Paul Hibbard "Husband, father, teacher, military officer, role model"

Paul Hibbard has worn many hats: Husband, father, teacher, military officer, role model.

Hibbard is a favorite among students in the economics department here at LBCC.

Hibbard was born in Vermont, moved to Canada at the age of 3 and lived there for a year, until moving to Salem where he began he life as a student. He ended up graduating from South Salem High School in 1984.

Hibbard went on to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He finished his degree in economics and a minor in Psychology in 1989. His academic achievements had earned him a full ride to the University of Oregon to obtain a Ph.D.

After deciding against his path toward a Ph.D. for personal reasons. He ended up enlisting in the navy but he wanted to become an Officer right off the bat.

So The navy sent him to the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. He compared it to the Movie featuring Richard Gere titled "The Officer and The Gentleman". If you are unfamiliar with the movie, this was simply a place where they would "break you down to build you up", as they say, into the soldier and officer they want you to be.

So in 1990 at age 23 Hibbard was shipped off to Baharain, Saudi Arabia where he would spend the next two years of his life on a ship, serving the military.

When he returned from the military he went back to Oregon but not for his Ph.D., but rather for his Masters in Economics. He graduated from the university of Oregon in 1995, and immediately was enrolled in Willamette University in order to achieve his masters and teaching license. He achieved his goal just two short years later.

In 1997 Hibbard began teaching high school math in Boardman, Oregon. Where he also coached soccer and basketball.

After two years he decided to move down to San Jose to spend some much needed time with his grandfather. His passing was tough on Hibbard. After his passing he didn't feel teaching or doing much of anything. He described it as his down moment in life.

After working for the next couple of years with a tech firm in the silicon valley, he finally found his place in teaching again, in the silicon valley.

In 2005 Paul met his soul mate, Angela. It didn't take but a year and they were married. Before the two had set a date for the wedding, Hibbard was called on once again to serve his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy, but before he went Angela promised him, "You aren't leaving without a ring." She was right.

Three days before he was due to get on a plane to Kuwait for a year; they tied the knot. The night before he left, his family that wasn't able to make it to the wedding, came to a reception for him and his wife from all over.

The next morning Hibbard was on a plane and headed for Camp Arifjan just south of Kuwait City.

After returning from Kuwait Paul and his wife vacationed to Bend, Oregon. He needed to go somewhere besides home. In those next two weeks two monumental things in Paul's life happened he found a house he still owns today and he also found out that he was going to become a Father.

Hibbard is now the father of two children Catherine and Liam. and as of 2011 Paul Hibbard has been a member of the teaching staff here at LBCC, and when asked what he enjoys most about being an instructor here at LBCC, he answered, "the relationships you build with students on a professional level."

At A Glance:
Paul Hibbard
Economics instructor at LBCC
Husband to Angela
Father of Catherine and Liam