A downtown fixture for 54 years, Gibson’s Music, is closing in February

Say it isn’t so Betty! After over 50 years of operating Gibson’s Music in downtown Corbin, Betty Comer is closing shop at the end of February.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

I completely understand at age 87 why Betty thinks it is time to quit. For 54 years she has operated the best music store between Lexington and Knoxville. Many customers are going to miss her and the availability of the products she sells.

I miss the people who have come and gone in the downtown area. I started at WCTT radio, which was also downtown, in 1961. For most years since then I have worked in the downtown area, presently about 36 years at our News Journal office and previously at the Times-Tribune.

Betty has been one of my best friends during all of these years. We have worked together on many projects, especially when both of us were on the tourism commission.

Without breaking my arm by patting myself on the back, it was Betty and me that came up with ideas for what I think was the best Nibroc Festival ever. It was the 50th Anniversary of Nibroc, and the 100th Anniversary of the City of Corbin.

She, more than me, came up with suggestions that added that something extra that the big occasion needed. We got the late Gary Edwards, originally from Corbin and had performed in Las Vegas, to be the headliner. I called comedian Carl Hurley and he agreed to bring his act to the festival.

But in addition to her music store, Betty has been an invaluable member of our community. After Betty Hamilton died, Betty Comer took on the leadership role of the Fine Arts Association of Association of Southeastern Kentucky and until Covid hit, it had continued the excellence that the original Betty had brought it with outstanding performances.

Although she has relinquished the leadership role, Fine Arts is attempting to regain that excellence and Betty is helping as a board member to reestablish the great programs of the past.

However, Betty has done more than that. She and other downtown business owners were responsible for starting and making our October Fest a great occasion.

Betty has talked to me on a number of occasions over the years about community projects. She has always worked to make the town better.

Recently she tried to persuade me to become one  of the Fine Arts board members and if I was younger I would have accepted. But it shows Betty’s gift to the organization by reaching out to support the efforts of the organization.

After being in the neighborhood for 62 years I’m about to get lonely. Many of the originals like Maxine VonGruenigen, Lorene Hodge, Carlisle Ashley, Dave Huff, Bob Daniels, the Distads and many others are gone. We will miss Betty as a store owner too, but thank goodness we will still have her to serve in the community.

So long Betty and God be with you!!