Carrying Forward a Family Legacy: Jason Gibson Honors Father and Brother-in-Law with Vet Med Scholarship Endowment
Three generations of care: Dr. Elmer H. Gibson opened the original Cache Valley Clinic in 1949, followed by his son, Dr. James P. Gibson, and grandson, Dr. Jason Gibson.
For Dr. Jason Gibson, veterinary medicine is more than a career — it’s a family calling that spans generations, rooted in Cache Valley and inextricably tied to Utah State University. With the establishment of the Dr. James P. Gibson and Dr. Paul B. Sanders Aggie Family Scholarship Endowment, Jason and his sister, Jessica Gibson Sanders, are honoring the legacy of two men whose lives were dedicated to caring for animals and serving their community.
Jason’s grandfather, Dr. Elmer H. Gibson, a USU graduate, opened the original Cache Valley clinic in 1949, at what was then the edge of Logan’s Main Street. A solo practitioner, he built his reputation on hard work, integrity, and relationships with local farm families. His son, Dr. James P. Gibson, followed in his footsteps, graduating from Utah State in 1970 and earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State in 1973. For the next 25 years, James practiced alongside his father and close friend, Dr. Paul L. Sanders, at Bridgerland-Cache Animal Hospital, focusing on large-animal care. His sudden passing in 1998, at just 54 years old, left a tremendous void in the community.
At the same time, another branch of the family was establishing its own veterinary tradition. Jason’s childhood friend and eventual brother-in-law, Dr. Paul B. Sanders, married Jason’s sister Jessica while the two were students at Utah State. Like his father before him, Paul pursued veterinary medicine at Colorado State, graduating in 1999. He returned to Cache Valley and practiced small-animal medicine for nearly two decades at Bridgerland-Cache alongside Jason. His courageous battle with cancer ended in 2018 at just 45 years old, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, service, and excellence in veterinary care.
“Both my father and Paul shaped the practice and affected the people of Cache Valley in profound ways,” Jason reflected. “They worked with integrity and compassion, and their influence is still felt among the families they served. This scholarship is a way to honor that legacy and ensure future veterinarians carry the same values into their own careers.”
The Gibson and Sanders families’ connection to USU runs deep. Jason graduated from USU in 1997 with his bachelor’s degree, continuing the family’s Aggie tradition — one shared by his grandfather, his father, and now his son, who is currently in his third year at Washington State University’s veterinary school. Jason recalls spending his childhood shadowing his father on farm calls, cleaning stalls, and eventually working as a technician in the clinic. That early experience inspired him to pursue veterinary medicine himself, even though the chance to work side-by-side with his father never came. Instead, Jason built a decades-long career serving the same families his father and grandfather once helped, forging a unique continuity across generations.
With the launch of Utah State’s new four-year College of Veterinary Medicine, Jason believes the timing for this scholarship could not be better.
“When I went through school, scholarships were scarce and often very small,” Jason said. “I wanted to make sure students here in Utah have support as they begin their journeys. Veterinary medicine is a challenging path, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding profession. My hope is that this scholarship eases the burden and connects students to the legacy of service that my family has lived.”
Jason also sees the scholarship as a bridge between USU students and the Cache Valley community his family has served for more than 70 years.
“Veterinarians don’t just treat animals, we build lifelong relationships with people,” Jason said. “Pets and livestock are part of families, and being trusted with their care is an honor. I want students to recognize that side of the profession, the human connection, just as much as the medical side.”
As Utah State welcomes its first class of veterinary students into the new program, gifts like the Gibson and Sanders endowment will play a vital role in building a strong foundation. By designating the scholarship for Utah residents, Jason hopes to encourage students with deep ties to the state, future practitioners who will not only serve local communities but also carry forward a legacy of dedication, compassion, and excellence in veterinary medicine.
“This profession has given me everything,” Jason said. “It’s been my life since I was a child, and now my son is carrying it on. I can’t imagine a better way to honor my father and Paul than by helping the next generation of Aggie veterinarians succeed.”
Endowments are among the most powerful ways to ensure a lasting impact at Utah State University. By creating an endowed scholarship or supporting an existing fund, you provide perpetual resources that help students succeed — today and for generations to come. Endowed gifts invest in students’ futures, easing financial burdens, expanding access to hands-on learning, and fueling opportunities that prepare them to lead in their communities and careers. Your generosity helps unlock the potential of every Aggie student and inspires excellence across the university. Create your Aggie Impact by supporting the student-focused area that most inspires you.
Dr. Elmer H. Gibson cares for a patient and their pet at the original Cache Valley Clinic, reflecting the compassion and dedication that began a three-generation family legacy in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Paul B. Sanders, Jason Gibson’s brother-in-law and business partner, carried on his family’s veterinary tradition alongside Jason at Bridgerland-Cache Animal Hospital until his passing in 2018.
Dr. Jason Gibson with his son, James, who is carrying on the family tradition as a third-year student in the USU/Washington State University Veterinary Medicine program.
Carrying on a family legacy of compassionate care, Dr. Jason Gibson performs a C-section on a sow — combining expertise, precision, and a lifelong passion for veterinary medicine.
Dr. Jason Gibson with ROCKSTAR, a horse whose leg was repaired at the animal hospital when he was only three weeks old. Now fully recovered, ROCKSTAR continues to live up to his name.
Dr. Jason Gibson with his father, Dr. James P. Gibson. Jason served as his father’s technician while attending Utah State before leaving for veterinary school in 1997. This photo was taken in 1998, just before Jason’s sister Jessica and her husband, Dr. Paul B. Sanders, left for veterinary school in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Dr. Jason Gibson with his sons, James and Tyler, who have both played vital roles in the clinic’s continued success.
Contact
Kate Parkinson
Development Officer,
Veterinary Medicine
(435) 797-0767
kate.parkinson@usu.edu