Jimmie D. Gober

Two months to the day after his beloved wife and companion of over 70 years, Ruth, passed away, Jimmie D Gober (Jim) was released from the bonds of earth to go be with her and with the Lord in Heaven on November 2, 2017. Jim Gober was born to poor farmers near the East Texas town of Como, among the community known as Black Oak, on August 2, 1925. He was the youngest of 5 boys born to Marvin and Minnie Gober who preceded him in death along with his brothers, Edmond, Enis, Herman and Willard. He is survived by his son Kerwin Gober of Farmington, NM and a niece, Joyce Gober of Austin, TX as well as Lorraine, William (Wade) and Nathan Souto who reside in Florida. Jimmie D, as he was known in his youth, was 9 years younger than his closest brother, Willard and when his father died when Jimmie was only 4 years old, he went on to be raised by his mother and his four older brothers down on the farm. Later in life, Jim commented that he knew pretty early on that he didn't want to live the hard life he came to know on the farm and therefore decided he better take his studies seriously if he ever wanted to do anything else. He was active in speech and debate in school and graduated from Como-Pickton High School as salutatorian in 1942. Upon graduation, Jim started attending classes at East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, Texas about 35 miles away from home. While at East Texas he had his first brush with what would become his lifelong vocation and career when he worked the night shift as a board operator on a local radio station. Although his brothers Herman and Willard had already joined the Army when WWII broke out, Jim decided he would join the effort as well and he enlisted in the US Army Air Corp as it was then known. He was training to become a pilot but due to the fact that he was young and late to the war effort, by the time he was to go to flight school, the war had begun to wind down and the military no longer needed new pilots so he was assigned state side to teach electronics on B-17's at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and took up residence in Austin, Texas to attend the University there on the GI Bill. While at the University of Texas in Austin, he began studies to go into law and also again turned to his previous nighttime work experience and started working the late shift at KNOW radio station. This seemingly innocuous decision to supplement his income would prove to be the undoing of his fledgling legal career as never again would he do anything but work in the glamorous world of radio broadcasting. Jim continued his studies at the University where he adjusted his field of interest to their radio and television department which then was part of the school of fine arts. Simultaneously he moved up the chain at KNOW by taking on such tasks as hosting on air shows from a local night club as well as reading the "funny papers" live on the radio every Sunday morning. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas and was a proud Longhorn alumnus for the rest of his life. It was while climbing the stairs to the studios at KNOW that Jim took notice of a young legal secretary working in the law offices on a lower floor named Gladyn Ruth Matejka. He got to know her a little better as just Ruth and on Easter Sunday Morning, April 17, 1949 they were married and for 68 years would remain together for the rest of their lives. Jim later said that he realized if he ever wanted to make real money in radio he needed to get involved with the business side of the industry and in short order he moved into the sales department at KNOW and began wearing a suit and tie and of course, as was the style in 1947, a fedora hat. In the sales office of KNOW, he met his friend and life-long business partner, Robert "Bob" Tobey and Bob's wife Katherine (Kitty) Tobey. Jim and Ruth and their friends had a good life in Austin with Jim receiving recognition from the Austin Junior Chamber of Commerce as young businessman of the year and from the Austin Advertising Club as Young Executive of the year in 1953. Jim also became a member of the Masonic Lodge where he rose to 32nd degree Mason and became a Shriner. In 1955, Jim found opportunity to own and operate KOBE radio station in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Jim and Ruth moved to Las Cruces and set up housekeeping there. By 1957 the couple, along with their business partners the Tobeys and another partner from Lubbock, TX, Edwin Merriman, expanded to acquire stations KWYK in Farmington, NM and KDGO in Durango, CO. Then in 1958 came the expansion of the Gober family as Ruth gave birth to their son Kerwin. The small Gober family became attached to New Mexico. Jim became a permanent fixture of the broadcasting scene in the Land of Enchantment. He went on to become president of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association as well as President of the Mesilla Valley Chamber of Commerce in Las Cruces. Although he didn't get the chance while in the Army, Jim would realize a personal dream while in Las Cruces and finally learn to fly and get his pilot's license and buy his first airplane. He would partner and build the first cable tv company in Las Cruces before selling the radio station there and moving the family to Farmington to personally operate KWYK in 1966. In Farmington, Jim again became heavily involved with the community and served as President of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce as well as serving on the board as President of the Farmington Evening Lions Club. He was a member of the Farmington Elks Club, the San Juan Country Club and the local Masonic Lodge. He also was appointed by the mayor to serve on the Farmington Airport Advisory Commission. Jim also served on the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank for over a decade. He was named Boss of the Year by the American Business Women's Association and in 2000 Jim was honored at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet as the Citizen of the Year for his continuing work in the business community and his service to the city of Farmington and in promoting the general advancement of the area. Jim Gober's life was the kind of life that used to be referred to as "the American dream". He came from humble but principled, hard-working beginnings with a strong sense of values and morals. By his own efforts he pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become a sincerely revered part of the communities in which he lived and the people he associated with. Jim was, in the truest sense, an entrepreneur. He was a good poker player and enjoyed many evenings with his buddies around the octagonal table. What he learned there was to be patient, pay attention but most importantly, never bet more than you can afford to lose. With the skills learned at the table, he went from nothing but a poor young farm boy to a successful leader in his business, his community and his family. Jim leaves behind the legacy of a still thriving business now run by his son, a community that is said to be better because of his efforts and vision and a history of hard work and a life well lived. But mostly he leaves a long list of people, friends, family, business partners, former employees, acquaintances and even competitors who almost to a person say that their lives were touched and are better for having known and associated with Jim and Ruth Gober. A viewing and memorial get together will be held for Jim Gober at Brewer Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E Ute St, in Farmington on Thursday evening, November 9th from 6 to 8 pm. A brief graveside service will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1606 N Dustin Ave in Farmington on Friday the 10th of November at 1:00pm. With questions please contact Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home at (505) 325-8688. Family can be reached at (505) 320-9490. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Ruth, please make donations to the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter Foundation or the San Juan Animal League at the addresses listed below.
Farmington Regional Animal Shelter Foundation
PO Box # 692
Farmington, New Mexico, 87499

San Juan Animal League
PO Box # 142
Farmington, New Mexico, 87499