the mile, finished third in the high jump and ran a leg on the record-breaking mile relay team. The mile relay win at the MCC championships won the seventh straight conference win for WMC.
In 1955, he ran a leg on the conference winning mile relay team. It was the eighth consecutive conference mile relay victory for the Bulldogs. Kibbee won the 88o and finished second in the mile.
Kibbee was very active on campus serving as freshman class president, sophomore class vice-president, sports editor of the Chinook yearbook, M-Club and student council.
After graduation, Kibbee began his career in education in St. Ignatius where he taught math and coached for three years. He then moved to Alberton, Montana in 1959 where he taught and coached for 37-years. Kibbee worked 12 summers as a Missoula Smokejumper.Â
Kibbee and his wife Betty Anne, also a WMC grad, were married for 50 years. He passed away Feb. 27, 2004.
