My hero is a bus thief - Houston Chronicle (Priceless Photo)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Sept. 1, 2005, 10:29PM | By RICK CASEY

[joinedafterattack]

"When he arrived at the Astrodome about 10 p.m. Wednesday, 20-year-old Jabbar Gibson modestly confessed that he had commandeered a school bus in New Orleans, then picked up about 70 passengers before heading out for the 13-hour trek to Houston." <!-- DIV.b2 { margin: .75em 0px; } -->

Jabbar Gibson rescues NO citizens on 8-31-05

New Orleans school buses:

New Orleans public transit buses:

Count 'em and weep...

New Orleans school buses:

New Orleans public transit buses:

Count 'em and weep...

[MamaB]

I wonder where his parents are.

[JustAnotherOkie]

GWB could make quite a statement by inviting this fellow to the White House and parading him infront of the cameras saying this is what American 'Can Do' attitude can accomplish.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I saw an interview with Jabbar Gibson on FOX News Channel. He is the genuine article. He saw something that needed to be done and he did it. Like a poster said above, he didn't need President Bush to tell him what to do. That's what makes heroes. I consider him an American hero. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." He personifies that.

[savedbygrace]

The question is: Will he be charged with a crime? I heard he might be.

[ncountylee]

"Why was the plan not followed?"

Too busy exchanging 'yo da man' high fives and passing the crack pipe around?

[flashbunny]

he wasn't stealing.

The people stealing were the ones looting from stores before and after the hurricane.

This young man saw a resource that was unused and abandoned by an incompetent government. He commandeered the bus and did what the government failed to do- he acted.

New orleans could have used many more like him. Too bad nobody like him was in charge of the government down there.

[Honeybunch]

ping

[manwiththehands]

I REALLY LIKE this kid. There is hope ...

[oldbrowser]

give him a medal

How about mayor ?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

He's my hero too. I admire his gumption in the face of the complete failure of his city's and state's government officials. He could have just taken the bus and gone alone with his family, but he chose instead to save 70 other people. If anyone wants to take the lead and put a scholarship together for this kid to go to bus driver's school to get his Commercial Driver's License (assuming he doesn't already have one or a better profession), please count me in for a donation.

[JustAnotherOkie]

Steal Schmeal, when a mandatory evacuation is in force each person is implicity empowered to use whatever resources are necessary to evacuate the area. (As long as you don't shoot more bureaucrats and politicians than is reasonable and proper) .

[Cecily]

I hope GWB invites him to the White House to highlight his initiative and can-do spirit.

[BykrBayb]

His Mom must be very proud! Very proud indeed.

[ZChief]

Has anyone interviewed NO or LA bus drivers yet to see what they were told about evacuation potential for Katrina. I would think that some of them asked supervision what to do or expect. It would be very interesting to find out who passes the buck.

[JCEccles]

Jabbar Gibson

Just a bit of trivia: "Jabbar" means "Mighty."

"Mighty" Gibson, a man who refused to be a victim, who took personal responsibility, showed initiative, and got it done.

[Honeybunch]

I think he's better suited for a career in business management, or human resources, or public relations --whatever he might be inclined to pursue. Somebody should organize that.

[DesertDreamer]

Technically, he rescued the bus from certain drowning.

[JLS]

give him a medal
___________________________________________

Eactly. He did something. And the bus was not stolen. It was used in an emergency. No one else was using it. And it is intact for its rightful owner.

I am guessing with 70 or so people he picked up some complete strangers and got them out of there.

[ASOC]

As a member of the American Militia (all able bodied men) he was doing his best to carry out published emergency plans, good on him. I am surprised out-of-towners did not do the same....

[dogcaller]

The young man who took the bus to the Astrodome to save his neighbors deserves a presidential commendation for showing initiative in the face of chaos and local government failure.